When Deborah Robles learned her husband was wounded by an explosive ordnance device a few years ago, she was distraught.
"My first reaction was is he alive? Is he safe? Is he OK?" she said. "I need to get there."
Sgt. Edwin Robles was transported from Afghanistan to the United States and made his way to Fort Bragg.
The Fisher House provided Deborah Robles lodging as she remained at her husband's bedside at Womack Army Medical Center.
"The Fisher House opened their doors," she said.
On Thursday, officials from the Fisher House Foundation were joined by Womack to open their new home across from the hospital. The foundation, which provides free housing for families of wounded service members receiving medical care, expects to assist 30,000 families across the country this year.
The average time people stay at Fort Bragg's Fisher home is seven days, officials said. More than 300 families stayed at the home last year.
Edwin Robles was a mechanic deployed to Afghanistan in 2013. He was wounded and later suffered a stroke. All the while, Deborah left her Charlotte home to be with him.
"I couldn't even imagine," she said, describing how their lives would be different without the Fisher House.
The home originally opened on Fort Bragg in 1993. It was the 11th home built by the foundation, which now has 70 homes across the country.
The new home is one-story and has 11 suites for guests. It provides more space than the older home and includes handicap-accessible features.
David Coker, president of the foundation, said the home allows people to ease their minds from the financial stress of caring for their injured service member and instead focus on helping that person recover.
"This house now serves as a tangible symbol of our support, our love and our respect for all those who have selflessly served our country," he said. "It is this foundation's goal, in fact, we believe it's our duty, to create an environment where families can focus solely on the healing process."
