Wiihab

Last month, the community of milbloggers raised $95,205 for Soldiers' Angels Project Valour-IT. While this project started out with the goal of providing laptops with voice-activated software to severely wounded troops, it has since expanded to include other technologies. Personal GPS systems help build self-confidence and independence by compensating for short-term memory loss and organizational challenges related to severe TBI and severe PTSD. Wii video game systems provided to medical facilities to assist with physical rehabilitation.

You might wonder how a video game would help with physical rehabilitation:

Using the game console's unique, motion-sensitive controller, Wii games require body movements similar to traditional therapy exercises. But patients become so engrossed mentally they are almost oblivious to the rigor, Osborn said.

"In the Wii system, because it's kind of a game format, it does create this kind of inner competitiveness. Even though you may be boxing or playing tennis against some figure on the screen, it's amazing how many of our patients want to beat their opponent," said Osborn of Southern Illinois Healthcare, which includes the hospital in Herrin. The hospital, about 100 miles southeast of St. Louis, bought a Wii system for rehab patients late last year.

"When people can refocus their attention from the tediousness of the physical task, oftentimes they do much better," Osborn said.

This kind of therapy seems ideal when working with wounded troops:

The Hines Veterans Affairs Hospital west of Chicago recently bought a Wii system for its spinal cord injury unit.

Pfc. Matthew Turpen, 22, paralyzed from the chest down in a car accident last year while stationed in Germany, plays Wii golf and bowling from his wheelchair at Hines. Turpen says the games help beat the monotony of rehab and seem to be doing his body good, too.

"A lot of guys don't have full finger function so it definitely helps being able to work on using your fingers more and figuring out different ways to use your hands" and arms, Turpen said.

At Walter Reed Army Medical Center, the therapy is well-suited to patients injured during combat in Iraq, who tend to be in the 19 to 25 age range ó a group that's "very into" playing video games, said Lt. Col. Stephanie Daugherty, Walter Reed's chief of occupational therapy.

"They think it's for entertainment, but we know it's for therapy," she said.

While the big annual fundraiser by the milblogs may be over, the need for our wounded troops is always ongoing. If you can, please consider donating to Project Valour-IT.

What Do YOU Do To Give Something Back?

Some people just don't get what is wrong with our warriors when they return from war. Yes, you can use catch phrases like PTSD, but do you know what that really means? Do you realize that these guys and gals aren't "broken" but are quite simply doing what they are trained to do?  

Our Warriors are warriors, that's all there is to it. Right? Well, sure, IF they remain in a military atmosphere where everyone else is trained the same. Oh, but don't forget those Warriors who were in combat and experienced their unit getting hit by firefight and walked away the only survivor. And don't forget those who were blown up, ambushed, had their sleeping quarters under constant fire, their water supply poisoned, and countless other situations that rock your foundation of security. Now, some of these Warriors get by just fine, and that is great. Maybe their threshold is higher and they can just hold out longer. But many others aren't holding out so well. I think while they are still in a military atmosphere the hold it together better because they have to.  

What happens when they come home? Especially Service Members in the Army National Guard and Army and Marine Reserves. When the military doesn't need them, they get to go home and be civilians again until the next time they are needed. Do you have any idea how hard that must be to walk around with your survival triggers firing off in your head constantly. It has to be an exhausting endeavor. It's no wonder these Warriors think there is something wrong with them (because you know that is how everyone around them treats them). They are exhausted, from being "on" 24/7, don't sleep, if they do sleep they have nightmares...how do you feel when you are exhausted? Can't be rational? Small things set you off? Imagine how a Warrior feels in that position.  

I feel there is more we can do to make these Warriors realize we are here to help them, just as they've helped us retain our freedom for the last 234 years. I feel it's our duty to help them in any way we can. It's the least we can do. Really.  

What can we do to help these guys when they come home? How can we possibly do anything significant enough that it might help?  

Well...I happen to donate my time and talents to an amazing organization here in the Tampa Bay are that offers our Service Members a trip out on one of the boats to go sailing, fishing, just do nothing. They can spend time with others who have experienced what they have and they truly "get" it. 

By spending an afternoon on the water, chatting, laughing, not worrying, being themselves...it heals them. It's an absolutely amazing thing to watch a Viet Nam vet cry because they feel like someone FINALLY understands them. They start to understand themselves! Watch a young Marine who can't keep his balance hunt for shells on the beach and be SO excited about what they find (especially a starfish as broken on the outside as they feel on the inside - and they realize that both are still perfectly beautiful) that their enthusiasm reminds you of a young kids first trip to the beach. These excursions really are healing. You have to see it to grasp the full effect but trust me, it's a beautiful thing.  

*** The name of the non-profit water based company that was previously endorsed on this page has been removed and is no longer endorsed by myself and my Gold Star family. If you want some worthwhile non-profits that use donated funds for what they actually say they will use it for, I will be happy to provide a current list if you message me. **

Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior

I'm currently reading a book about transitioning from combat to "real life". Why? Well, as a parent I want to make sure I'm aware of what might be going on inside my son's head. Actually, I'm not real sure I've ever known what was going on inside his head, but it's always worth a shot, right?

This book, "Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior" by Col. Charles W. Hoge, MD is giving me a whole new perspective of PTSD, and other "problems" Warriors encounter when they try to meld back into non-combat life.

I've always been bothered with the idea that PTSD is a problem to be fixed. Col. Hoge explains it in a way that makes more sense to me. I've only actually just started reading but in the first few pages, he establishes that these "symptoms" that people will try to fix are nothing more than the skills a Warrior needs to survive and do their job. What they need is to learn how to navigate non-combat life with these skills that will never leave them.

Warriors aren't victims and they aren't broken. That sounds completely the opposite of all the stuff I've read so far. Which is really not much, because it hasn't been addressed all that much, at least not in a way that your everyday civilian will find it. Because I've had experiences with Warriors suffering different stages of PTSD, whether it was due to a TBI or just from the experiences during combat, and I've been trying to understand what I could do to help, I've been searching the bookstores for books that might make it make make more sense. It's hard to explain but sometimes you end up asking yourself things like: "When they get lost mid-sentence, do I bring them back to the same place in the conversation or give it up and move on" and "Should you give clues to things when they are obviously frustrated with their inability to remember something, or should I wait until they get it on their own?" "What can I do to help them, even if it means making them work at it?"

This book has been enlightening. Still no answer to my questions but it's made a positive difference already. The writing is very straight forward, right to the point: They aren't broken and navigating non-combat life is just another mission.

I'll be updating you on what I learn as I actually get into the book. This could be an amazing tool for Freedom Excursions. Hmmmm..... I've seen good reviews so far. I'm very hopeful.

If you want to check it out, the site is: http://onceawarrior.com

:)