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Does anyone have any ideas for drumming up support for the VALOUR-IT in an area where support for the troops is low? I have tried asking co-workers if their church or groups would like to know about Soldiers' Angels and V-IT but have not had anyone want to get involved. This week I have care package items to drop off for the Girl Scouts drive at the VFW. Maybe I can get some support there. Where I work there is even little interest in food drives for the local poor. They were hoping to collect 2,000 lbs., but so far have only collected 250 lbs. Sad.
Why is it that people can't read and comprehend sometimes? (Sorry I wrote a novella, It wasn't my intention...)
I know Mac wasn't wounded. I know it was Eric. I was commenting on Macgyver's worries of if he was injured. I know Eric's road ahead, I'm glad he's at WRAMC, his care is better there than anywhere. Who is his surgeon? If you like, I'll recommend a few.
Now tell his Mrs. (Or Miss, or Mom) to focus on transitioning from the Narcotics to Methadone as soon as possible (by time of discharge, if possible). WRAMC loves to pile them on, and they are needed, but kicking the addiction is almost as shitty as getting popped in the first place.
--Chuck
"And while he's recovering, he may need some help. Which is where Project Valour-IT comes in. "
If there's anything else beyond prayers and Project Valour-IT .....
Bryan (in NE)
Please make sure his loved ones get in touch with Soldiers' Angels as soon as possible (if not already) and that a laptop is requested for him if it turns out that's what he needs. Email with the details if you have them.
Let Macgyver (and your friend) know that it really isn't the end of the world, it's a setback. I love working with my hands, and do lot of projecs too... everything from brewing beer to refinishing furniture. It takes longer, and I have to take my time and actually watch what I am doing, instead of working by feel, and I think my playstation days ended a long time ago, but the hard thing to get through my head was that it wasn't the end of the world. You have tyo adapt, and the fixes are neither immediate or easy.
Things that used to be easy, or even so simple I didn't consider them, are now often insurmountable (like buttoning a cuff or collar.) I was once completely unable to bathe myself, my hands were so sensitive I couldn't hold the poofy soap things. Hell, at one oint, I couldn't even wipe myself. Luckily, I was unable to kill myself, too.
It wasn't luck, it was love thsat saved me though. Carren and my Mom spent months picking up the pieces, putting me back together, and pushing me to do the little things that make up a normal day.
Don't get me wrong, I wanted to do things, but everything was so hard I had no idea where to start... They stuck by me and kept me focused. Valour-IT was a start, of course. As swelling went down and "angry" nerves calmed, I slowly regained strength and flexibility. I re-learned how to do things like get dressed in something other than sweats, and (the matterhorn of challenges) tie my kid's shoes. (It still takes a while.)
It's been 17 months now, and I am so far from where I was on 22 June 05 that it's hard to believe it was only a year and a half.
The surgeons and nurses at the Army Medical Centers are geniuses, as are the occupational and physical therapists--all the kings horses and all the king's men, as it were.
I never planned on any of this. I'd never have considered it, given it a second thought, except maybe to think "wow, better him than me." This was never part of my career path, not the way I envisioned my personal or professional life. As I look to the future, I see a lot of changes... I'm probably never going to tech the boy to throw a fastball properly, and never start that second career as a brain surgeon. Okay, so that was a long shot to begin with.
Things get better. Even if my injuries had been worse, things would've eventually gotten better. I doubt things will ever be the way they were (unless I sprout some nerves and bones--damn you, BushMcHalliburton, why can't we do more stem sell research?) but then again, it'll never be last Thursday again either. Plans change, life changes. Sure, when the movie we wanted to see isn't showing, we see someting else. Not hard, really. When something requires not only a conscious decision to do something else, but long, determined action(s) to make them happen (some of which fail, miserably) it is much harder to see the point in trying, and continuing. You continue anyway, making adjustments as you
It may not show the trackback (blogger is bad about that), but I linked your story onto my overnight Valour-IT post.
All I can say after that is Godspeed, and God bless.
thanks for the reminder...
Yeah - like I said, this year it hits even closer to home. And you're right - the "team" we support does not matter. Because, essentially we are all on the same team.
Matt said I needed to come over here and read the V-IT post of the day.
Having read it, I'm pretty sure that's the V-IT post of the YEAR.
If Eric needs a V-IT computer, I hope like hell we're able to get him one. I'm on the Army team this year, but it really doesn't matter. What matters is that we give to V-IT so that we can give back just a smidgen of what our wounded warriors have lost.
Oh, dear -- I'm sorry he's been injured, but glad he's been able to communicate with you. Let me know if you need anything, and when you know where he's going to be sent for treatment.
I plan on stealing it!!
this was a fantastic post!!
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