Category Archives: Wounded Warrior Assistance

Hidden Wounds Provides Relief for Combat Stress Faster than VA

Posted on by vfwlady

The mission of Hidden Wounds is to provide peace of mind and comfort for military personnel suffering from combat stress injuries such as PTSD and TBI until the Veteran’s Administration or Veteran’s Affairs agencies can deliver long-term services to their clients through government programs.

Hidden Wounds was formed in response to a tragedy involving its founder, Anna Bigham.  Anna’s brother, Lance Corporal Mills Palmer Bigham, served four years of active duty for the United States Marine Corps.

Lcpl Bigham served two tours of duty in Iraq with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Regiment.  He was released on October 18, 2008, with an honorable discharge and new rank, Combat Veteran.

Immediately, Anna recognized her brother was not the same young man she once knew.  Lcpl Bigham sought treatment for war trauma, depression, and anger through numerous trips to the local VA hospital. He was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), however he was not given the treatment he deserved.  Anna made countless phone calls to check on his status for receiving those services, but each time there was very little to no response.

Anna supported her brother, battled for the right of his treatment, and cared for him during the long and horrific nights. It was too little, and too late. Mills took his own life waiting for those services on October 19, 2009.

Here is a description of the services provided by Hidden Wounds according to their Facebook Page

-Interim Counseling
Our main thrust is to provide counseling to soldiers who are in the enrollment process at the VA, or other agencies, or system of services, but who are waiting for confirmation of availability and treatment needs. These services are available until such time as the client is finally taken into the care of the VA, or alternate agencies.

-Emergency Counseling
Referring agencies too overwhelmed to respond, and families who are suddenly faced with a crisis situation, are invited to call Hidden Wounds. Our goal is to find a counselor in our network that could respond immediately to defuse the situation. From there, Hidden Wounds, works to find a properly equipped place for the veteran to safely stay until the crisis is passed, danger is contained and further treatment can be instituted.

-Family Support
Hidden Wounds provides resource materials and information to help family members of PTSD victims deal with their concerns and knowledgably support their veteran.

-VA Strategies
Hidden Wounds can provide strategic counseling services to support the Veterans Administration in the areas of intake, assignment of benefits, required paperwork, navigating a network of personnel, and other support advice while dealing with the VA

Contact Info:

Email Address: info@hiddenwounds.org
Mailing Address: Hidden Wounds
7001 St Andrews Road PMB 323
Columbia, S.C. 29212
1-888-4HW-HERO

Description:501c3 non profit organization
General Information

1-888-4HW-HERO or 803-403-8460

Related Article: Veterans Step Forward to Report Retaliation for Whistleblowing and Lack of Support Services read more>>

Related Post: The Million Veteran March on the VA read more>>

Racing4Vets 2012 Racing Schedule

Posted on by vfwlady

Disabled U.S. Military Amateur Auto Racing

The East Coast is in the new BMW SpecE30/ITS car.  The West Coast swing is co-driving the Klamecki Racing / TrackVids.com sponsored NASA Ford Mustang CMC running in the Camaro Mustang Challenge class.  Racing4Vets will probably be adding some NASA events in the Northeast as they onboard the new U.S. military veterans team lineup.

Feb 2-5 SCCA Roebling Road
Mar 9-11 NASA Road Atlanta
Mar 23-25 NASA VIR
Apr 13-15 NASA Thunderhill OR Apr 20-22 NASA Buttonwillow
May 25-27 SCCA New Hampshire Motor Speedway – NARRC points race
June 8-10 SCCA Lime Rock Park – NARRC points race
July 20-22 SCCA Watkins Glen – NARRC points race
Aug 17-19 SCCA New Jersey Motorsports Park Thunderbolt – NARRC points race
Sep 21-23 SCCA Lime Rock Park – NARRC Runoffs
Oct 26-28 NASA Infineon

About Racing4Vets:
Forming a new race team is already a complex project, especially when factoring in amateurs and people with physical disabilities. However, Racing4Vets believes that if the project is broken down into smaller parts, success is as simple as executing a series of small tasks over time.

It only takes belief, persistence, and determination and U.S. military veterans have those qualities in spades. It also takes money, which is why organizers are raising funds from crowd-funding contributors and corporate sponsors.

Special hand and foot controls must be purchased and/or fabricated to enable the disabled veterans on the team to test and race the car. This requires proper engineering and installation of the controls for each individual’s specific physical requirements. The controls must also be transferable to other vehicles since race cars may change over time.

This is an expensive project (~$10,000) for which Racing4Vets will be seeking financial and engineering assistance. Multiple vendors and shops in the U.S. and U.K. have experience converting race cars for disabled drivers.

The Racing4Vets 2012 budget is not yet complete. They will seek financial funding from three main sources. More details will be shared as the project moves forward…

Crowd Funding: Racing4Vets will begin with a crowd funding round to obtain financial support from a large group of contributors through donations, pre-purchases of products or services, or purchasing access to special events and promotions. This period will run between November 2011 and February 2012.

Sponsorships: Racing4Vets will seek direct sponsorship from organizations and companies in the motorsports industry. This period will begin in February 2012 and run into the future on an ongoing basis.

Grants: Racing4Vets will seek grants and other contributions from non-profit organizations and government agencies involved in supporting U.S. military veterans and the physically disabled.

Graffiti of War Project: Soldiers Using Art to Battle PTSD

Posted on by vfwlady

“Across 10 years, two fronts, and three million deployments, our troops have chronicled a story few could ever know.  Nearly 50,000 of them have become casualties and almost 3 times that number have battled PTSD.”

Jaeson Parsons is more than a West Virginia native and former combat medic. He is a PTSD survivor who has worked to collect nearly 10,000 pictures of graffiti artwork created by soldiers fighting overseas, mainly those in Iraq.

Murals of 911, dog tags of fighting soldiers, meaningful words in front of haunting images, are all being compiled into a book.

After injuring his back during a tour, Jaeson was forced to leave the battle ground and ended up fighting another battle at home, PTSD.

“I was drinking a lot, I was abusing drugs and in Christmas of 2009 I had to go to a VA center for mental health,” said Parsons. “It took me months before I got to the point where I just saw them (injured soldiers) as a job and not a person,” he said.

With his wife’s encouragement, he founded this project and discovered it eased his emotional pain.

Parsons said unless someone was there to experience it themselves, this (art) is one of the closest things to feeling what those fighting for our country are going through.

Parsons said the proceeds from the book will go to different organizations that help to rehabilitate soldiers suffering from “internal wounds,” like PTSD.

Donations will be directed toward programs outside of traditional therapy that use music, art or animals as pathways toward a good mindset.  For more information on how you can get involved in the “Graffiti of War” Project visit: www.GraffitiofWar. com.

Telehealth: Connecting Veterans at Home with VA Nursing Staff through Videoconferencing

Posted on by vfwlady

Veterans who are hundreds of miles away from the nearest VA hospital are now able to be “seen” by a VA physician without having to leave their home.  Thanks to modern technology, many different types of exams and clinic visits can be done using real-time videoconferencing, saving patients long drives and long waits.

Since 2003, the VA has been using a state-of-the-art technology known as Telehealth.   Use of this new-age service has resulted in more accessible healthcare for veterans everywhere.  VA healthcare providers are now able to see, hear, and talk to patients through a TV screen, while allowing the same privacy and clinical standards as patients visiting one of their facilities in person.

Each VA has a Telehealth Coordinator who collaborates with participating healthcare providers in setting up videoconferencing clinics so that specialist clinicians (like dermatologists or surgeons) can see a veteran patient living in a remote area.

General Telehealth (CCGT) improves access and visits to healthcare provders for veterans in rural or underserved areas.  By using video-conferencing technologies and diagnostic equipment, specialists from VA Medical Centers can treat patients in an outpatient clinic close to their home, avoiding travel and offering easier access to specialist care.

Home Telehealth (CCHT) is a service available to veteran patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, high blood pressure, and mental illness.  Veterans with these illnesses can be monitored at home using telehealth technology, often delaying or preventing veterans from being admitted into long-term care facilities. This particular program provides services that include:

*Symptom management

*Vital sign monitoring

*Self-management

*Medication management & adherence

*Socialization and caregiver support

*Service coordination

For home telehealth, the type of home technology selected is individualized for each veteran, and a “Care Coordinator” is assigned to the patient.  The care coordinator is usually a registered nurse or social worker who manages patients with the technology to meet their complex medical and social needs.  This program helps keep veteran patients as independent as possible for as long as possible.

The cost of CCHT averages $1,600 per annum, and this has been compared with the $13,121 per annum for VHA’s home-based primary care service and $77,745 per annum for private nursing home care. Information on patient satisfaction with CCHT-based care is collected from patients every 3 months. Surveys in 2006 and 2007 found a mean satisfaction score of 86%.

Telehealth technologies are only one of several services that the VA provides at their PolyTrauma Rehab Centers located in Tampa FL, Minneapolis MN, Richmond VA, and Palo Alto CA.  These particular sites help improve access to care for combat wounded veterans who have multiple injuries by arranging for them to receive their care closer to home.

For more info contact:

Care Coordination Services (11CC), Department of Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue N.W., Washington DC 20420

http://www.telehealth.va.gov/
Read Related Article: The Veterans Health Administration’s CCHT Programme – mainstreamed home telehealth and care coordination

Veterans With Exposure Questions Can Contact The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center for Answers

Posted on by vfwlady

Veterans with unexplained health issues wondering if the cause is related to exposure during military service now have access to a valuable resource.  The War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC–pronounced “risk”) specializes in occupational and environmental medicine, and has extensive experience in conducting environmental exposure assessments.

Exposures commonly linked to health issues include the following:

*Anthrax Vaccine

*Depleted Uranium

*Multiple immunizations

*Preventative medications

*Nerve agents or their antidotes

*Sandstorms

*Air pollution from burning trash

*Soot from oil well fires

*Jet Fuel/Solvents

If you live too far to travel to one of the three WRIISCs located in the U.S., then you can have a free consultation over the phone.  If you need to be seen by one of their specialists, they will document your visit in your VA computerized medical record along with any follow-up recommendation they make.

For more information, visit their website: www.warrelatedillness.va.gov

Wounded Warriors in Action Hunting and Fishing in America

Posted on by vfwlady

“The Wounded Warriors in Action (WWA) aids in healing the hearts and minds of our Nation’s combat wounded heroes (Purple Heart recipients) by providing world-class outdoor sporting activities, chiefly consisting of hunting and fishing opportunities across America.”

The WWIA Goals

  • Increase Self-Reliance
  • Bolster Self-Confidence
  • Enjoy the Great Outdoors
  • Promote Spiritual Healing and Wellness
  • Instill a Sense of Belonging

Ultimately, the WWIA aims to create regional Centers of Excellence across the United States; outdoor sporting centers run by Wounded Warriors for Wounded Warriors. These centers will serve as wildlife conservation models and everlasting retreats for the Brave and the Courageous who so valiantly gave of themselves — for you.

Wounded Warrior Zone

If you are an OIF/OEF veteran who received a Purple Heart during your service, you are eligible to participate in WWIA activities. Please take a few minutes of your time to fill out the attached application and the WWIA will be in contact with you directly.

Wounded Warriors: Handbook for Injured Service Members and their Families

Posted on by vfwlady

The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund has put together one of the best help guides for recently combat-injured soldiers, more commonly referred to by all as America‘s Wounded Warriors.  Simply titled: “A Handbook for Injured Service Members and their Families”.

Revised in 2010, this handbook is a detailed and valuable resource containing information about Airline and Travel Assistance, as well as Housing and Financial Assistance currently available to recently combat injured veterans.

“The purpose of this handbook is to assist injured service members and their families by providing information about what lies ahead, an overview of resources at their disposal, and a discussion of certain issues they are likely to confront. It is designed to supplement the information provided directly by the various branches of the military, as well as governmental and nongovernmental organizations.”

To visit their website and get the 2010 revised handbook click on the link below:

2010 Revised Handbook for Injured Service Members and Their Families

Not-So-Famous Programs for Disabled Veterans & the new Warrior2Citizen Program

Posted on by vfwlady

Although I’ve become familiar with a lot of Veterans Service Organizations and programs over the years, I read about 3 new programs today that I never knew existed.  All 3 perform fantastic services for Veterans with a 30% or higher “Service-Connected” disability rating, and 1 is a program of the future that is definitely worth watching.

For Combat-Injured Veterans seeking Employment assistance try:

VRA (The Veterans Recruitment Act)

PoWER (The Potomac Workforce Education & Recruitment Center)

and keep your ears to the ground for more about the very new:

Warrior2Citizen!

According to Ed Mattson of Veterans Today, “The (Warrior2Citizen) program is in the State of Georgia and is being closely watched by Department of Defense, and the Veterans Administration, and others as the pilot program for the rest of the country to address the complete family of the transitioning soldier. The program is called Warrior2Citizen, and has been in the making for over a year to insure attention to detail, with support from Emory University, Veterans Innovative Center, VFW, Georgia National Guard, and many others. The initial grant funding has been generously donated by Callaway Gardens Resort which will act as the campus for program operations.

To read the full article in Veterans Today,  click here

The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes “Send a Thank You & Get Well Card to a Wounded Warrior” Program

Posted on by vfwlady

The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes (CSAH) was created to provide a way for individuals, corporations and others to help our severely wounded and disabled Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans and their families rebuild their lives.

The CSAH provides:

Emergency Financial Assistance,

Educational and Motivational Conferences, and even

opportunities for employment

to OIF/OEF combat-injured veterans.  In a nutshell, they do “Whatever it takes to meet the needs of hundreds of wounded and disabled American veterans, one hero at a time.”  They have already helped almost 20,000.

In order to help you thank Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom Wounded Warriors for their services both on and off the battlefield, CSAH is giving every freedom-loving patriot an opportunity to send an “America Thanks You” card absolutely FREE (or you may choose to donate) through their website.

To send your card today, click here

Free Housing for Families of Wounded Warriors: The Fisher House Foundation

Posted on by vfwlady

The Fisher House Foundation has been supplying free housing to veterans and their families since 1990.  To date, they have provided more than 3 million days of free housing to over 120,000 families. Due to the increasing number of combat casualties returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, “Fisher Houses” have become an essential part of the recovery process for America‘s “Wounded Warriors”.

The primary purpose of the Fisher House Foundation began with the goal of providing a ‘home away from home’ for military families to be close to their loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury.  Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Fisher House Foundation, several independent airlines, and passengers willing to donate their frequent flier miles: flights for families to and from the many Fisher House Homes are also free.  This is called the “Hero Miles” program.

Beyond housing, The Fisher House Foundation has worked hard to enrich the lives of veterans. By “joining forces” with the U.S. Paralympics and Department of Defense, they helped support the 2011 Warrior Games held at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

More than 200 wounded, ill or injured service members from the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Special Operations Command took part in various events.