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.
Vote for Soldiers’ Angels Hire A Hero
The Pepsi Refresh Project allows ordinary people to vote for their favorite projects that will have a positive impact on the community. Each month brings a new set of projects. This month, Soldiers’ Angels is one of the projects. All you have to do is go to the page for Hire a Hero – Soldiers’ Angels Project SAVE Support A Vet’s Employment. Soldiers’ Angels is competing for $50,000! Only 10 projects will be selected, so we need your votes, every day, from now until June 30! Currently, Hire a Hero – Soldiers’ Angels Project SAVE Support A Vet’s Employment is in 57th place. We’ve got a LONG way to go to get into the top ten. Please share this with everyone you know: share it with your email contacts, your facebook friends, tweet about it!
What do you do to give 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.
Freedom Excursions was started to take out wounded Warriors from the James A Haley VA in Tampa. But we also encourage any present or past Service Member to join us as well. You can find more info on the website: Freedom Excursions
Wow! It’s a whole new year!
I can’t believe it’s a new year already. I have been so insanely busy the last few months, which is good but means no time to blog.
Mike is doing pretty well in the civilian world. He’s still angry but he was that way before he went to Iraq so we can’t blame that on the war. I could, but it wouldn’t be right.
I’m testing this from my iPhone app, so it’s going to be short for now. But I see real possibilities with this phone. It toally rocks!!!!!!
Gotta get back to work. see you all later!
Proud Grandpa of a Deployed Soldier Mug I just made
Jump on board Project Valour-IT
Seems it is all the rage to have an armed force Soldiers’ Angels Valour-IT thermometer widget on a blog or website right now! It is not too late to join in, the fundraiser does not end until November 11th.
1.There are a variety of items up for Valour-IT auction. Go bid on one of them!
2. Go register your blog or website to join one of the 4 teams and get your own thermometer widget.
3. Make a donation – no matter how small. Remember 100% of proceeds go directly to purchase & delivery of technology to our wounded heroes.
4. Tell everyone you know about Project Valour-IT! Create a viral email or put on you Facebook wall.
5. Buy a fabulous gift for yourself or for someone for the holidays from one of the businesses supporting Valour-IT. Or buy register for the opportunity to win a beautiful Christmas quilt.
Though either Army, Air Force, Navy/Coast Guard, or Marines will be declared the winner of the competition and will gain bragging rights until next year, our wounded heroes are the winners! Go Project Valour-IT!
Proud Grandma of a Deployed Soldier Mug I just made
I admit I’ve been distracted lately. Ok, maybe distracted is too weak a word. How about overwhelmed? Yeah. That fits better.
My “duties” as a military parent are not so obvious to others now that Mike is back in the US. However, I have many organizations that I am a member of that are not dependent on what country my son is in at the time. Sometimes, they seem to overrun my life and then when I try to weed through and thin out those that I could let go of with certainty that someone would fill the position…I am at a loss. It seems that many people are not so interested in helping those outside their immediate family circle. So I will continue to be sporadic here, and keep on chugging along in all my other endeavors. One thing that can not be let go any further though is my income. Gotta pay those bills, right? So today is dedicated to getting my store in order, as well as it can be. I’ll try to space out my bombardment of new items so you aren’t wondering whether I gave up the Army Mom gig and moved over to Retail Store Mom. 
Thanks to everyone that has visited so far! I do appreciate you all!
And without further adieu.. here is my newest shirt…
Helping COP Keating Survivors
In the last 36 hours, bloggers from “left” to “right” have teamed up with the American Legion and other military support organizations to support the survivors of the battle at COP Keating. And Soldiers’ Angels has jumped in to help!
Not only did the soldiers of COP Keating fight a ferocious battle that included a breach of the base at one point, they lost eight of their brothers (while they donated blood as the battle raged) and watched their living quarters go up in smoke. A participant in the battle who got out later wrote via email, “Most people back home don’t even know, no one gives a s***.”
Well, he’s already being proven wrong!
Blogger and troop supporter extraordinaire “Tanker Babe” was the first to sound the alarm, pointing out that while the very-most basics would be replaced by the US Army, these heroes needed more. Bloggers across the political spectrum answered the call as Tanker Babe began to coordinate specific item donations of extra clothing and toiletries. Soldiers’ Angels pitched in with 54 pairs of socks and a stack of cards and letters written by kids, and within 36 hours Tanker Babe was proud to report, “Mission accomplished.”
The American Legion also stepped up to lead in lifting the morale of these brave warriors another way:
In the battle for Combat Outpost Keating, the men of Bravo Troop 361 Cavalry lost every possession they had, save for the clothes on their backs. These men have lost friends, their outpost, and all their belongings. One soldier who made it out wrote that “most people back home dont even know, no one gives a s***.” Well, many of us do. And you can prove it by giving whatever you can. These guys need things like running shoes, and other essentials, as well as some comfort items like iPods and DVD players. The American Legion has kicked in $1000 to start the fund, and your humble blogger will be the first to donate $100. I intend to get these items out by the end of next week. ANY amount you can give, no matter how small will help us prove that we care.
Congratulations to all involved in this great effort, a wonderful example of the amazing things Americans can do when we all pull together!
