Help Him Know We All Care

My son's best friend stepped on an IED several weeks ago.  He's now back in the states in a hospital room undergoing surgeries, trying to heal, hoping his sight will return.  The doctors have done all they can for his eyes/head injury.

Sam is an American hero.  He's 21 and a newlywed.  Amanda is his young wife.  They're from Montana.  I don't know how long they'll be at Brooke Army Medical Center.

Please show Sam and Amanda you care about them and our soldiers.

Send a letter or a card.

It can be your Veteran's Day activity.

Pfc Sam Helmer
c/o Brooke Army Medical Center
Bldg. 3600 7 East Room 714 Bed 2
3551 Roger Brooke Dr.
Ft. Sam Houston, TX 78234

Thanks from another soldier's mother!!!!

Simmering

Put 90 some individuals into an apartment building.

Add in a common dining area.  A common activity/television room.

Let's propose that 40% of the residents have psych issues, some diagnosed-some not.

The population consists of older folks with health issues and some younger folks who flamed out early due to substance abuse.

On the weekends the administration vanishes, leaving a nurse and a med tech, and the kitchen staff.

Outbursts happen.

One resident can not go 4 hours without a disparaging remark about the facility, the staff, the food, his royal background....mostly under his breath but once on awhile at the top of his lungs.

Another thinks she's the gate keeper for the entire place writing down who broke rules and taking pictures with her cell phone.

Simmer and stir well.

There were several incidents this week that caused mayhem and one necessitated calling in the po-po.

There were also the usual calls to the paramedics for chest pain and or extreme pain where the resident insists we call 911.

Nursing school never taught mediation or how to break up a physical fight.  I think they need to add those classes to the curriculum.  JMHO.

Constant Change

McArmy, me, Montana, StMary

Changes have been the only constant in my life recently.

They changed the nursing position at my work which cuts my hours and my contact with residents.  Starting November 1 I will be in charge if insulin dependent residents.  Pill popping will be turned over to med techs.  I will be doing lots more paperwork including care plans, new admits, auditing the MARs for errors, and other responsibilities not quite defined.  I don't know if I'll like this or not.

My favorite med tech, the one I work with on weekends, left for a much better opportunity.  I'm thrilled she's got a great new job.  I'm sad for me and the residents.  Rose had been there for over 3 years.  She was awesome!!

McArmy's best buddy got blown up in Afghanistan.  Montana(A nickname I call him in real life) stepped on an IED. This is better than driving over an IED the blast goes outward.  Montana has shrapnel injuries on his left side, he almost lost his left eye, TBI, and various other explosion related injuries.  Please pray for Montana to regain his vision.  Montana is now at Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas, his 19yo wife by his side.   He'd been deployed less than 6 weeks.

I burst into tears when I saw the pictures of him last night.  It's not super bad but I cried for him and the pain he's suffered.  I cried for his new bride.  I cried for the man who was so excited about being deployed and serving his country.

Then I cried some for me.  Because it might be McArmy in 13 months. Because these things do happen to people we know.  There is NO magic field that protects us from tragedy, harm, war, the bad things.  Twenty one years old, married since May, and he was blown up.

I cried for those lives lost and soldiers injured since 2001 in Afghanistan and Iraq.

I cried because this isn't a war our children should be fighting.  I cried because we, as a country, should be smart enough to get out of the Middle East now and forever.

(McArmy was very upset about his friend and will be visiting him at Thanksgiving.)