Final Respects

Cyril Miller

From the VA Puget Sound Health Care System Community Living Center (CLC), Cyril Miller writes:

"Last Wednesday I was sitting in this chair having a massage and I noticed the chaplain coming up the hallway in somewhat of a rush.
He went into the third ward and was there for about 15 or 20 minutes. Then I noticed the gurney, with a flag draped over the remains of one of our fallen brothers, who had just passed.

As they stepped into the hallway, I also noticed the complete silence.
There was not a noise anywhere on the floor.
The charge nurse and everybody had stopped

The chaplain brought the remains into the middle of the hallway. All the nurses who had attended this particular patient, and some of them who just worked on this floor, gathered around the remains and bowed their heads.

I'm sitting here observing this because I'd never seen this before. The chaplain said a prayer, the wife kissed the remains, and then they started down the hallway.
As they passed, everyone in the hallway - people who were coming and going, people going to the dining room - all the men saluted, and all the women put their hands over their hearts.

After they had left the area, I went up to one of the nurses and I said "I've never seen anything like this before. What's up? I've never seen anyone taken out like that.  It was so moving, so professional, so caring. The way everyone went over to hug the family and give their condolences, it was like they were a member of the family. These people here were like members of the families. This is amazing."

She said to me, "Mr. Miller, we take all of our losses. We grieve for every one that we lose,  and because they're passed, our responsibility does not stop. They are still our patient. We will treat them with dignity and respect and professionalism, because they have served their country and they deserve every respect and honor that we can give them."

That was powerful for me. I just wanted to share this with the readers, because I want you to know about those people on the CLC, and about the grief that they show when they lose someone. I'll never forget that.

---Cyril Miller

American Legion TBI and PTSD Survey - Deadline February 28

The American Legion is conducting a survey on Traumatic Brain Injury - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (TBI-PTSD).
If you might have TBI or PTSD, take a few minutes to fill it out. Participation is completely voluntary, but the information you choose to provide may help improve treatment for other veterans, based on your experience.
You may fill out the survey here through February 28, 2014.

• Take the Survey
• Read the American Legion's report "The War Within".

Superbowl Day At The VA Hospital

The 12th Man At The VA Hospital

Sunday was Superbowl Day, of course.
In the run-up to the game, the VA Puget Sound Health Care System Facebook page sported several photos of the staff showing their green and blue. (If you're a Facebooker, why not "like" their page?)
From the photos we can see that the staff is pretty diverse; some misguided souls were wearing orange. This goes to show that everyone is welcome here, even Broncos.

Patients and Staff Come From All Over.
Apparently, Even From Denver.

On the day itself, the game was on many televisions in patient rooms, lobbies and lounges. As many veteran/patients as possible gathered in common spaces for a little football therapy. In the Building 1 Chapel, chaplains had deployed grief counselors for Denver fans.

Why Is Saturday A Good Day To Visit the VA Hospital?

Saturday at the VA Hospital

Today I stopped by the VA Puget Sound Health System hospital in Seattle  to visit a friend. Here's some practical things that I learned:

1. Parking: Usually when I stop by the hospital during the work week, I have to drive around the lot looking for an empty spot, often ending up in the neighborhood. There's always a line of cars waiting to offload patients by the main entrance. (The valets work fast, but it takes time to help people into wheelchairs!) However, on Saturday there were no lines, as you can see in the photo. I would therefore recommend that if you don't enjoy spending time hunting for a parking space, ask if you can arrange your appointment on a Saturday. It's not always possible, but what does it hurt to ask?
2. Information: I didn't know where my friend was in the complex; it has a lot of buildings and, frankly, they all look alike to me. This turned out not to be a problem. I went in the front door and asked the guard, who aimed me at the clerk in the room to the left. The clerk looked up Cyril's name in the computer, said he was on "3 East", and gave me directions. This was pretty straightforward and reasonably quick.
3. Navigation: The guard offered to show me where I was headed, but I felt I could find it on my own. I found out that the directions were correct but when you're told to take the next left, it is understood that it does not include any door marked "Construction Do Not Enter". There's a lot of improvements going on right now, and we just have to walk around it until it's done.

4. 

   Waiting Area On 3 East

   No Waiting On Saturday? As I proceeded, I saw that the clinic waiting areas were all pretty empty. I am told that there's a limited clinic schedule on Saturday, and it looks if you can get an appointment then, you might not have much time in the waiting room.
5. Nomenclature: I was initially confused by the term "3 East". I knew I was in Building 1 and that there was a Building 10 and a Building 100, but I couldn't find a Building 3 on the maps on the wall. Luckily a passing doctors straightened me out: "3 East" is the third floor of the building I was in! He went with me to the elevator and the problem was solved. 
6. Staff Attention: After this, my visit went pretty much like a visit to any other hospital. When I got off the elevator, I couldn't see a nursing station, but I went left around the corner and there it was. I asked for help locating my friend, and they directed me to his room in a friendly way.

   

   Get a Book From
   the Book Cart,
   Bring Something
   to Donate Too!

   I visited for about half an hour, during which time the place was very quiet but I could see the staff constantly working. A nurse came in to check something medical, an orderly came to remove the lunch tray, another orderly stopped by to do some cleaning, and then the nurse returned to check how much water he'd drunk (scolding him a little bit in the process - just like hospitals everywhere!) In other words, this seemed like a very normal hospital stay.
7. Book Cart: On the way out, I looked at the book cart located in the hall near the pay window. If you have to hang around this place for a while, go to the book cart for something more substantial to read than a magazine. Please note: the cart is stocked by whatever books people leave - people just like you!  I suggest that if you have a book at home that you're done with, bring it along next time to leave at the cart. Some other veteran will read it and thank you!

RAND Resources on PTSD

Combat veterans and survivors of violence, natural disasters, and terrorism have often experienced disturbing events that may lead to psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The RAND Corporation performs a lot of  research evaluating the delivery of post-deployment mental health care to combat veterans, examined the treatment capacity of health care systems in response to PTSD, and estimated the costs of providing quality mental health care to all affected individuals - and much of this is free for you to read at  http://www.rand.org/topics/ptsd.html.
A few of the more recent examples include:

• Out of the Shadows, Into the Light: Why Americans Should Care About the Health of Contractors Deploying to Conflict Environments— Jan 21, 2014
  In contrast to the numerous mental health resources available to members of the U.S. military, very few (if any) resources are available to help private contractors struggling with mental health problems. It is in the best interest of all involved to ensure that contractors receive the support and treatment they need.
• Lasting Consequences of World War II Means More Illness, Lower Education, and Fewer Chances to Marry for Survivors — Jan 21, 2014
  Experiencing World War II is associated with a greater chance of suffering from diabetes, depression, and heart disease as adults. And because so many men died during the war, fewer women married and many children were left to grow up without fathers.
• They Also Serve: Understanding the Needs of Military Caregivers — Nov 18, 2013Military families play a critical role in supporting U.S. servicemembers during deployment and afterwards. Equally vital but often less visible is the role played by those who care for the servicemembers who return with disabling injuries or illnesses and require long-term support beyond what the formal health care system provides.

This is just a sample of the highly authoritative information waiting for you at http://www.rand.org/topics/ptsd.html

Farewell, Airman Booker

Airman William L. Booker

William L. Booker was one of the last of the Tuskegee Airmen living in our state. He was a very active and involved man, an engineer contributing to our nation's defense systems and a family man. You can learn more about him at this obituary and hear his community talk about him at his memorial service.
In the past year, Mr. Booker and his family sought treatment from VA Puget Sound Health Care System. The staff at the Hospital in Seattle gave both him and his family top quality help in a difficult time, and the family has asked that we give them well-deserved recognition. Mr. Booker's final illness was this December; he and his family came to the hospital for his last hours.
Many staff members contributed to making his inevitable passing more peaceful; it is not possible to mention all of them, but they include the nurses Lomi and Rene, Doctors Murphy-Rose and Kimbley Kenebel, and the chaplain who ministered to Mr. Booker and his families throughout the dark of the night.
Veterans and Friends of Puget Sound were honored to work with the Booker family and the VA in the last year of his life. His family tells us they are very pleased with the care he received, and want to ensure that we all recognize the staff's good work. Farewell, Airman!

We're On Facebook Now

http://www.facebook.com/vafpugetsound is the new Facebook address for Veterans And Friends of Puget Sound.
If you're a Facebooker, check us out and join the conversation!