Homeless Alabama Veteran Home at Last

Army Veteran April Rencher is building a new life for herself with a little help from her friends at the Tuscaloosa VA. 

Photo by April Jones, Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center

By Tom Cramer

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Thirty-eight-year-old April Rencher, who spent eight years in the Army, didn’t plan on becoming homeless. She didn’t plan on ending up in rehab, either.

“I lost my employment late last year,” she said in a tired voice. 

“I’ve been working since I was 14, so it was frustrating, losing my job. On top of that I had a crisis in my family, so everything sort of snowballed from there. Things got unmanageable for me. I guess I just got tired. My whole world came screeching to a halt, and I ended up homeless.

“I had become a very dark person,” she continued. 

“But then I finally got to a point where I could ask for help. It’s hard for us Veterans to ask for help, but I went to the VA here in Tuscaloosa and got into their residential rehab program. I knew I was going to get the care I needed. They’re helping me get well. They’re very supportive of me.”

Rencher paused for a moment, then added: “They saved my life, to be honest with you. They turned me around and helped me walk in the right direction. I still have good days and bad days, but I know I’m better today than I was yesterday.”

“I’m working on building a new me.”

Rencher said learning about herself is playing a big role in her fight to recover her health, and her life.

“When I first got here my mindset was scattered,” she said. “But I’m working with the health care professionals here. They’re helping me answer the ‘why’ of things. They’re helping me clarify why I’m having some of the problems I’m having, why I was doing what I was doing. That was the main thing for me. That’s what made a big difference, understanding the ‘why.’

“I learned that I’d been neglecting myself. I was always focused on other things, this person or that person, and I never once looked at myself. But now I can actually look in the mirror and see the transformation that’s happening.

“For me to wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and like who I see, that’s very big for me,” she continued. 

“I can look at the sunshine now and appreciate it. I can look out the window and see the cats playing out there in the yard and that makes me laugh. It’s cool seeing them playing and not having a care in the world.”

The Army Veteran said one of the most beneficial aspects of residential rehab is the comradery she discovered there. “The Veterans here support each other, pretty much the way we did when we were on active duty,” she explained. 

“Going through this transition with other Veterans makes it easier for me. They understand what I’m going through. They get it. I’ve met some really wonderful people here that I want to stay in contact with them.”

Rencher said the next step in her journey is finding a place to live after she leaves rehab.

“They have apartments right here on the grounds at VA!” she beamed. “I’ve filled out an application for one. I’m waiting to see if I get it. The place is called Valor Grove. If I could live there, that would be good, because it would be easier to keep my appointments here at the hospital, easier to keep my treatment going.”

“We’re hopeful she’ll be able to get in there because it’s right here on our campus,” said Dave Gay Jr., Tuscaloosa’s homeless program coordinator. 

“We hope it works out for her, because all the support she needs is right here. This is what we’re here for, to help people put their lives back together. That’s why we come to work every day.”

“I still need some fine tuning, but so far so good,” Rencher said with a smile. “I’m working on building a new me.”

- See more at: http://www.va.gov/HEALTH/NewsFeatures/2015/October/Homeless-Alabama-Veteran-Home-at-Last.asp#sthash.knznHKJL.dpuf 

Free Flu Shots at Walgreens for Veterans

No-cost flu shot options for Veterans

Free at Walgreens – Bring your VA ID And use the code in this story

Flu season is here, and getting your flu shot has never been easier. Remember that getting vaccinated is the single best way to protect yourself, as well as your loved ones, against the flu virus.
This year, enrolled Veterans of the VA health care system have several options to get a seasonal flu shot. VA offers more options, easy access, and seamless records – the choice is yours.

So what are your options?

You may opt to get a free flu shot at your local VA health care facility.
Or you may choose to go to your neighborhood Walgreens.
As an enrolled VA patient, you can get a no-cost flu shot at Walgreens from August 1, 2015 – March 31, 2016.

 VA health care facilities

You may receive a no-cost flu shot during any scheduled appointment, if you are admitted to one of our VA health care facilities, or at one of the convenient walk-in flu stations.
For more information on locations and hours contact your local VA health care facility.

Walgreens nationwide

If you are a Veteran patient in the VA system, you may choose to get a no-cost flu shot at a local Walgreens between now and March 31, 2016.
No appointment is required; simply go to any Walgreens, tell the pharmacist you receive care at a VA facility and show your Veterans Identification Card and another form of photo ID. Use Group Code # 5933XBAYV.
Your immunization record will be updated electronically in your local VA electronic health record.

Non-VA Providers and Pharmacies

Many local retail pharmacies offer flu shots that may be covered by private insurance or programs such as Medicare. If you do not have insurance, there will usually be a charge.
View this video for more information about VA’s national immunization initiative to provide Veterans more options, easier access, and seamless records when it comes to getting their seasonal flu shot.

77-year-old Veteran quits smoking... Smoked for 55 Years

October 2, 2015,--A smoker for 55 years, John Crawford didn’t start feeling the effects of the habit until age 77– about six months ago. With an increase in shortness of breath and a nagging cough, Crawford remembered his primary care physician telling him about a smoking cessation class at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, S.C.

“I couldn’t even go to the mailbox and back without stopping to catch my breath. It was that bad,” said Crawford. “The severe ‘smoker’s cough’ and shortness of breath scared me. I had never tried to quit. I thought I was immune to smoking problems.”

Crawford began attending the smoking cessation class at the medical center each Tuesday. He is proud to say that he is now six months smoke-free and that he found support through the education

.

The classes are led by Kathy McCormick, Substance Abuse Coordinator. She offers reminders on the hazards of smoking as well as information on various medical aids that are available to assist in kicking the habit.

“Mr. Crawford came to smoking cessation with the belief that he was giving up his best friend,” said McCormick.  

“As he shared and listened to others in the group, he came to believe that this was something he could do and wanted to do.   The smoking cessation group was designed to decrease barriers for Veterans wanting to quit smoking.   

"The group is an open door group where Veterans are provided with education, motivation and rewards for their progress.”

After just two weeks in the program Crawford was already realizing the positive effects of being smoke free. 

A family trip to the Brookgreen Gardens required a substantial amount of walking to get around and view the art, history and zoo. 

Crawford was surprised to find that his breathing and cough were already improving and he was able to enjoy that time with his family.

“I have found the whole experience of quitting to be much easier than I anticipated,” said Crawford. “I am getting support from my family and classmates and my health has already improved significantly.”

Click here for additional resources available to Veterans who want to quit smoking.

by Erin Curran, Public Affairs Specialist                                                                                                         
Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center

VA Awards $8 Million in Adaptive Sport Grants to Aid Disabled Veterans

Grants promote rehabilitation, health and wellness and community reintegration

WASHINGTON, September 17, 2015 – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald today announced the awarding of up to $8 million in grants to eligible recipients with experience managing large scale adaptive sports programs for disabled Veterans and disabled Service members of the Armed Forces.

The grant recipients may use these funds for planning, developing, managing and implementing adaptive sports programs.

The VA is awarding the Grants to national governing bodies, which prepare high-level athletes for Paralympic competition; Veterans service organizations; city and regional municipalities; and other community groups to provide a wide range of adaptive sports opportunities for eligible Veterans and Service members.

The Grants will support sports ranging from rowing, cycling and skiing to golf, fly fishing and equestrian sports.

“Adaptive sports help Veterans heal both physically and emotionally,” said Secretary McDonald. “We are proud to partner with organizations nationwide to provide these rehabilitative opportunities for America’s Veterans.”

VA will distribute the grants to 89 national, regional and community programs serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam. Approximately 10,000 Veterans and Service members are expected to benefit.

Information about the awardees and details of the program may be found at www.va.gov/adaptivesports . 

For Veterans with Gulf War Illness, an Explanation for the Unexplainable Symptoms

Newswise , September 14, 2015)—One in four Gulf War veterans suffers from Gulf War Illness (GWI). New preliminary research to be presented at Physiological Bionergetics: From Bench to Bedside shows for the first time direct evidence of greater mitochondrial damage in Gulf War veterans.

The condition is characterized by unexplainable chronic fatigue, muscle pain and cognitive dysfunction and may be associated with exposure to chemicals, many identified as genotoxins, during deployment.

Previous studies suggest that the symptoms of GWI are due to dysfunction of the mitochondria, the site in cells where molecules that power the body’s processes are produced. Not producing enough energy slows down the body and leaves the individual feeling tired.

The mitochondrion has its own DNA, separate from the cell’s, that encodes the proteins needed to produce the molecules that power the body’s processes.

Damage to the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) directly affects the mitochondria’s ability to function and produce energy. Increases in the amount of mtDNA have been associated with disease.

In this study, researchers measured the mtDNA amount and degree of mtDNA damage in blood cells from blood samples from veterans with GWI. Compared with healthy non-deployed controls, Gulf War veterans had more mtDNA content and greater mtDNA damage.

According to the researchers, these findings further support that mitochondrial dysfunction may be involved in GWI. “Future studies are necessary to confirm these findings and determine their association with mitochondrial function. Work in this area may guide new diagnostic testing and treatments for veterans suffering from GWI,” the researchers wrote.

Yang Chen, MS, doctoral researcher at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, will present “Mitochondrial DNA is damaged in military veterans with fatiguing conditions” as part of the symposium “Translational Bioenergetics” on Thursday, Sept. 10, at 5:05 PM EDT in the Harbour Island Ballroom of the Westin Tampa Harbour Island.

This work was conducted with funding from Veteran Affairs (VA) Clinical Science Research & Development Service awarded to Michael J. Falvo, PhD, at the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center at VA-New Jersey Health Care System in East Orange, N.J.

About the American Physiological Society
Physiology is the study of how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function in health and disease. Established in 1887, the American Physiological Society (APS) was the first U.S. society in the biomedical sciences field. The Society represents more than 11,000 members and publishes 14 peer-reviewed journals with a worldwide readership.

UofL Honors Veterans on 70th Anniversary of WWII’s Ending

 

August 15, 2015— LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Several units at the University of Louisville will join together with groups from throughout Louisville and the United States to commemorate the end of World War II.
“Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive! 70th Anniversary of the End of WWII” will be held Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 15 and 16.

With the surrender of Japan on Aug. 14, 1945, the Second World War came to a close. Activities for the 70th Anniversary are planned throughout the United States. The website

www.spiritof45.org provides more information.

“As time goes on, we lose more and more of the people whose service, both in the theater of war and on the home front, protected our freedoms during the dark days of World War II,” said University of Louisville President James R. Ramsey. “That is why the University of Louisville is honored to take part in commemorations such as Keep the Spirit of ’45 Alive. 

“We must never forget what our Greatest Generation sacrificed so that we can all be free.”

In Louisville, Saturday’s commemoration will take place at the Vintage WarBirds Hangar 5 at Bowman Field, 2700 Gast Blvd. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., exhibits, demonstrations and entertainment will evoke memories of Louisville during World War II. 

Vintage military equipment, vehicles and aircraft will be on display, along with other historical exhibits. Attendees who remember the war will have the opportunity to record their WWII memories for future generations. 

Entertainment will be provided by the Ladies of Liberty, a three-woman singing troupe that performs 1940s hits in the style of the Andrews Sisters. Admission is free.

From 6 to 10 p.m. in the same location, a “Canteen Dinner and Dance” will be held, also featuring the Ladies of Liberty and the Don Krekel Orchestra performing big-band hits of the period. Admission is $45 per person.

Sunday, Aug. 16, is “Honor Flight Night” at VFW Post #1170, 107 Evergreen Rd. in Middletown. The Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to making it possible for veterans to travel to Washington, D.C., to see the World War II, Korean and Vietnam War memorials.

Kentucky’s Bluegrass Chapter of Honor Flight will honor those World War II veterans who are unable to make the trip. Dinner will feature a video showing the 2015 D-Day Honor Flight on June 6 to the World War II Memorial. Admission for veterans and their guests is free. 

Honor Flight Night is sponsored by the Office of the President at the University of Louisville. Participating in Saturday’s events will be UofL’s Institute for Sustainable Health & Optimal Aging, School of Dentistry, Kent School of Social Work and Department of History. Other sponsors include the Frazier History Museum, the Kentucky Historical Society, Jean Frazier and a variety of military and veterans organizations.