HOW salutes ‘Welcome Home a Hero’

The Welcome Home a Hero program at DFW Airport ended after 7 years 9 months of service on March 14, 2012. Since the program’s inception in June 2004, North Texans welcomed home more than 920,000 troops over 2,900 days at the DFW Airport location alone. More than 10,000 individual volunteers and groups greeted troops as they returned for two weeks of rest and recuperation – from school children and business professionals to community leaders and veterans – each one to show support and make a difference in the lives in our returning soldiers.

A special “thank you” to all who participated.  There are still many ways to support the troops and show our gratitude to the men and women in uniform. Heroes on the Water is listed in the brochure as one of the non-profits making a difference. Visit http://www.heroesonthewater.org/ and find ways to get involved.

Volunteer champion, Donna Cranston, with the Defenders of Freedom, was at the airport every day during this period with the exception of a few vacations that she took with her family. She was recognized by Lt. General Campbell and other dignitaries for her service. The U.S. Army closed Personnel Assistance Point operations at DFW Airport in response to a decrease of deployed service members in the Middle East.

Freedom Captured.

"Welcome Home a Hero"

Its Brain Health Awareness Week ....

In time for Brain Awareness Week, March 12-18, an article by the Center for Brain Health in a recent newsletter focuses on Traumatic Brain Injury and its effects.

                                   

Heroes on the Water has served thousands of injured active duty military and veterans, and over the past four years has helped many of them realize  breakthroughs while dealing with the challenges of Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder through kayak fishing and the outdoors.

This article helps us to better understand the challenges many of our veterans face upon returning home and in reintegrating with society.

                                    Traumatic Brain Injury

    

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), a form of acquired brain injury, occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. TBI can result when the head suddenly and  violently hits an object, or when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue. With military members, this is often the result of a concussive blast or  explosion. Symptoms of a TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the damage to the brain.

Read more about TBI here

http://veterans.vermont.gov/healthcare/tbi

http://www.oasas.ny.gov/tbi/severity.cfm

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tbi/tbi.htm 

Heroes on the Water Impact: 

“I will never forget one of the kids we took fishing on the coast,” said Jim Dolan, HOW’s national coordinator.  “He was totally lost in whatever had happened to him in the Middle East and, when he responded to our questions, his responses usually consisted of one word. “The first fish that he caught resulted in a big grin.  Forty eight hours and several fish later, he was looking us in the eye and speaking in three or four word sentences.  We didn’t cure that kid but we put a crack in the shell where he was able to see something other than his own problems.”

Freedom Captured.

25 Wounded Warriors Kayak Fishing at San Pablo Reservoir

What a fantastic day for 25 wounded warriors from 5 different Veterans Administration in-patient clinics who  went kayak fishing with the Northern California Chapter of Heroes on the Water... We had perfect weather as the day before was hard core rain. Volunteers numbered close to 30 and vets were greeted with homemade breakfast burritos…  This could have easily been the highlight of the day as they were so good!!! Lunch followed with HUGE hamburgers, chili dogs, fruit, potato salad, Tabouli, soda, chips..etc… etc...

Vets started deploying on the water, some with one on one guides and others in groups. Another group just wanted to shore fish and immediately we had a hook up which got everyone excited. About 6 of the vets we never saw again till we had our bass boat go out and call them back in.. easily 3 to 4 hours out on the water…

Many stories of the big ones that got away and some that did not. Many other first time experiences of vets who have never caught a fish, and especially from a kayak.

Everyone including the therapist had an excellent time and could not say enough about HOW and what we were doing.

Special Thanks to East Bay Municipal Utilities District for making this so easy to put on, helping us with fees, quagga muscle inspection and just being a fantastic host.

Here is a link to ncka.org with our local report…
 http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php/topic,36333.0.html

Norcal HOW…
All is well….
Don Anglin, Chapter Coordinator

**********

When you help a Veteran..........

Have a look at what "San Marcos Daily Record" has to say about us.

" Over a million military veterans, from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, have returned to the U S badly wounded and hurting. They must deal with injuries both visible and invisible. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) are very prevalent and cause long term problems. All theses wounded warriors need help.

When you help Heroes on the Water, you help a veteran. When you help a veteran, you help their family. When you help a veteran and their family, everybody wins."

See more at:   http://www.sanmarcosrecord.com/sports/x1704535160/Heroes-on-Water-easing-trauma-for-wounded-soldiers 

Experience - A Post from HOW Tidewater's Chapter

Mr. William Ragulsky talks about his involvement in HOW .William is the 2012 president of Tidewater Kayak Anglers Association, on the Pro Staff of Hurricane Kayaks, and a volunteer with the Tidewater Chapter of Heroes on the Water.


"I have been in the outdoors since before I could remember.  Many of the values I have today came from fishing and hunting with my family.  My passion for the water came when my dad brought home our first canoe. " 
See more at http://how-tidewaterchapter.blogspot.com/2012/02/my-experience.html#comment-form

The Wonders water can do!!

Recovering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury can be a lengthy process.  It involves two essential processes: restoration of functions that can be restored and learning how to do things differently when functions cannot be restored to pre-injury level. Chances are high that the person may not even remember their basic habits.  Individuals with traumatic brain injuries are often unaware of their errors and can become frustrated or angry and place the blame for communication difficulties on the person to whom they are speaking. Reading and writing abilities are often worse than those for speaking and understanding spoken words. Simple and complex mathematical abilities are often affected. 

The Rehabilitation process can be done in two phases. The basic skills should be strengthened before other complex skills could be restored. Simple tasks like solving math puzzles and reading could help in restoring the basic skills. The next step, involving them in group outdoor activities like kayak fishing, restores their ability to be independent and reintegrate back into the normal world. We at Heroes on the Water take pride in bringing a change in their lives.

Being out in the water on their own helps they overcome their mental challenges. Everybody is equal in a kayak. Anybody can do it. We have kayaks you can pedal with your legs or paddle with your arms. The connection they experience with Mother Nature when they kayak, rejuvenates and changes their brain activity. 

This change can be seen in the story of one of our participants. She was in a coma for three long years. Today, she is living in Livermore VA Hospital, California as a functioning adult, but has virtually no short or long term memory. In other words, she could not tell you what happened last year, or earlier today. Until now.

Heroes on the Water (HOW), arranged for our wounded veteran to spend a day on the water kayak fishing. Her recreational therapist called us three days later extremely excited.  The veteran remembered going kayak fishing!  Her day on the water made such a positive impact in her life that her brain decided to treasure the memory. Her kayak fishing trip "cracked the shell" and allowed her to take the first, important steps forward in regaining her memory.  

Dr. John Hart is a brain specialist at the Center for Brain Health in Dallas. He has conducted extensive research with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). We asked him to explain the effectiveness of Heroes on the Water. Why does being on the water and kayak fishing, have such a profound positive impact on our veterans? This is what he said.

"When they first arrive, they see a group of people having fun. Puts them at ease. Very similar to the military band of brothers. A group they want to be part of. Fishing and joking around with their buddies relaxes them.

The main change comes from water. Water impacts all five senses at the same time with a very positive, powerful image and memory. The good memories from their day on the water helps override the bad memories and images that haunt them. And possibly crack the shell letting them rejoin the world. Like our lady in California."

Freedom Captured.

Reference: 

The Brain Injury Resource center

http://www.headinjury.com

US National Library of Medicine
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001923/

The War Inside.....

Like a Sun, in his last deep hour;
Watched the magnificent recession of farewell
Clouding, half gleam, half glower,
And a last splendor  burn the heavens of his cheek.
And in his eyes
The cold stars lighting, very old and bleak,
In different skies. 
-Wilfred Owen

He was a warrior. He is not in the war front anymore. But he is struggling inside. He is fighting a war within himself. 

For a warrior, to see his fellow men bleed , experience excruciating pain and die in front of his eyes is a dreadful experience. This sight can pass in a few minutes but it remains in their inner mind for long. This may show up later and affect their routine . This condition is commonly called PTSD ( Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). 

Common symptoms of  PTSD include

• Intrusive, upsetting memories of the event
• Flashbacks (acting or feeling like the event is happening again)
• Nightmares (either of the event or of other frightening things)
• Feelings of intense distress when reminded of the trauma
• Intense physical reactions to reminders of the event (e.g. pounding heart, rapid breathing, nausea, muscle tension, sweating)

Army  Spc Brandon Garrison is a a veteran who was in the Afghanistan war front. He could not come out of the mental picture of the gory situation he was in. 

"Inside, Garrison fights a rage that consumes most of his days since returning from 17 months of combat in Afghanistan. It's a demon that shows no mercy and interrupts even simple routines like eating and sleeping. At any moment, halfway through a football game or in the middle of the night, he can lose himself to this evil."

Reintegrating back into their family and leading a normal life in the society is not an easy task for them. We at Heroes on the Water are helping them forget the traumatic experiences by taking them out for Kayak fishing. 

At a recent outing in Mansfield, TX, we heard from the wife of a wounded soldier..."

"Hear that laugh? That's his real laugh. I don't get to hear that at home". Heroes on the Water took Ray and his wife, Becky, fishing on a small lake. A group of us were onshore talking and Ray was with a Marine vet on the small pond catching fish. Becky had been talking about how fishing keeps him going. Then we heard a good belly laugh.


Being in a Kayak does not need any supervision. It is something they can do independently. Kayaking out in the water for long hours, relaxes their mind  and helps them great deal in dealing with PTSD's eccentric conditions. 


References:
US National Library of Medicine
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001923/


Military Resources:
http://www.military.com/

Stanford School of Medicine:
http://ruralhealth.stanford.edu/videos/patient-stories/heroes-on-water/