Soldiers On The Mend: Care For Our Physically Disabled Veterans
A road-side bomb, a shrapnel lodging in the spine, or in the head, an undiscovered blot clot, or a bullet in the neck are just a few of the possibilities that will change a soldier's life 180 degrees. These soldiers with life altering injuries are not only facing months and sometimes years of psychological care, but they will be facing the hardest, most strenuous and grueling battle of their life.
The odyssey they will be embarking on is drawn-out, very devastating emotionally, painfully physical, crushing financially and awkward at most socially. Many will fail and become bitter and might turn to alcoholism or drug addiction, others might simply accept it and do the minimum required while putting on a good front to hide their inner fury, and the remainder will face their new challenge head-on with a courage and determination that will surprise even themselves.
Regardless of which of the categories our soldier will choose to be allocated to, when faced with a physical disability, such as amputation, paralysis, - complete or partial - deafness or blindness, - also total or partial - our young men and women will require informative articles that answer their hidden questions, - i.e. their fears, and a resource guide to meander among all the numerous ramifications of becoming physically disabled.
How does one identify one's condition? None are simply cut and dry. Each case is unique even though it may fall under a general class and oftentimes finding one symptomatic definition leads to another and it suddenly becomes a chain reaction. Paralysis is not just loss of muscular activity. Amputation is more than loss of a limb. It may have several side effects besides the obvious psychological and emotional ones.
Drastic life style changes include home modification to permit accessibility, - e.g. wider doors, lower bed or hospital bed, ramps in and out of the house, reorganizing house floor plan - and transportation adjustments, - e.g. hand controls, modified mini-van with ramp access.
The odyssey they will be embarking on is drawn-out, very devastating emotionally, painfully physical, crushing financially and awkward at most socially. Many will fail and become bitter and might turn to alcoholism or drug addiction, others might simply accept it and do the minimum required while putting on a good front to hide their inner fury, and the remainder will face their new challenge head-on with a courage and determination that will surprise even themselves.
Regardless of which of the categories our soldier will choose to be allocated to, when faced with a physical disability, such as amputation, paralysis, - complete or partial - deafness or blindness, - also total or partial - our young men and women will require informative articles that answer their hidden questions, - i.e. their fears, and a resource guide to meander among all the numerous ramifications of becoming physically disabled.
How does one identify one's condition? None are simply cut and dry. Each case is unique even though it may fall under a general class and oftentimes finding one symptomatic definition leads to another and it suddenly becomes a chain reaction. Paralysis is not just loss of muscular activity. Amputation is more than loss of a limb. It may have several side effects besides the obvious psychological and emotional ones.
Drastic life style changes include home modification to permit accessibility, - e.g. wider doors, lower bed or hospital bed, ramps in and out of the house, reorganizing house floor plan - and transportation adjustments, - e.g. hand controls, modified mini-van with ramp access.
Comments
Marilise
(Guest)
(Guest)
06/12/2009
A very interesting and thought provoking article. We all salute our heroes but it's articles like this that really make us look deeper into their side of the story and everything they have to deal with after selflessly serving our country. Very well written. I hope to read more articles like this.
Dina
(Guest)
(Guest)
06/02/2009
An interesting and important read by someone who obviously cares!
Lucy Waldman
(Guest)
(Guest)
05/31/2009
Great article, a pleasure to read, very informative and to the point.
I hope there will be more articles like this one.
Lucy Gomez
(Guest)
(Guest)
05/31/2009
A very interesting article. Brings up good points about our disabled or healing Vets..
Rosanna Tina
(Guest)
(Guest)
05/29/2009
I thoroughly enjoyed this article. Very well written, informative and it kept me interested throughout the article. Whoever wrote this, very well done!!! I hope to read more articles.
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