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Mar
31
The 15th annual Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA) EVVY Book Awards Banquet was held Saturday March 28th. Tears of a Warrior won two awards. Tears of a Warrior won 1st Place EVVY Award (overall book design, writing, editing and production) in the Non-Fiction/Experiences category. Authors Tony and Janet Seahorn had a previously scheduled engagement and were not able to attend the event but they were both very honored to receive the award. Karen Saunders, owner of MacGraphics Services accepted on their behalf. Graphic designer Kerrie Lian won a 2nd Place Tech award for her compelling book cover design. Kerrie also designed the interior of the book. Karen Reddick contributed with editing and Mary Walewski is working with the authors in marketing the book.
(buythebookmarketing.com)
(Left) Karen Saunders, founder MacGraphics Services & Kerrie Lian, graphic designer
Mar
30
A Quiet Place to Wait
Filed Under American Patriotism | 1 Comment
It was early Friday morning. We were waiting in the Phoenix airport to board our flight back to Colorado after spending a week in Sedona. We went there to hike, rest, and get back to nature. The recuperation was something we needed after spending so much time on finishing our book and the grueling task of trying to market it to the public.
Writing a book is one thing, but promoting it is something even more challenging. Something we never fully comprehended. Marketing means you constantly have to be talking about a topic that you would rather put behind you. It is a necessary part of the book publishing process; yet, we truly wished there was a simpler way to get our book out there.
As we sat in the main terminal of Sky Harbor International Airport eating our light breakfast, we noticed a sign pointing to the second floor offices that read, Phoenix Military & Veterans Hospitality Room. Interesting. We wondered what a “hospitality room” for veterans looked like in an airport, so we decided to investigate. What a special place for military personnel and their families. The lounge had several computers for individuals to catch up on their e-mail. There were rooms full of books on various military topics, including PTSD. Children could play in a section close by filled with colorful beanbag chairs, games, puzzles, and activities that would help fill the time as families waited for connecting flights. A huge television set up with video games and DVDs offered entertainment of another source. A second large TV occupied a different area with several comfy reclining chairs and a small coach. On occasion, when an individual had to spend the night, a volunteer stayed with him or her for company. In addition to all the amenities, the Hospitality Center had an area filled with free snacks. Here one could munch on a variety of candies, popcorn, soups, soft drinks or a have a cup of hot coffee and tea. The entire area was set-up to make the time spent at the airport more comfortable for military personnel and their families.
All of the amenities were great, yet, the best part of the Center was the volunteers – fellow veterans who only wanted to do something to support other military personnel. They were proud of their unique center. Their only motivation was to make a small difference. They certainly are doing that and far more!
Mar
10
Celebration: New Veteran’s Center
With today’s economic and world issues, it sometimes appears there is little to celebrate. Last Friday morning was an exception. It was the opening of the new VA Clinic in Fort Collins, CO. The Center is a place where our wounded warriors can go to heal, to obtain support for both emotional and physical problems, and a place to get information. Dozens of VA dignitaries, community members, veterans and their families, as well as delegates representing Mark Udall, Michael Bennett, and Betsy Markey attended the special ribbon-cutting celebration. Unquestionably what made the celebration special were the people; people who have given so much in service of our country. And people who are giving so much to heal them: doctors, nurses, therapists, office workers, and the list grows. There were a few individuals I spoke with who moved my heart. The first was Dan Griffin. I didn’t focus on his rank or even the conflict in which he served. These details just didn’t seem all that essential to me at the time. What drew me to Dan Griffin was his solitary stance of dignity. He wore a uniform and hat filled with medals and ribbons. He didn’t mingle much, just stood in a back corner of the room watching, listening. I walked over to him, drawn by his silence and stature. It was obvious he was a shy person – even told me this himself. I asked a few questions of him and he responded to with a minimum of words. Proudly he mentioned to me that next year he will be the Commander of Post 10 of the VFWs – the largest VFW post in the state of Colorado. Then he went on to talk about last summer’s group reunion in Gunnison. He described how much he liked to fish, especially the lakes with the “Big Ones”! Upon leaving, I gave him a hug. What I really wanted to say to Dan Griffin, but the words were caught in my throat, was how much I honored and appreciated his service, his life, his courage.
Then there was Meg Corwin whose quiet sacrifice few people will ever have to endure. She had been a military person for over twenty years, recently retired and now serving on Senator Michael Bennet’s staff. Her husband was shot and killed by a sniper two years ago during his second tour of duty in Iraq. Saying “Thank You” for your service and your husband’s sacrifice just seemed a bit passé. How can one truly thank a person who has given so much? I couldn’t. Ms. Corwin showed such strength and dignity during her speech to the group. I questioned if I could be so brave in similar circumstances – whether I could talk about my loss with such control? Truly, I don’t know the answers. What I do know is this; many families have made similar sacrifices. Many families, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, spouses, children, friends mourn their loss silently with wounded hearts and spirits.
The new Veteran’s Center is a place of hope and healing for each of these exceptional individuals. If you know of a veteran or his/her family member, please be thoughtful enough to press their hands and say, “You are special to me. I will try not to forget what you have gone through; what you have given so that America can enjoy her freedom. Thank you.” Keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Do everything you can to live this motto:
If we send them, then we must mend them.
Mar
10
Freedom dogs help with PTSD
Filed Under PTSD treatment | Comments Off on Freedom dogs help with PTSD
We’ve all seen how dogs and other pets can have healing powers. A pilot program in California pairs service dogs with returning veterans with brain injuries and emotional problems. Freedom Dogs is a non-profit agency in San Diego that trains service dogs to do anything from retrieving items to providing a comforting distraction from PTSD symptons. To read the full story, click here.
Mar
6
Healing Takes Courage
Filed Under Treating PTSD | Comments Off on Healing Takes Courage
Its been almost two weeks since I last wrote a blog. We had to cancel Tony’s last EMDR session and reschedule for Monday, March 2nd. He is struggling trying to understand exactly what EMDR is supposed to do for him. He wants to analyze everything in concrete terms. That would be fine if PTSD were a concrete, cogntive issue. It is not. Trauma doesn’t first happen in the brain/mind. It happens in the sense cells of the body. These sense cells then rely the information to the brain for interpretation, and the brain determines if the stimulus from the cells is worthy of response ranging from being safe to a dangerous situation that would require the body to fight, flee, or just freeze from fear.
At the beginning of the session, Shelly, Tony’s therapist, takes him back to the first few days of being in Vietnam. When a military person is told where his/her assignment will be, there is no discussion. No bargaining saying, hey, I don’t want to go to that place because that is where most of the fighting and deaths occur. You can’t stand up and yell, “Hell no, I won’t go!” You are slowly being pushed into the decision that has been made for you by a stranger. You come to an acceptance of the situation – a realization that what is… is. Mission first. The job now is to stuff the feelings… fear, excitement, apprenhension. Shelly keeps gentle urging Tony to focus on the feelings. She is trying to getting his body to process the gaps between the mind and the body. I must say, that watching this session made me understand how much easier it is to stay in the head instead of the feeling in the body. The pain is real. Why would anyone want to go back to hell — except that only by going back will the body heal and the mind mend.
I am still being surprised at what I thought I knew but didn’t and what I never even considered as a potential problem. Yes, the whole experience of war gets dumped into the same memory box, wrapped up tightly and sealed away somewhere in the mind and body. Holy Smokes, healing combat trauma is like having to undergo an emotional chemo to survive. Just as chemo changes the cells of the body to fight against cancer cells, therapy to heal PTSD changes the cells in the mind/brain to recreate the sense cells of the body to heal from the damage of trauma.