Reiki helps PTSD

Letter from Wendy

April 8, 2017

To all members, participants, veterans, families, volunteers and donors;

Today marks the 4-year anniversary of the day we received the keys to this building.  What a roller coaster 4 years it has been.  Our non-profit organization, Operation Revamp had been in existence since early 2010 but had no home for the Veterans Art Center.  On April 8, 2013 that all changed.

 

A day earlier family and a few close friends had gathered at my house for a celebration of life honoring my late husband, Jim.  I had symptoms of appendicitis. On the morning of April 8, I met the owner and realtor at the building, signed all the contracts and the offer to purchase and headed out the door with the key. 

Two wonderful blue star moms from Oklahoma, Joretta and Carol, here for Jim’s celebration of life, met me on the sidewalk armed with buckets, cleaners and paint.  They were clear on their intent to get this place cleaned up and ready because it was ‘for the veterans’.  With the help of Dallas and his wife Michelle, the five of us cleaned, sorted, painted, renovated, installed toilets, flooring, ceiling tiles, and found an electrician to get all the non-functioning lights working.  The long hours of dedication by these few committed volunteers paid off and on May 1, we opened the doors of the Veterans Art Center.

When we first opened, there was not much ready besides offices, restrooms and the main studio.  In June we opened the gallery and hosted our first Veterans Art Exhibit, and in July we started our first art classes; pen and ink drawing and wood carving.  In July we also began work on a music room and continued cleaning, sorting, repairs, renovations and painting in the rest of the building.

My initial vision of a fully equipped art center for Veterans and families to heal through art had become a reality and each day we progressed with more space, equipment, supplies and materials to complete that vision.  We started on a

woodshop, the print shop, sculpture studio, and a storefront to help sell veterans and family artwork. We also progressed even faster than anticipated with participants signing up for the programs and services we offered.

What has been our impact in the past 4 years?  295 active participants clocked 4166 hours of use in our first year.  In the 2015-16 fiscal year, those numbers had grown to 1026 participants and 18108 hours of use.  Entering our 4^th quarter of the 2016-17 year, we have already recorded over 16,000 hours.  A total of 2154 veterans or family members have accessed our programs since we opened in 2013.  Currently we serve approximately 72% veterans, 77% of whom are repeat participants.

Services have expanded well beyond art, although healing art and mental wellness remain our primary mission.  We also offer alternative healing arts including yoga, acupuncture, reiki and essential oils; emergency assistance and services; transportation; resources and referrals; computers, phone fax and internet; non-cash awards to veterans for art supplies and equipment; small business start-up; an RC Car Club, and of equal importance, camaraderie and fellowship.  We participate in community events and parades and host free concerts, exhibitions, workshops and activities to the public.

The participants themselves can best sum up the results of the services we offer.  According to evaluations, we have helped with stable housing, skills and employment, improved mental health, resolved a crisis, helped with emergency needs, provided transportation, and provided food.   Comments include frequently repeated statements from “this place saved my life” to “there needs to be a center like this in every city”.  Mention has been made regarding the ability to decrease harmful meds after coming here, lessening of PTSD symptoms, and overall improvement in health and wellness. 

How do we accomplish all of this?  We are all-volunteer and have a fantastic core team of volunteers who put in regular hours.  Over 75% of our 11,000 plus volunteer hours in the last fiscal year was by veterans and family members.  The core volunteers including me, manage all of the administration, networking, outreach, finances, grant research, social media, record-keeping, volunteer management, studio oversight and art instruction.  Other volunteer activities include general cleaning and upkeep, maintenance, events, fundraising, promotion, teaching, cooking, data-entry, construction and general labor.  Our volunteers are a very important part of our organization and volunteering has helped many of our veterans and families along their path to healing.

Finally, we do this with the support of our many donors and sponsors who help us out financially and with in-kind donations of art supplies and equipment.  We struggle daily to make ends meet but we make it through with the generosity of those who help us and we would not exist without our donors, be they individuals, organizations or businesses.    

Personally, I have seen the successes of many, the challenges overcome, the healing and gratitude.  Our motto “Helping Vets Heal” is our mission on a daily basis and the impact and results are evident on a daily basis.  I cannot express in words the emotion and gratitude for the many volunteers, participants and donors who make this possible and help so many. My vision has become a reality and has exceeded expectations.  I love you all.

Sincerely,

 Wendy J Hoffman

Art and Music Extravaganza

The Veterans Art Center is looking for Volunteers (some kid friendly) for their Art and Music Extravaganza to be held on Veterans Day, Wednesday November 11, 2015. Some of the opportunities include: Set Up for the Art Gallery, Live and Silent Auctions, Tables for Raffle and VSO. From 8am to 1pm or any part you are available. Unload: 8-10am Load: 9-10pm Volunteer Check In Table: 8am to 7pm Gofers for Set Up, Sound, Auctions, Raffle, Theater, Art Gallery, Entertainment : All day, name your times between 8am to 9pm. Cashiers for Art Gallery: Auctions, 12:45pm to 9pm. Sound Board Operators: Noon to 9pm. Veterans Art Center Veterans Day Art and Music Extravaganza, Veterans Day, 2015 - This years Art and Music Extravaganza will take place November 11, 2015, at The Avalon from 1pm to 9pm. It is FREE and open to everyone. - Commemorating Veterans on Their Day, The Veterans Art Center has prepared a day of Live Music including seven, yes 7 bands, Story Tellers, Poets, Dancers, a Live and Silent Auction and Raffle. The Mesa County Public Library will be showing Videos from the Veterans Remember Project, local Veterans telling their stories. http://mesacountylibraries.org/blog/2015/07/31/new-videos-added-to-veterans-remember-project/ There will be an Art Show to also enjoy from talented local Veteran Artists. Stroll in at any time or spend the whole day Honoring Our Veterans. Thank You. Greg Merschel, 208-5620 Wendy Hoffman, 462-3126 or 424-2312

Veterans Art - Military Family Art

Created at the Veteran's Art Center

Around the Studio

A short video of some of our activities at the Veterans Art Center

Veteran’s Art Center in Grand Junction offers art, music & more

Veteran’s Art Center in Grand Junction offers art, music & more | PostIndependent.com

My aha moment - Helping Veterans Heal

Mother to Mother - Snout in My Pocket

by Mavis McDowell

Our goal of raising a service dog for my son isn’t so easy to obtain. I’ve written about our white Doberman Freja before. She is a high-spirited puppy. She is also a very large puppy. She has gone from 10 pounds when we got her at eight weeks to around 65 pounds at 5 ½ months. She is large enough that it’s difficult to keep things out of her reach. The biggest problem we are having is that she’s difficult to control in public. She thinks she should defend us against every person that walks down the street and every car that drives by. So that is the challenge for this month to get her to accept that we are not being threatened. .
My husband and I became impatient with my son for not paying attention to the training with the dog. Having health challenges myself, I wasn’t vigilant enough to notice that my son might be having petit mall seizures during the day when we thought he wasn’t paying attention. I should have known better. I asked him and he said he was fine each time. But that’s all they ever say. I don’t think the person is really aware when they have laps of consciousness. I watched, but didn’t see. Some families refuse to recognize that a member could be having mini seizures. Several people I know had them from TBI. We attributed his lack of response to the puppy as still being consumed by his ailing Pekinese pal. Our little Pekinese did pass away, two weeks ago. We had the cremation ceremony and everything was done to bring closure for my son. Then his attention drifting away from Freja and his failure to give her the necessary commands frustrated us.
Other mothers and caretakers should note. With all my training I believed him when the neurologist told me that my son’s seizures from the traumatic brain injuries were under control. That neurologist prescribed medication and it seemed to be working very well for John. I didn’t remain vigilant. I thought he was fine and maybe had the few seizures, the doctor suggested slipping through at night. I was happy and confident that everything was going to be as great as possible. They only see them in neurology and psychology once every 3 to 6 months. He has a different neurologist now. I was surprised when she told me that my son had a very low dose of the seizure medication and we needed to check the levels in his blood to see if it was adequately helping him. So we did go get the blood levels checked and are awaiting the results. But I’m beating myself up, as all mothers do, for not knowing what was going on and for being impatient with my son. If he gets adequate seizure medication the training should be easier. Those little laps of consciousness so easily go on noticed or attributed to lack of motivation. The person with TBI can’t control the mini lapses of consciousness even if we yell. So be smarter than me and find out if your veteran has adequate medication. It’s too easy to blame the injured person.
We have discovered that Freja loves to play ball and Frisbee. Her passion is Kleenex or any paper product. I have allergies and usually have a Kleenex in my pocket. Freja knows that and always has her SNOUT IN MY POCKET to extract the Kleenex and run with it across the room. She is a good eater. The problem is she eats everything, including paper towels, plastic bags, rubber balls, stuffed animals, Frisbees, clothes pins and rocks. I don’t think she’s swallowed any rocks. Luckily we have a three person team to catch her and get whatever out of her mouth. A positive effect is that you lose weight running around with your puppy.

Mother to Mother - TBI

by Mavis MacDowell

Traumatic brain injury can cause dyslexia, and did in  my son’s case.  I have struggled with the “Books for the Blind” people  for years to get him the books on then tape. The answer was always, “ We need a doctor’s orders and he doesn’t qualify because he  isn’t blind.”

            Making one last attempt to get him something that would stimulate learning something worthwhile  and better than the idiot violent shows on TV, I got lucky. After sending in more paperwork  I connected with another Blue Star Mother who just happened to be  the Librarian for  “Talking Books  of  Nevada” .  We chatted a while about  John’s need for the services. Then we talked about our  military sons. Hers was in Afghanistan. I offered to put his name on the Las Vegas LDS Temple prayer roll. Everyone who goes to the Temple for  two weeks prays for the  people on the roll. I told her it worked for my nephew when he was in Iraq.   He was in  some  ferocious battles. He came home mostly  unharmed and with the Bronze Star.

            She thanked me, and has been sending my son, John very interesting audio  CDs. He is listening and learning. It may take some effort to get your  veteran interested in listening. If he has a special interest you can  order CDs on that subject. The contact information I have is for the state of Nevada. You can goggle books for the blind for your state. A good story can transport you mentally to anyplace you want to go. A good diversion.

            I am so grateful this Thanksgiving season for the progress my son has been making. His new hip enables him to stand and walk like a man. Very important for his self-esteem. He is participating in the training of his service dog. She is very intelligent. The audio books enable people to think about new ideas and places.

            As mothers we are always trying to think of ways to improve the situation.

Give  Talking Books  a try.

TBI, PTSD and the Holidays

  Mother to Mother

  Mavis MacDowell

             During this holiday season we should be mindful of the stresses that our veterans may be  feeling.  Holidays are stressful as well as enjoyable for all of us. I don’t have to tell you our veterans  with TBI or PTSD may have a more difficult time processing and reintegrating into family events.

             A TBI survivor may recognize a person’s name and or face, but THEY MAY NOT REMEMBER THE EMOTIONAL CONTENT OF THAT RELATIONSHIP.          That happened to both me and my son. There can be problems if the family doesn’t understand that.

            Smaller gatherings are preferable. They won’t be so overwhelming. Dad, mom or sibling, whichever family member the veteran relates to best  should sit with the  returning soldier and talk about the events planned for the  holidays. Talk about who is coming and update your veteran  about each person. Try to tactfully  refresh  their memories. Example; “Uncle Henry is coming. You know he was in  Vietnam and will want to compare experiences. If he gets to be too much just  pat him on the back and excuse yourself to get  something more to eat or drink. Then you can stop and talk to one of your   teenage cousins about the game.”

Pre-plan strategies to deal with the relatives you  will be inviting. As the  mother  and hostess you can limit your guest list to people who won’t  cause more stress for your  son or daughter.

            Include your traditional family holiday activities as Christmas or Hanukah songs or games. Do not ask  the  person with  a TBI or PTSD to lead the prayers or other activities. Let them integrate back in at their own pace.

            Several  of the mothers I know have expressed concern about excessive smoking and drinking after their child’s return. We know that alcohol misuse increases the risk of conflict for those with  TBI. The injury makes them more vulnerable to the effects of alcohol. Consider serving beverages with less or no alcohol content.  Examples are eggnog, hot chocolate,  spicy apple cider, fruit punch, or  wine coolers.    Monitor, but don’t nag.

            There is a “Mood Tracker” application for  an I Pad or Smart phone, available from health.mil. To learn  more about managing stress visit Real Warriors, or call DCoE Outreach Center at  866-966-1020.

            Some of the information I am sharing with you is from Webinars conducted by the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury.