The document discusses veteran suicide and the efforts of the Eagle's Healing Nest to address it. It notes that 22 veterans die by suicide daily and describes the Nest's suicide prevention training and efforts to help veterans in crisis. Veterans describe how the Nest saved their lives by providing support, resources, and a community during difficult times with mental health issues, homelessness, and suicidal thoughts. The Nest aims to help veterans get treatment and find purpose to prevent further suicides in their community.
1) Dr. Felicia Chang shares lessons learned from caring for patients at end of life, including perceptions of death can differ for patients and families. For some, a "good death" means spending time with loved ones, even if medically the death was difficult.
2) Some patients die alone without family support or forgiveness, despite wanting reconciliation. Others' families are able to find meaning and continue after even devastating deaths like a young child's.
3) Experiencing countless patient deaths has strengthened the author's faith and shown that sometimes the role is not as a doctor but a caring friend during life's fleeting end.
1. The narrator attends an addiction support group meeting at a church, where he meets Father Tuttle, the group leader. Father Tuttle offers the narrator work doing chores around the church in exchange for food and lodging.
2. At the meetings, the narrator hears others' stories of addiction but does not reveal the full truth of his own condition. He bonds with Father Tuttle, who sees past the narrator's vague explanations and offers him help without judgment.
3. While showering in his new lodgings, the narrator washes evidence of his previous night's activities from his body, noticing blood and clumps of hair. He struggles with not knowing what exactly
The document discusses two teen suicide cases. The first is about a teenager who suffered severe depression after a breakup and considered suicide but ultimately decided to get help. The second case discusses a teenage girl who endured an abusive relationship, a miscarriage, and the suicide of her best friend. She struggled with her mental health but was able to remove herself from toxic influences and rebuild her support system. The document ends by discussing the suicide of another close friend, Emily, and the struggles the author had accepting and processing her death.
The document contains summaries from survivors of domestic violence who participated in various workshops and programs sponsored by organizations that support domestic violence victims. The survivors discuss how the workshops helped them process their experiences, realize the abuse was not their fault, feel less alone, and focus on building healthy relationships and a hopeful future. They found value in expressing themselves through art, music, and sharing their stories in a supportive environment.
Edward meets another vampire named Spike in a bar in Rio. Spike convinces Edward that he needs to return to Forks to protect Bella from Victoria. Edward realizes Spike is right and makes plans to return. However, he receives a call from Rosalie informing him that Bella has died. Edward is devastated and tries to call Bella's house to learn more, but an unknown man answers and says Charlie is planning a funeral. Edward realizes he destroyed his credit cards and has little money, making it difficult to return to Forks.
This document is the introduction to a book written by Ashley L. Hill about her personal journey of self-discovery. She dedicates the book to her niece Destiny who inspired her to stand up for the truth. She thanks God, her parents, brothers, extended family, therapist, and friends for their support. The introduction sets up her story of overcoming challenges in her life to discover her identity and purpose. She invites the reader to join her on her journey of truth and discovery.
Originally published as an Amazon Short, this heart-wrenching and heart-warming story describes how a community of family and friends supported a mother and her family through battles with breast and advanced-ovarian cancer. Today, Katie Stallard is cancer free and no longer expected to have a recurrence. The essay is written from the viewpoint of Katie's husband, author Michael Lee Stallard. It has been widely circulated among individuals who have a family member or friend suffering from a life-threatening illness.
1) When the narrator's grandfather died, they initially went through denial and did not accept it as true. They refused to believe reports of his death and isolated themselves from others.
2) After confirming his death, the narrator felt anger and frustration, questioning why it happened and blaming others. They lashed out physically and emotionally.
3) The narrator then bargained with God, arguing why their grandfather had to die and promising to do good things if God changed the situation.
4) The narrator fell into a depression, fearing the future and responsibilities without their grandfather's support and guidance. The whole family struggled with the loss.
5) Over time, with family
1) Dr. Felicia Chang shares lessons learned from caring for patients at end of life, including perceptions of death can differ for patients and families. For some, a "good death" means spending time with loved ones, even if medically the death was difficult.
2) Some patients die alone without family support or forgiveness, despite wanting reconciliation. Others' families are able to find meaning and continue after even devastating deaths like a young child's.
3) Experiencing countless patient deaths has strengthened the author's faith and shown that sometimes the role is not as a doctor but a caring friend during life's fleeting end.
1. The narrator attends an addiction support group meeting at a church, where he meets Father Tuttle, the group leader. Father Tuttle offers the narrator work doing chores around the church in exchange for food and lodging.
2. At the meetings, the narrator hears others' stories of addiction but does not reveal the full truth of his own condition. He bonds with Father Tuttle, who sees past the narrator's vague explanations and offers him help without judgment.
3. While showering in his new lodgings, the narrator washes evidence of his previous night's activities from his body, noticing blood and clumps of hair. He struggles with not knowing what exactly
The document discusses two teen suicide cases. The first is about a teenager who suffered severe depression after a breakup and considered suicide but ultimately decided to get help. The second case discusses a teenage girl who endured an abusive relationship, a miscarriage, and the suicide of her best friend. She struggled with her mental health but was able to remove herself from toxic influences and rebuild her support system. The document ends by discussing the suicide of another close friend, Emily, and the struggles the author had accepting and processing her death.
The document contains summaries from survivors of domestic violence who participated in various workshops and programs sponsored by organizations that support domestic violence victims. The survivors discuss how the workshops helped them process their experiences, realize the abuse was not their fault, feel less alone, and focus on building healthy relationships and a hopeful future. They found value in expressing themselves through art, music, and sharing their stories in a supportive environment.
Edward meets another vampire named Spike in a bar in Rio. Spike convinces Edward that he needs to return to Forks to protect Bella from Victoria. Edward realizes Spike is right and makes plans to return. However, he receives a call from Rosalie informing him that Bella has died. Edward is devastated and tries to call Bella's house to learn more, but an unknown man answers and says Charlie is planning a funeral. Edward realizes he destroyed his credit cards and has little money, making it difficult to return to Forks.
This document is the introduction to a book written by Ashley L. Hill about her personal journey of self-discovery. She dedicates the book to her niece Destiny who inspired her to stand up for the truth. She thanks God, her parents, brothers, extended family, therapist, and friends for their support. The introduction sets up her story of overcoming challenges in her life to discover her identity and purpose. She invites the reader to join her on her journey of truth and discovery.
Originally published as an Amazon Short, this heart-wrenching and heart-warming story describes how a community of family and friends supported a mother and her family through battles with breast and advanced-ovarian cancer. Today, Katie Stallard is cancer free and no longer expected to have a recurrence. The essay is written from the viewpoint of Katie's husband, author Michael Lee Stallard. It has been widely circulated among individuals who have a family member or friend suffering from a life-threatening illness.
1) When the narrator's grandfather died, they initially went through denial and did not accept it as true. They refused to believe reports of his death and isolated themselves from others.
2) After confirming his death, the narrator felt anger and frustration, questioning why it happened and blaming others. They lashed out physically and emotionally.
3) The narrator then bargained with God, arguing why their grandfather had to die and promising to do good things if God changed the situation.
4) The narrator fell into a depression, fearing the future and responsibilities without their grandfather's support and guidance. The whole family struggled with the loss.
5) Over time, with family
- The narrator was in a deadly bus accident on July 24, 1996 in Pune while attending a family wedding against their wishes.
- The bus crashed after the reckless driver lost control, throwing the narrator and their wife from their seats. Both sustained serious injuries requiring hospitalization.
- It took two months for the narrator to recover from their fractured arm, rib, and other injuries. They faced permanent disability in their right hand from the accident.
This document expresses love and commitment between a husband and wife. It shares happy memories, expresses devotion to each other through good and bad times, and reaffirms their eternal love and commitment through trials of military service and life challenges. Faith in God and covenant promises made in their temple marriage are referenced as the foundation of their relationship.
A family overcame stage 3 colon cancer together in the 1980s. Randy was diagnosed at age 30 and had a 30% chance of survival. With support from his wife Patricia and her family, Randy underwent surgery and treatment. Though he initially lied about his prognosis, Randy and Patricia faced the battle together as partners. 26 years later, they have two grown sons and remain cancer-free, bonded by their adversity.
The document discusses a "secret" reason why people struggle to lose weight through dieting and exercise alone. It claims that unless one's subconscious mind is convinced to lose weight through hypnosis, it will be impossible to lose weight no matter what efforts are made. The document outlines three rules of hypnotic weight loss: 1) the subconscious mind, not dieting or exercise, determines weight; 2) brainwaves must be synchronized to allow the subconscious to be receptive to hypnosis; and 3) hypnosis must convince the subconscious that weight loss is safe and deserved to enable effortless weight loss through metabolic changes.
Dr. Felicia Chang provides an exclusive insight into caring for dying children as a palliative care doctor. She recounts her experience caring for a five-year-old girl named Ling Ling who had terminal liver cancer. Despite initial reluctance, Ling Ling grew close to Dr. Chang but ultimately passed away. The death deeply impacted Dr. Chang but she chose to continue caring for dying children, finding strength and purpose through her calling from God to serve these children in their final days.
Ed Snook with the US Observer threatens to put a Deborah Swan in prison becau...Deborah Swan
Ed Snook with the US Observer has threatened to put Deborah Swan in prison because Deborah filed a consumer complaint against when Ed Snook after he dropped her from the contract she signed with him. the ocClay Douglas who is the owner of Revolution Radio had Ed Snook as his guest. Ed Snook is owner of the US Observer. This 2 hour show was all about Deborah Swan. Ed Snook has committed a serious crime of , Extortion. defamation, fraud, and malicious persacution without any concerns of what the laws say! Ed Snook has been accusing Swan of crimes she has never committed. Snook slanders Deborah Swan the entire 2 hours. Edward Snook also actually admits he is working to get "Deborah Swan put in prison because she is a dangerous lunatic."
Vasbinder was sentenced to 6 to 10 years in state prison for homicide by vehicle after fatally striking a woman with his truck while under the influence of multiple drugs. At the sentencing, the victim's family members gave emotional statements describing the devastating impact of her death on their lives and community. They took issue with Vasbinder leaving the scene without aid and blamed him fully for the tragedy, seeing it as more than an accident. Vasbinder apologized but the judge found his actions showed a lack of character and care for human life.
Faith is driving her daughters Destiny and Treasure to Washington D.C. for a conference. They get lost and end up in a run-down neighborhood. While there, Faith has a teaching moment with her daughters about not judging others based on appearances. She tells them about her difficult past, how she fell in love young and was wrongly convicted of a crime. Through reading books recommended to her by a stranger, Faith found purpose and direction, eventually pursuing higher education. She wants to impart lessons of positive identity and overcoming challenges to her sheltered daughters.
This document contains a collection of inspirational stories and lessons. It begins with stories about kindness, friendship, courage, and overcoming challenges. The stories illustrate themes like the power of compassion over force or criticism, appreciating differences, and finding hope in difficult times. The document aims to provide motivation and wisdom through relatable examples.
1) The document describes the author's journey from being a privileged student who was abused by their father, to becoming homeless and addicted to drugs.
2) After nearly a year of drug abuse, the author had a moment of clarity watching a children's TV commercial and decided to join the military to turn their life around.
3) A kind stranger helped the author by taking them to a nice restaurant, which gave the author hope. The author then enlisted in the Air Force and went through rehabilitation and training.
4) Years later, the author came across a sick teenage girl at a store and helped save her life. The girl, named Paloma, now lives with the author and calls them "
I spent the first two years telling people where I'm from and what I'm majoring in. I spent the last two years telling people that I have no idea what I'm going to do after college. I'm sick of people asking. I'm going to sell out and get a job that I don't like. Just like every one else. For all our hopes and dreams, for all the talk about changing the world, for all the promise we show, most of us will end up sitting behind a desk in a shitty cubical. Life ends at graduation.
A born-again Christian man encounters and falls in love with a prostitute named Sheila. He nurses her back to health after she is hit by a car. She moves in with him and they grow close, though she remains distant when he professes his love. He proposes marriage, which she accepts, but the next morning she disappears. The man spends days searching for her anxiously until his friend calls saying Sheila is at a nearby hospital.
The document provides a personal account of encounters with the Mamanua indigenous group in the Philippines. It describes how the narrator's perceptions changed from seeing the Mamanua as "kongking" creatures to understanding their struggles and rich culture. Logging and mining displaced the Mamanua from their ancestral lands, forcing many into poverty and crime in cities. The narrator found their calling in nursing after helping a wounded Mamanua man in the hospital.
1) The narrator's perfect day was shattered when she learned on social media that her best friend of 18 years had died unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm at age 39.
2) She was devastated and could not understand why her friend had died so young and untimely. She called into work and mutual friends to share the tragic news.
3) The narrator and a friend traveled to Denver for the funeral, where they learned her friend had been beaten to death by her new online husband, causing the fatal brain aneurysm. Though still in shock and grief, the narrator found peace in saying goodbye to her dear friend.
This proposal outlines a program to provide "care bags" containing transitional items like blankets to the families of patients at Cancer Treatment Centers of America who are actively dying. The bags are intended to help families cope with the loss of their loved one by providing comfort items and information about grief support. The proposal discusses evidence that transitional items can help with bereavement. It outlines the items to be included in the bags, procedures for identifying dying patients and distributing the bags, and goals of improving family satisfaction and showing that the hospital's care continues even after death. Key personnel from various departments would collaborate to implement and manage the program.
Former police officer Chris Wizner struggled with an addiction to prescription painkillers for 18 months after being prescribed them for a back injury. He lost his job, money, home and relationship with his children due to his addiction. After waking up considering heroin, Wizner knew he needed help. He went through painful withdrawal without medical help and has now been sober for 5 years. He credits his children for giving him the strength to overcome his addiction and stay committed to recovery. Wizner now works to help others struggling with addiction.
Photography by Jonathan Torgovnik and Heather McClintock. During the 1994 genocide, hundreds of thousands of Rwandan women were subjected to massive sexual violence by members of the infamous Hutu militia groups, known as the Interhamwe. Among the most isolated survivors are women who have borne children as a result of those rapes. Due to the stigma of rape and “having a child of the militia,” the women’s communities and few surviving relatives have largely shunned them. Intended Consequences: Genocide Mothers; Children of Rape brings together Jonathan Torgovnik’s remarkable portraits of these women and children, and their harrowing first-hand testimonies.Originally from Vermont, Heather McClintock was seeking a deeper, more intimate connection to humanity and the commonalities of our existence. She started documenting the struggles of the Acholi tribe of Northern Uganda in 2006. They are caught in the middle of a complex civil war. Countless numbers have been brutalized and children abducted from the tribe make up about 90% of the rebel soldiers. Heather states that her images only touch on the Acholi’s unimaginable suffering and it is her hope that the photographs will underscore this complicated and imperfect life we all share. She hopes the viewers will lend compassion to all brave survivors of conflict.
The narrator visits their friend's house but finds them absent, which is unusual. They receive a call telling them to go to the hospital, worrying what could be wrong. Upon rushing to the hospital, the narrator finds that their best friend is in trouble. However, when they arrive they discover their friend is alright and in a wheelchair. The narrator reflects that although their friend is now handicapped, it is better to have them alive than gone, as people can become handicapped everyday.
This document is the introduction to a book titled "No More Crumbs" by Samantha Gregory. It discusses how many women accept "crumbs" or minimal affection from men in relationships. Gregory shares her own experience of accepting crumbs from a man for 15 years and the pain it caused. She hit rock bottom by choosing abusive partners. Eventually, Gregory got tired of living under the table and accepting crumbs. She learned to stop settling and value herself more. The book aims to teach women the "no more crumbs" relationship philosophy and how to avoid settling for less than they deserve in relationships.
Ky Direct Support Professional Specialty in Health Support OptionsBobby Harris
Direct Support Professional Specialty in Health Support Options in KY. This slideshare presents requirements necessary to obtain the DSP-SHS credential in KY
- The narrator was in a deadly bus accident on July 24, 1996 in Pune while attending a family wedding against their wishes.
- The bus crashed after the reckless driver lost control, throwing the narrator and their wife from their seats. Both sustained serious injuries requiring hospitalization.
- It took two months for the narrator to recover from their fractured arm, rib, and other injuries. They faced permanent disability in their right hand from the accident.
This document expresses love and commitment between a husband and wife. It shares happy memories, expresses devotion to each other through good and bad times, and reaffirms their eternal love and commitment through trials of military service and life challenges. Faith in God and covenant promises made in their temple marriage are referenced as the foundation of their relationship.
A family overcame stage 3 colon cancer together in the 1980s. Randy was diagnosed at age 30 and had a 30% chance of survival. With support from his wife Patricia and her family, Randy underwent surgery and treatment. Though he initially lied about his prognosis, Randy and Patricia faced the battle together as partners. 26 years later, they have two grown sons and remain cancer-free, bonded by their adversity.
The document discusses a "secret" reason why people struggle to lose weight through dieting and exercise alone. It claims that unless one's subconscious mind is convinced to lose weight through hypnosis, it will be impossible to lose weight no matter what efforts are made. The document outlines three rules of hypnotic weight loss: 1) the subconscious mind, not dieting or exercise, determines weight; 2) brainwaves must be synchronized to allow the subconscious to be receptive to hypnosis; and 3) hypnosis must convince the subconscious that weight loss is safe and deserved to enable effortless weight loss through metabolic changes.
Dr. Felicia Chang provides an exclusive insight into caring for dying children as a palliative care doctor. She recounts her experience caring for a five-year-old girl named Ling Ling who had terminal liver cancer. Despite initial reluctance, Ling Ling grew close to Dr. Chang but ultimately passed away. The death deeply impacted Dr. Chang but she chose to continue caring for dying children, finding strength and purpose through her calling from God to serve these children in their final days.
Ed Snook with the US Observer threatens to put a Deborah Swan in prison becau...Deborah Swan
Ed Snook with the US Observer has threatened to put Deborah Swan in prison because Deborah filed a consumer complaint against when Ed Snook after he dropped her from the contract she signed with him. the ocClay Douglas who is the owner of Revolution Radio had Ed Snook as his guest. Ed Snook is owner of the US Observer. This 2 hour show was all about Deborah Swan. Ed Snook has committed a serious crime of , Extortion. defamation, fraud, and malicious persacution without any concerns of what the laws say! Ed Snook has been accusing Swan of crimes she has never committed. Snook slanders Deborah Swan the entire 2 hours. Edward Snook also actually admits he is working to get "Deborah Swan put in prison because she is a dangerous lunatic."
Vasbinder was sentenced to 6 to 10 years in state prison for homicide by vehicle after fatally striking a woman with his truck while under the influence of multiple drugs. At the sentencing, the victim's family members gave emotional statements describing the devastating impact of her death on their lives and community. They took issue with Vasbinder leaving the scene without aid and blamed him fully for the tragedy, seeing it as more than an accident. Vasbinder apologized but the judge found his actions showed a lack of character and care for human life.
Faith is driving her daughters Destiny and Treasure to Washington D.C. for a conference. They get lost and end up in a run-down neighborhood. While there, Faith has a teaching moment with her daughters about not judging others based on appearances. She tells them about her difficult past, how she fell in love young and was wrongly convicted of a crime. Through reading books recommended to her by a stranger, Faith found purpose and direction, eventually pursuing higher education. She wants to impart lessons of positive identity and overcoming challenges to her sheltered daughters.
This document contains a collection of inspirational stories and lessons. It begins with stories about kindness, friendship, courage, and overcoming challenges. The stories illustrate themes like the power of compassion over force or criticism, appreciating differences, and finding hope in difficult times. The document aims to provide motivation and wisdom through relatable examples.
1) The document describes the author's journey from being a privileged student who was abused by their father, to becoming homeless and addicted to drugs.
2) After nearly a year of drug abuse, the author had a moment of clarity watching a children's TV commercial and decided to join the military to turn their life around.
3) A kind stranger helped the author by taking them to a nice restaurant, which gave the author hope. The author then enlisted in the Air Force and went through rehabilitation and training.
4) Years later, the author came across a sick teenage girl at a store and helped save her life. The girl, named Paloma, now lives with the author and calls them "
I spent the first two years telling people where I'm from and what I'm majoring in. I spent the last two years telling people that I have no idea what I'm going to do after college. I'm sick of people asking. I'm going to sell out and get a job that I don't like. Just like every one else. For all our hopes and dreams, for all the talk about changing the world, for all the promise we show, most of us will end up sitting behind a desk in a shitty cubical. Life ends at graduation.
A born-again Christian man encounters and falls in love with a prostitute named Sheila. He nurses her back to health after she is hit by a car. She moves in with him and they grow close, though she remains distant when he professes his love. He proposes marriage, which she accepts, but the next morning she disappears. The man spends days searching for her anxiously until his friend calls saying Sheila is at a nearby hospital.
The document provides a personal account of encounters with the Mamanua indigenous group in the Philippines. It describes how the narrator's perceptions changed from seeing the Mamanua as "kongking" creatures to understanding their struggles and rich culture. Logging and mining displaced the Mamanua from their ancestral lands, forcing many into poverty and crime in cities. The narrator found their calling in nursing after helping a wounded Mamanua man in the hospital.
1) The narrator's perfect day was shattered when she learned on social media that her best friend of 18 years had died unexpectedly from a brain aneurysm at age 39.
2) She was devastated and could not understand why her friend had died so young and untimely. She called into work and mutual friends to share the tragic news.
3) The narrator and a friend traveled to Denver for the funeral, where they learned her friend had been beaten to death by her new online husband, causing the fatal brain aneurysm. Though still in shock and grief, the narrator found peace in saying goodbye to her dear friend.
This proposal outlines a program to provide "care bags" containing transitional items like blankets to the families of patients at Cancer Treatment Centers of America who are actively dying. The bags are intended to help families cope with the loss of their loved one by providing comfort items and information about grief support. The proposal discusses evidence that transitional items can help with bereavement. It outlines the items to be included in the bags, procedures for identifying dying patients and distributing the bags, and goals of improving family satisfaction and showing that the hospital's care continues even after death. Key personnel from various departments would collaborate to implement and manage the program.
Former police officer Chris Wizner struggled with an addiction to prescription painkillers for 18 months after being prescribed them for a back injury. He lost his job, money, home and relationship with his children due to his addiction. After waking up considering heroin, Wizner knew he needed help. He went through painful withdrawal without medical help and has now been sober for 5 years. He credits his children for giving him the strength to overcome his addiction and stay committed to recovery. Wizner now works to help others struggling with addiction.
Photography by Jonathan Torgovnik and Heather McClintock. During the 1994 genocide, hundreds of thousands of Rwandan women were subjected to massive sexual violence by members of the infamous Hutu militia groups, known as the Interhamwe. Among the most isolated survivors are women who have borne children as a result of those rapes. Due to the stigma of rape and “having a child of the militia,” the women’s communities and few surviving relatives have largely shunned them. Intended Consequences: Genocide Mothers; Children of Rape brings together Jonathan Torgovnik’s remarkable portraits of these women and children, and their harrowing first-hand testimonies.Originally from Vermont, Heather McClintock was seeking a deeper, more intimate connection to humanity and the commonalities of our existence. She started documenting the struggles of the Acholi tribe of Northern Uganda in 2006. They are caught in the middle of a complex civil war. Countless numbers have been brutalized and children abducted from the tribe make up about 90% of the rebel soldiers. Heather states that her images only touch on the Acholi’s unimaginable suffering and it is her hope that the photographs will underscore this complicated and imperfect life we all share. She hopes the viewers will lend compassion to all brave survivors of conflict.
The narrator visits their friend's house but finds them absent, which is unusual. They receive a call telling them to go to the hospital, worrying what could be wrong. Upon rushing to the hospital, the narrator finds that their best friend is in trouble. However, when they arrive they discover their friend is alright and in a wheelchair. The narrator reflects that although their friend is now handicapped, it is better to have them alive than gone, as people can become handicapped everyday.
This document is the introduction to a book titled "No More Crumbs" by Samantha Gregory. It discusses how many women accept "crumbs" or minimal affection from men in relationships. Gregory shares her own experience of accepting crumbs from a man for 15 years and the pain it caused. She hit rock bottom by choosing abusive partners. Eventually, Gregory got tired of living under the table and accepting crumbs. She learned to stop settling and value herself more. The book aims to teach women the "no more crumbs" relationship philosophy and how to avoid settling for less than they deserve in relationships.
Ky Direct Support Professional Specialty in Health Support OptionsBobby Harris
Direct Support Professional Specialty in Health Support Options in KY. This slideshare presents requirements necessary to obtain the DSP-SHS credential in KY
1. Suicide Epidemic addressed at the Nest
By Amanda S. Cherry
Suicide among the veteran and military communities have reached epidemic levels.
During the 2015 Eagle’s Healing Nest, Nest Fest, director Melony Butler discussed the
topic. “The crosses you see on the lawn in front of you,” Butler’s voice broke with
emotion as she described the issue. “They represent the 22 veterans who die everyday
from suicide and PTSD related issues. We are working hard to reduce that number to
zero, because one is one too many.”
The Eagle’s Healing Nest has a team of four resident staff members who have been
trained in suicide prevention and crisis intervention techniques. Todd Westerbeck
assistant director describes the training and it’s benefits. “We participated for five days
in the ASSIST suicide training. We currently have four staff members who are trained to
handled veterans in crisis. We’ve used the training here at the Nest, not only with
residents in crisis, but we take a lot of phone calls from non-residents.”
“I didn’t want to kill myself really,” says an Eagle’s Healing Nest veteran. “I just wanted
the situation to die. I didn’t see any alternatives. I was homeless, I wasn’t connected
with my family, I was drinking myself to death- slowly. I’m lucky in that I found a place
like this (the Eagle’s Healing Nest) where I could get help.”
One resident veteran describes their plan,”I was standing on the railroad tracks, it was
dark, cold and raining. I thought this is it. Then I looked down at my dog who seemed to
be saying, ‘What about me? Who’s going to take care of me when you are gone?’ That
is what truly stopped me.
That was when I decided to go into treatment. I got sober and when the program was
about to end I started having those thoughts again. Because I didn’t have anywhere to
go, no place to live. I had means, I could go to lots of places, I’m a service connected
veteran, there are resources for me. The Mission shelter said come on down, but I
couldn’t bring my dog. I said if the dog is living on the streets then so am I. That was
when I found out about the Nest and Melony said, bring your dog you’re welcome here.”
Another resident describes the situation that brought them to the Nest. “I was suicidal. I
had a plan. There was a bridge that I crossed everyday going to a part-time job. It was
pretty high above the river and I figured if the fall didn’t kill me instantly then I’d drown. I
was going through so much; my marriage was ending, my house was being foreclosed
on, a dear friend had just died, I couldn’t pay my bills. I was convinced I’d be better off
dead. As I cross this bridge everyday and there is this eagle’s nest in a tree just before
you go across the bridge. I had never seen any eagles in the nest, until the day I
decided to follow through on my plan. That day I saw two eagles soaring across the
river, near the bridge and into their nest. It made me stop and think about it... what if I
just went to the Eagle’s Healing Nest? I called Melony that day, and she said, ‘Welcome
Home.’ That was when I knew I couldn’t kill myself... I deserved a second chance. That
is what this place has given me. I’m so grateful to be alive. Suicide is a permanent fix to
a temporary problem.”
The Veterans Administration and community organizations are addressing the problems
of veteran suicides by connecting the veteran with immediate care during a crisis
through peer support and professional care based on their needs. Community
organizations such as #22kill.com, Stop Soldier Suicide.org, and Facebook events like
Buddy Check 22 encourage veterans to support their fellow veterans in need. The
organizations and events encourage veterans to educate themselves on suicide
prevention or to just have a conversation with a fellow veteran who might be suicidal.
2. The VA provides access to veterans and their families in crisis through the Veterans
Crisis Line 1-800- 273-8255 press 1, staffed by volunteers many of whom are veterans
themselves.
“I’ve called the crisis line,” reported a Nest resident. “They gave me resources for more
than just being suicidal. They helped me address some of the problems that were
making me consider suicide. And they checked up on me the next couple of days to
make sure I was still around. It was cool, because I didn’t want my family to know I was
suicidal and to know someone was going to check up on me who understood. It kept me
going, made me accountable.”
Jessica Behrends, the Caregiver Support coordinator for the St. Cloud VA, wants family
members to know they aren’t alone. “We’re connecting and empowering caregivers and
families to the extent the veteran will allow it.”
The VA admits that although there are numerous programs and educational training
available for family members, without the consent of the veteran being treated they can’t
involve family members in the veteran’s care. The VA provides the veteran with over 16
programs including; PTSD Relationships and Intimacy group, Women’s group, World
War II and Korean Veterans PTSD support group, PTSD Therapy group to name a few.
Family members have access to a caregivers support group the first Tuesday of every
month at the St. Cloud VA as well as access to the Veterans Crisis Line 24/7. The St.
Cloud VA also offers a monthly telephone education call through the VA Caregiver
Support Line the first Tuesday and fourth Wednesday of every month. Topics can
include suicide prevention, communication skills, and dealing with anger.
Although resources are available not all family members are aware of them simply
because the veteran is the only point of contact to the VA, and without a veteran’s
permission the VA can’t provide resources specific to their care for the family member. “I
was in that mindset of I’m his wife, I should be able to take care of this,” said Heidi
Cameron, widow of Ross Cameron who was killed in a fatal one car accident June 6th.
Cameron came with her three daughters to Nest Fest in August as a special guest of
the Minnesota Wounded Warriors program to honor and remember her husband a
veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan. “When I did ask the VA for help finally, it was,
there’s no help for you, you’re just the wife.”
“He struggled,” Cameron said through tears. “Over the years we watched him become
somebody that we didn’t really know. Every year he got more difficult. It was kind of a
progression you just watch, it got worse and worse every year.”
Cameron explained the pain family members feel when the veteran succeeds in killing
themselves. “I had to go and look at my children and explain your daddy’s never coming
home. I don’t want another family to feel what I feel. I don’t want another mom or dad to
have to explain to their children why their dad isn’t coming home and you can only see a
headstone.”
She describes being hospitalized after his accident her despair so great she had to be
sedated. “I remember getting up, it was pouring rain again, I remember running with no
shoes on trying to get to the funeral home. You lose all sense of reality, I just remember
thinking he’s alive I have to go pick him up.
...I tried to pick him up out of the casket and carry him to my car. and he was cold. My
sister in law was pulling me back as I was trying to hold him. It’s been a log battle of
was this an accident or was he one of the 22?”
3. “I look around this place and I think, why didn’t we know this place existed?” Cameron
asks herself as she looked over the grounds of the Eagle’s Healing Nest. “If we had
known he would have come here. If one person, one veteran, one family of a veteran
can be saved by the loss of my husband then he didn’t die in vain.”
Cameron and her family intend to dedicate a room to her husband to help another
veteran who finds their way to the Eagle’s Healing Nest. There is a sense of
accountability among the veterans to support and care for each other at the Nest.
A veteran of the Bosnia conflict said,”Having this place to come to, to just breathe, to
just take a breath is what truly saved me. Knowing that if I killed myself now I’d be letting
down my fellow veterans here, it’s what stops me from it everyday. I’ve been given a
second chance, I’m not going to waste it. There are too many who didn’t get that
chance, so I’m doing it for them too.”
Another veteran agreed, “When you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol, living on the streets,
just struggling to survive one day at a time, you can’t breathe. Coming here gave me a
chance to get a roof over my head, good food to eat, and a chance to just take a
breath.”
Butler explains further by saying,”The veteran has to be willing to do the work
themselves. We can give them a place to stay, we can make their appointments at the
VA for them, but we can’t make them go. They have to be a partner in their own care
and if they are willing to do that, lives can be saved.”
“I feel accountable to every veteran here,” said a veteran staff member. “I was only
going to be here for three weeks. If I hadn’t come here, I would have continued to try
and die. I survived my suicide attempt by the grace of God. I didn’t have any self-worth
before coming here. Being here has given me a purpose and that is what has kept me
alive.”
Reporters note:
I would like to personally thank the brave men and women of the Eagle’s Healing Nest
for sharing their very personal stories with me concerning suicide. Your willingness to
share your experience is proof that you are offering further service to your fellow
veterans and community. I am very glad that each of you survived and thank you for
your service. For more information about suicide prevention please contact the following
organizations:
Veterans Crisis Line- 1-800- 273-8255 press 1
ASIST- http://www.sprc.org/bpr/section-III/applied-suicide-intervention-skills-training-
asist
VA Caregiver Support Line- Jessica Behrends, 320-252-1670 ext. 7283
TAPS Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors-http://www.taps.org
Eagle’s Healing Nest- 320-351-6200