Hello
to everyone from
This is my first report about our trip with Sweetheart to work with wounded soldiers. I want to preface this by telling you I am restricted by patient confidentiality, so I cannot go into details about our experiences. With respect for this commitment to patient’s rights I will try to give you a picture of the impact Sweetheart, Jackson, and Ellie Mae have on the people we meet.
I
dedicate this trip to honor my father. I
am the son of a survivor. On
Sweetheart is a survivor, a burn survivor. She has taken a tragic incident and turned it into something most people would think impossible. She did this with the help of many, many wonderful dedicated people. And this is the real story. Sweetheart would never have made it without the help of all these people. Strangers who were touched in a special way, and moved to lend a hand in any way they could.
In turn, Sweetheart repaid this obligation by literally helping thousands of people. From the ordinary person in the street, to the people she ministers to with her therapy dog work, Sweetheart inspires, motivates, and melts hearts.
I feel very fortunate just to be a part of her life. I facilitate the work of this little angel. And in doing so I have benefited in so many ways it is actually overwhelming.
This
brings Sally and me to
I am not alone. As it turned out our whole community felt the need to help wounded soldiers in some way. As in all survivor stories, it takes many caring people to nurture that survival instinct to success.
Sally and I are honored to be that “way”. That sense of doing something that makes a simple effective difference in the lives of some extremely brave and courageous men and women. These are men and women, who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country and to us.
BAMCE
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These are dedicated people, military and civilian, who have a strong sense of family. They are family in truest sense of the word. Caring, helpful, sincere, and loving in the work they do with the soldiers. From the clean up crew to the very top level of commanders the devotion to soldiers needs are not just apparent, they are stunning.
We have just completed our first week here at BAMCE. It is difficult to describe the exhilaration in being exposed to such a wonderful strong organization. An organization dedicated to the wounded. It is all we expected and more.
We are in awe and humbled by the very men and women we strive to serve. These young soldiers and their families are an inspiration to us. The tenacity and fortitude displayed on a daily basis is almost unbelievable……How do they do it?
Sweetheart is in her glory. She struts about the hospital, wagging her tail, greeting all who show an interest. She makes a statement that is already evident in soldiers she meets, life goes on. Their attitudes obviously prevail directing them to a place we should all be, thankful to be alive. Sweetheart reinforces this attitude. In her own way she gives credibility to their way of thinking.
We
also have been working Jackson and Ellie Mae, our German Shepherd and Lhasa
Apso therapy dogs. In their own
special way they also are making connections to a wide variety
of people, soldiers and families. On
some occasions soldiers are so enamored with
Ellie Mae is as usual very comforting, sweet and benevolent. She has never met a lap she doesn't like. She entertains and calms at the same time, bring lots of smiles to faces she licks.
Delta Society of San Antonio has established a visiting therapy dog program here at BAMCE. These fellow dog lovers have gone the extra mile in serving the BAMCE community. Without the help of team leader Becky Atkinson and their organization, this would never have come to realization. It’s very unusual for some unknown, out of nowhere, to intrude on a well established committed group. Doing therapy dog work at BAMCE is regarded as a very high privileged and honor. Yet they not only accepted Sally me and our dogs, they have gone out of their way to accommodate and support us. For that we heartily thank them all.
I will close this session, by telling you at home, you are amazing. Thank you for your support and encouragement. Thank you for making this all possible.
More to follow….
Sincerely,
Second Email update.
Hello again from
Sally and I have
just completed our second week at
We have been visiting soldiers, soldier’s families, staff/hospital personnel, and even fellow volunteers. To this day it amazes me how working with therapy dogs cross all walks of life.
From the soldier’s families of small children, preteens, teenagers, to the soldier’s brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers and grandparents, the response to our dogs is always warm, joyous, and uplifting.
From hospital housecleaning workers, to food servers, to nurses, to doctors and surgeons, they all express a gratitude for lifting their day and making their jobs somehow easier and more enjoyable, and more productive.
It even prevails among the echelons of military disciplinarians, from corporals, to sergeants, to lieutenants, captains, colonels, and even the generals. I say “even” generals because most of us civilians look upon the tasks of a general to be tough, demanding and precise with attitudes that get things done. They all respond with a sense of respect, care, and wonderment that our dogs command.
We have been in contact with a wide variety of people. All who inspire in their own way. Last week I asked, how do they do it? How do these wounded soldiers overcome such insurmountable odds?
The answer is in the “family” atmosphere fostered and encouraged here at BAMCE. It is a thriving living support concept that is taken to the extreme. And it works.
Each wounded soldier has a mentor, a person that is in daily contact with them. A familiar face, a nurse, a parent, a volunteer, a son or daughter, or a fellow soldier, is there to help, to talk to, to assist.
The spiritual needs of all soldiers are address and ministered to regardless of their religion. The ministry division of men and women is on constant call giving guidance
and peace of mind to all in need.
When wounded soldiers transition out of BAMCE they and their families stay at the Powless House. This is a place that has the comforts of home and social connections to community. We attended a barbeque with our dogs, put on by volunteer groups who gave their time and great food to soldiers and families. The visits here are low key, comforting and sometimes very entertaining, what with Ellie Mae doing her “circus” tricks.
We made our first visits to the Intrepid National Armed Forces Rehabilitation Center this week and it was unbelievable. Publicly funded by more than 600,000 Americans, this astounding facility serves the severely injured servicemen and women of the military. State of the art equipment, designs, and concepts are the norm here. From prosthetics to physical therapy techniques, this is the leading edge for medical breakthroughs and advancements.
The wounded soldiers here are putting forth incredible energy to rehabilitate and assimilate. Sweetheart, Jackson and Ellie Mae were at their highest performance here. Sweetheart and Jackson lying next to soldiers doing matt workouts, Elli Mae riding the laps of wheelchair bound soldiers, giving tons of “kisses” to welcoming soldiers who just “eat it all up” with joy.
Although Sweetheart
has her special way and nitch, Jackson and Ellie Mae have also captured the
hearts of many wounded soldiers and families.
Of course there is always that great admiration and attraction to big
dogs, especially German Shepherds, which soldiers seem to seek out and take
pleasure in.
Ellie Mae, on the other hand, brings out the heavy “cute” factor in her connections. She instantly puts people at ease, softening a cuddling approach that warms, sooths, and fascinates her admirers. She is our ambassador, making friends with anyone, rather you are interested in dogs or not. She breaks down an occasional wall of standoff aloofness with an attitude of “Trust me, you WILL like me!” Ellie Mae has never met a lap she doesn’t love!
Everyday we do visits we take Sweetheart to the 4th floor Burn Unit. Because of strict infection control standards she is not allowed in the Burn Unit itself. So we station ourselves in the hallways, just outside, to meet greet and visit some of the most awesome soldiers you could ever come into contact with. Their unimaginable burns defy comprehension.
As we look into their eyes we see a light, a light of determination and tenacity. That light glows when making contact with the eyes of Sweetheart. She looks deep into their eyes, conveying a message. A message only she and the soldier truly comprehend. And there in lies the magic, the wonderment, and the connection these animals give to humans, this ability to bond and heal in very profound ways, beyond human ability.
And it is this connection that makes our journey so worthwhile, inspirational and comforting. We, including all of you that have supported us, have done “something”, beyond our human abilities.
Charlie Sally
Jackson Sweetheart and Ellie Mae