I have been a long time fan and supporter of Soldiers’ Angels, so I am happy to have an opportunity to assist them during their time of need. I will have the pleasure of working with them as they host a First Response Backpack drive for my town’s Memorial Day tribute. Please consider helping them, too! Host a Back-Drive of your own, or have a care package collection. Soldiers’ Angels provides so much for so many, from adopting out our deployed service members who are in need of support, to providing other support services, like the First Response Backpacks. They give so generously and do so much; it is now our turn to help them. My family, my community, and Silent Rank Sisterhood are all proud to be of assistance! Would you find a way to help them, too? Thank you for your consideration and support!
How is it that an American Hero, a Purple Heart Recipient, and a Wounded Warrior finds himself fighting for a promise to be kept? This was a promise that was made to him on the battlefield, shortly after he was injured in IED blast. Who could imagine that a promise made under such circumstances would not be fulfilled? It is hard to imagine such a scenario, and yet this is the struggle that Lance Corporal Jeremy Vanhoose and his family are now fighting, even as LCpl Vanhoose continues his journey of healing and recovery. This is the story of the bond between a Wounded Warrior and his beloved MWD dog, Imi, and the fight to allow LCpl Vanhoose adopt Imi for his very own, just as was promised.
Imi is not excess; she is not a piece of equipment; she is necessary and vital to Lance Corporal Vanhooses’ healing. They need each other!
The single mother of three handsome boys, Mrs. Vanhoose proudly supported her oldest son’s, Joseph, decision to join the Marine Corps. With two boys still at home, she prepared herself for her oldest son’s upcoming deployment to Iraq. Just two weeks before Joseph was to receive about his upcoming deployment, he was diagnosed with cancer. This feisty Marine mama fought for her son to be transferred to a unit close to home, so that she could care for him. Joseph Vanhoose remained an active-duty Marine, until he passed away.
When Jeremy graduated from high school, he followed in his big brother’s footsteps. He set out to become an MP, which is what his brother Joseph dreamed of becoming but never had the opportunity to see fulfilled. Jeremy got to do what his big brother wanted to do, but could not. Jeremy completed Military Police training and was one of the elite few to be chosen to go to Canine School, where he excelled and was in the top of his class!
After Canine School, Jeremy received orders to his new dutystation. Mrs. Vanhoose, Jeremy’s mother, knew it would be only a matter of time before Jeremy would deploy. Jeremy, and his first dog, Samo had been training and preparing for the upcoming mission. Unfortunately, Samo injured his leg and had to be pulled, leaving Jeremy without a dog. Without a dog, Jeremy would not be able to deploy with his unit, and Jeremy had no desire to be left behind. He wanted to go serve his country, with his brothers, and he was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen. And, then, Jeremy was introduced to Imi, his new dog.
Imi was a green dog; she had never deployed, and she missed the pre-deployment training, because Jeremy and Samo had already gone through it. Jeremy knew that if he wanted to go with his unit, he and Imi would have to train and work twice as hard and twice as fast. Jeremy worked with Imi every day and on weekends, to get her ready so that they could both deploy.
Mrs. Vanhoose visited Jeremy, and she stayed an entire month, so that she could be present to send Jeremy, Imi, and his unit off to Afghanistan. She said that watching Jeremy interact with Imi as like watching a father and his child. The only treat that Imi ever needed was for Jeremy to praise her. She was so sweet-tempered, that Mrs. Vanhoose had a hard time believing that Imi could ever be aggressive! The only person Imi ever acknowledged or had eyes or ears for was Jeremy, unless Jeremy gave her permission.
Over the month, Mrs. Vanhoose developed a very soft spot for Imi. She had spent hours watching and observing Imi and Jeremy working together. Being both a dog owner and an animal lover, Mrs. Vanhoose wanted to be loved by Imi, too! So, one day, she got Imi’s attention and affection, after Jeremy had put her in a stay position. She was unaware that she was promoting a correction from her son. Imi was grounded for her disobedience, and Mrs. Vanhoose says Imi never acknowledged her again without Jeremy’s permission! The connection between Imi and Jeremy was so strong, it was magical. Imi knew what Jeremy wanted from her, before he even asked. And, Jeremy could see Imi’s needs and reactions and responded, intuitively.
When the time to send to Jeremy and Imi off, Jeremy asked his mother to stay behind. He said he knew she would cry. And, just as many other military moms, wives, and loved ones do, Mrs. Vanhoose promised no tears. She managed to adhere to that, and when she left, Jeremy carried a mental picture of his mother smiling. Mrs. Vanhoose was not worried about her son’s safety or well-being, because she knew that Imi would be Jeremy’s guardian angel and stand watch over him. She never expected to get the phone call that came the morning of August 24.
Jeremy and his unit left to Afghanistan, with thirty-four handlers and their canines. They were going to relieve another unit, that was waiting for their arrival, so that they could head home. Jeremy called his mother, upon arrival, and she could sense his nervous excitement. This was both Imi and Jeremy’s first deployment; and as with all first deployments, one never knows what to expect. A week or so later, Jeremy and Imi left the FOB for their mission. Mrs. Vanhoose didn’t expect her son to be in the middle of action. and yet, that was precisely where Jeremy and Imi were. She busied herself sending letters and care packages,anxiously waiting to hear from her son. Three weeks passed, and there was no communication. That silence is very hard for a Mama; it is hard for any and all loved ones, who wait at home, for the phone to ring, for the email to arrive, for the letter to come. There comes a point where wait turns to worry, and one wonders, as Mrs. Vanhoose did, Where is my boy? Where is my husband? Where is my girlfriend? The silence that echoes and bounces against such a question is defeaning. And, when you find yourself facing that question, and you are staring at that silence, there is only one solution, only one viable answer, you pray.
On July 22, 2011, another Marine from the unit Jeremy was deployed with was injured. Jeremy’s best friend, who was also out with another platoon, stepped on an IED and was critically wounded. One of Jeremy’s Corporals knew how close these two Marine brothers were, and he made his way to the platoon where Jeremy was providing support, to give him the news. A civilian contractor happened to be near-by, and Jeremy was able to place a quick call home. Jeremy spoke with his mother briefly, and he told her that he would talk to her again soon, as he would be returning to the FOB soon for refitting. A few days later, Jeremy called again, and he told his mother that he made the decision not to return to the FOB until the unit he was with came out. He said it wouldn’t be long, as it was almost time for them to be relieved. He said until then, he refused to leave them because, “They depend on me and Imi.” August 8, 2011, was the last time Mrs. Vanhoose was able to enjoy speaking with her son.
The morning of August 24 dawned like any other hot late-summer morning. With one exception, Mrs. Vanhoose awoke from a vivid dream. In her dream, she was sitting on a brick wall, just outside of platoon base in Afghanistan. She looked towards the horizon, and she saw a group of Marines, returning from a mission. She saw her son, Jeremy, and then, she saw an explosion. She sat straight up in her bed, and began to pray. She did not know if the dream was real or the result of too many long nights of worry. She did not care, and she began to pray that they, whoever they were, get the help that they needed. After she prayed, she eventually fell back to sleep, in uneasy rest.
Three hours later, the phone rang, and the phone call came. Mrs. Vanhoose nearly got sick, and she braced herself, as the voice on the other end said, “May I speak with Mrs. Vanhoose?” After stating that she was speaking, she heard, “This is Headquarters Marine Battalion. Mam, I have news to deliver to you about LCpl Vanhoose.” She threw the phone across the room, and as she gathered her thoughts, she told herself that Jeremy was alive. She knew this, because otherwise, there would be a knock a the door and a car out front. Mrs. Vanhoose returned to the phone, and the man on the other end read this wire, “LCpl Vanhoose, Jeremy was critically injured in an IED blast at approximately 1:30 p.m. in country time. He has suffered the loss of his left leg, shrapnel wounds to the right leg, back, and head. He has been medvac. No further reports at this time.” The time of the blast was in-country time was the exact time Mrs. Vanhoose awoke from her dream.
Later that day, the phone rang again. It was Jeremy! Jeremy was on the phone with his Mama! He said, “Mama, don’t cry! I’m okay! I got my nose, my eyes, my ears, my arms, and my legs. But, I’m missing a foot! Cpl Jones got blown up, when he carried me out. It’s not Imi’s fault. She was onto something, and I just took one more step. The Staff Sergeant said I can adopt her when shes returns home.” Mrs. Vanhoose said that was very hard to imagine that her son had been injured, because other than being on drugs for pain, she said her son sounded so much like himself, like Jeremy, always joking and laughing. The Staff Sergeant came to the phone, to reassure Mrs. Vanhoose and offer his support. She also clarified what Jeremy had stated. She asked the Sargeant directly, if Jeremy would be able to adopt Imi when she got home, and he repeated to her that there would be no problem with Jeremy adopting Imi. Jeremy remained true to form, even as he was recovering and waiting to be air lifted to Germany. Several of the Marines that deployed with Jeremy were able to visit with him before he was airlifted. As they walked around the corner to see him, they were amazed to see Jeremy smiling. One of the guys asked, What are you smiling at? And, Jeremy replied, “I ain’t dead!”
Jeremy arrived Stateside on September 1, 2011, and his mother, fiance, and brother were there waiting. All were gathered together to help Jeremy heal. All present, except Imi. A month passed, and Jeremy was finished with his surgeries and on his way to getting his prosthetic. On September 21, Jeremy moved from the hospital to the Wounded Warriors barrack. Before a Wounded Warrior is allowed to walk with a prosthetic, they undergo therapy and training. It is hard, painful, challenging, and physically demanding. Jeremy showed the same determination, fighting spirit, and skills in recovery as he showed in boot camp and when first training Imi. Jeremy knew that he had to attend a very special ceremony, and he was determined to walk. The day before the ceremony, he approached his physical therapist and said he had a question. His therapist looked at him, and said, ”You want your leg.” And Jeremy replied, “I want to be able to walk to get my Purple Heart.” Which is exactly what Jeremy did!
It was at his Purple Heart Ceremony that Jeremy and his mother first learned that the there was a question regarding Jeremy’s adoption of Imi. The were having a conversation with the Kennel Master of Jeremy’s unit, and they were informed that Imi would have to be evaluated first, before she could be considered for adoption. Imi came home on December 24, 2011, with Lcpl Vanhoose’s unit. Jeremy was desperate to see her, and the day he returned from his leave for the holidays, he made the trip from the Wounded Warrior Unit to Imi’s base, just to reunite with her. Imi was so excited to see her “partner”, and Imi is still there. Now, LCpl Vanhoose and his family find themselves fighting to adopt her, just as Jeremy was promised.
Imi is going to be evaluated, to see if she can redeploy; this is contrary to what LCpl Vanhoose and his mother were told while Jeremy was still in-country. Before a dog is allowed to be adopted, they undergo evaluation to make sure that the will be a good fit with civilians. Mrs. Vanhoose understands and agrees with this policy; she would not want an aggressive dog to be allowed to be adopted. However, she does not feel that Imi would ever fall into that category. Jeremy has spent hours with Imi, since her return. Imi’s evaluations and testing are not to see if she is aggressive, but to determine if she is still able to handle gun fire, weapons exploding, and hostile conditions.
A response letter that Mrs. Vanhoose acquired from one of the supporters for her plea for help, had this to say about Imi and Jeremy’s quest to adopt her: “Though it may seem trite to consider a military dog as a piece of military equipment, that is what they are. They provide a service that is necessary and must be re-used as we would other equipment.” Imi is going to be tested to see if she is still a “usable piece of equipment.” According to the evaluation process, if Imi is not able to be “re-used”, she is considered excess. Once a military dog has been labeled excess, she is turned over to the Air Force, for further testing and evaluation, to determine if she can be a candidate for adoption. Currently, Imi is still at her base, separated from LCpl Vanhoose. She will be undergoing the first evaluation this week.
Here is the crux and the bottom line. Policies, procedure, regulations, and rules are fine and well. However, there are always exceptions to the rules. And, in my opinion, a promise made on a battlefield, as wounded warrior, a soldier, and a Hero lies fighting for his life, and having sacrificed a leg, trumps all. Furthermore, it is well-studied and well documented that interacting with animals contributes to the healing and recovery process. Animal therapy is now being used to help treat PTSD and IBT. Lcpl Vanhoose has a had a long and difficult journey on his road to healing, In order for him to fully recover, he needs Imi and Imi needs him! Imi is the missing piece of the puzzle. I do not wish to dwell on the outcome of what would happen if this promise is not kept. But, the reality is, if LCpl Vanhoose is not allowed to adopt Imi, which would be cruel and heartless, it could worsen any PTSD symptoms, aggravate depression, and hinder his recovery. And, that in my opinion, would be far worse; to inflict any further pain or suffering upon one who already sacrificed so much for his country is unconscionable!
Imi does need to work again. However, she needs to work for the Marine that needs her the most! Please Support Lance Corpl Vanhoose’s quest to adopt Imi and demand that she be released to him! Thank you for your support!
A warm welcome and a thank you to Silent Rank Sisterhood’s first ever guest writer, U.S. Navy Veteran, Douglas Karr! Douglas Karr spent six years in the Navy, serving aboard the USS Spartanburg and the USS Coontz. Although he was honorably discharged from service seventeen years ago, Navy veteran Petty Officer Second Class Karr still works on behalf of veterans and military members. He writes for the Veterans Blog for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, as well maintains a social media website exclusively for Navy veterans! When not blogging or advocating for veterans and military members, this busy father of two also runs his own online marketing agency, DK New Media! Thank you for your service to our country and for your continued and dedicated support for our service members!
Veterans at High Risk of Developing Mesothelioma
Just when they thought the stresses of war were behind them, veterans may be faced with health issues that result from service. Among the most deadly of these are the diseases caused by asbestos exposure, and Navy veterans are the ones most likely to be affected. About a third of all mesothelioma cases occur in Veterans. The most likely to develop mesothelioma, navy vets served on ships where asbestos was widely used.
John was one of those guys. He enlisted in the navy during the Vietnam War era and served as a boiler room engineer. The bunk where John slept was located under some pipes that were coated with asbestos. The dust would filter onto his bunk any time the ship’s guns were fired. He’d just brush the stuff away. Forty years later, just at the
time John was ready to retire from his job as a teacher, he was diagnosed with
mesothelioma. “I didn’t want to die,” he said. John wanted to spend a
well-earned retirement with the wife he loved, watching their grandchildren
grow up. That was not to be. John died in the year 2000.
From the 1940′s to the 1970′s, when the Environmental Protection Agency started regulating asbestos use, Navy ships were literally packaged in the fire-resistant material. Asbestos was everywhere on a ship: covering pipes and equipment, insulating walls, even
protecting the floor. As ships aged, the asbestos-containing materials became
more brittle, and asbestos was released into the air.
Breathing in those asbestos fibers caused scarring in the lungs and started the disease process. Asbestositis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, the deadly cancer that attacks the lining of lungs and some other organs began to develop. For 15 to 50 years, mesothelioma
and other asbestos-related diseases lurk in the body. Only when the disease is
widespread will symptoms appear.
Long after a veteran thinks all danger of war was in the past, symptoms begin to appear. Difficulty with breathing, chest pain, a chronic cough, weight loss and other problems may not at first be associated with service in the Navy 50 years ago. Treatment can be
delayed because the cause is not easily identified. The disease is usually not
diagnosed until it has developed to a late stage.
Early stages of mesothelioma are not detected because they don’t cause symptoms and because there is no early detection test for this disease. Once mesothelioma is suspected, doctors will order chest x-rays, CT scans or MRI scans to determine the location and size of the tumor. A biopsy confirms the diagnosis and treatment finally begins.
The battle is not over for these veterans. They fought to protect their country from the aggressions of war. Now, they fight every day to preserve their own lives. Medical and financial help is available from VA for veterans who find themselves caught in the struggle with these deadly diseases.
I know that I usually write about my life and experiences as a military wife. However, tonight I am going to step onto my Soap Box and vent! I am furious, outraged, disgusted, and absolutely livid! Why? Because, as I was reading my new issue of the Smithsonian, I found an two-page, full spread advertisement for Premarin! Premarin is the menopause prescription wonder drug that is supposed to increase a woman’s estrogens levels. It is subscribed to help women with menopause have, well, a more pleasant experience in the bedroom, similar to what they enjoyed in their pre-menopause stages. Sounds innocent and innocuous, right? After all, who doesn’t hope to enjoy a good romp, well into their later years? So, why, you may be asking, am I all wound and worked up?
Because, I have an issue with how the drug Premarin is made. It is cruel, inhumane, and heartbreaking. Before I discuss how Premarin is made, let me explain what it is. Premarin is primarily derived from the urine of pregnant mares; the name itself points to it source. The makers of Premarin have hidden the source of estrogen from subscribers by cleverly coining the term, “conjugated estrogen”. Note that they don’t break down or provide any further details regarding the composition or ingredients that are used to create the “conjugated estrogens”. However, all one has to do is engage in a little online research, courtesy of Google, and the mystery ingredients are solved. According to Pharmacogenomic Knowledge Base, conjugated estrogen is composed of ” a mixture of the water-soluble salts of sulfate esters from estrone, equilin, 17 -dihydroequilin, and other related steroids, may be derived from pregnant equine urine or yam and soy plants.” Equilin and dihydroequilin both come from the urine of pregnant mares.
Now, I know you may wonder at this point, well, what’s wrong with pregnant mares? If the mares are well-tended, cared for lovingly and humanely, or living in natural habitats, nothing. But, this is neither the case nor the living conditions for the mares that are used to make Premarin. These mares, approximately 30,000-50,000+ mares, reside on PMU farms and live in horrible conditions. They are kept in a continual state of pregnancy, and they are housed in the equivalent of a warehouse or factory. The mares are kept tethered in small stalls, with urine collection cups continually harnessed to their bodies, for six months or more. They are restricted in movement, often not even able to lie down. Once they give birth, they are impregnated again as soon as possible. When they become lame, or ill, or too old to carry, they are slaughtered.
That is the fate of their offspring, too. The foals, considered unwanted PMU by-product, are separated from their mothers at four months. Unless rescued, these unfortunate foals and fillies are sent to the slaughterhouse. That equates to approximately 40,000 foals a year, from just one PMU farm alone!
Such was the fate of the my daughter’s beloved horse, Bo, until his guardian angels, his current owners, intervened and rescued him from abuse and neglect when he was just four months old. We are very sure that he is a PMU baby, because of the tell-tale signs. First, he was removed from his mother and had to be rescued at an early age. Second, he has a lack of pedigree; there is no known information about his mother or his father (called a sire). PMU babies quite often lack a history and their origins cannot be traced. Third, even though little is known about his parentage, Bo has a lovely build and form. Generally, the studs that are used to impregnate the mares generally have good stock. These traits are obviously passed down to their offspring, and Bo is a beautiful example of what a PMU baby could become, if only given the chance. Sadly, it is estimated at approximately 170,000-200,000 are shipped to slaughter houses, located outside of the U.S., each year.
Know that you know about the history of PMU, can you blame me for getting on my soap box? I am livid that a magazine that is supposed to support, protect, and promote conservation all of natural resources, with a particular interest in animals large and small, would allow this advertisement to be placed! You know I am going to be writing a letter of protest, demanding that the advertisement be removed from its publication. If you would like to join me, please send your letter to the following addresses:
Smithsonian, Main Advertising Office 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2335, New York, New York, 10170
(212) 916-1300
Letters, Smithsonian, MRC 513, P.O. Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013
or, email: LettersEd@si.edu
If would like to know what you can do to help these horses, here a few suggestions. First, the obvious: Don’t Use Premarin or any other drug that includes “conjugated estrogens” in its ingredients! Click the link for a full list of the trade names under which Premarin is prescribed. There are alternative medications and therapies that are safer, with less side effects, and are just as effective. (I didn’t mention Premarin’s nasty side effects; click the link for the list.) Second, you can help rescue PMU babies and mares by contributing to a horse rescue program. Last, you can advocate and lobby on behalf of these beautiful horses, who deserve to be treated humanely, receive proper care and treatment, and not be slated for slaughter.
And just in case you are in doubt or think that this is all hype or spin, check out this article, called Premarin Regrets, written by Ron Wilson, the son of Doctor Robert A. Wilson. It was Dr. Wilson’s book, Feminine Forever, which first promoted the idea of abolishing menopause and helped spawn the estrogen and PMU industry. His son, Ron, now apologizes and advocates on behalf of PMU mares and foals, while promoting alternatives.
