Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Sit Down and Let me Tell You a Story

A big "welcome and thank you" to my newest followers, Rosie Gan, Lynette KillamEki Ahkwan, Susan and Brenda GreenYou may check out their lovely blogs on gardening,  travel, photography, personal reflections and testimonies, by clicking on their names.  I also want to thank everyone for their heartwarming responses to my last post A Little Boy goes Home.  If you missed it, please click on the title.
Happy reading.

Hello friends,

I'm inviting you to sit down with me. Put a cup of tea or coffee in hand and pull up a comfortable chair.  If you are experiencing a heat wave right now which some of you definitely are, then I offer you a cool and refreshing lemonade instead. Now are you comfortable? Good.

Today I wanted to share with you the story of an American named Ray. Ray served in the Vietnam war and now lives in Australia with his lovely wife Crystal Mary.  Crystal had to go in for knee replacement surgery this week so I pray she is recovering well.  She is a wonderful and loving support to her husband Ray and he needs her to get well soon.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you about Ray because he has suffered so much for the love of his country and the desire to protect freedom. Like many young men who went to war, whether it was Vietnam or somewhere else, Ray has seen the horrors of war. On his first day in combat, his good friend Jim was shot in the chest. There was the horror of having to carry his friend to the helicopter and having to see  and smell the blood. No time for mourning or remembering his friend though as this was war! On the second day, Ray was shot in the wrist and witnessed someone else in front of him get badly wounded. Ray developed a a serious staph infection as a result of the wrist wound. You can read more of his ordeal here.

 As a result of the horror of war, Ray now suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder you ask?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that can develop following a traumatic event that threatens your safety or makes you feel helpless.
Most people associate PTSD with battle–scarred soldiers–and military combat is the most common cause in men–but any overwhelming life experience can trigger PTSD, especially if the event feels unpredictable and uncontrollable.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can affect those who personally experience the catastrophe, those who witness it, and those who pick up the pieces afterwards, including emergency workers and law enforcement officers. It can even occur in the friends or family members of those who went through the actual trauma.
PTSD develops differently from person to person. While the symptoms of PTSD most commonly develop in the hours or days following the traumatic event, it can sometimes take weeks, months, or even years before they appear. (Source:  www.HelpGuide.org)
Sadly, many of the men and women who went to war have an extremely difficult time getting recognized as having this disorder and getting the help they need. Ray has been diagnosed with severe depression and PSTD yet his government does not accept the evidence. Read more about that here.

In the words of his wife, Crystal Mary, "A country may be quick to send their men to fight, BUT, they are very slow in rewarding them."  This is very sad but true.

I'm writing this post to ask if you can read Ray's story and leave him some words of encouragement. Help him and his wife to know that they are not alone. Let Ray know that he is not forgotten. You can visit him and leave a comment by clicking here http://vaforgottenvet.blogspot.com/

Photo Credit: Ray and his beautiful wife, Crystal Mary.

16 comments:

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

In New Zealand, the Vets from Vietnam war were not regarded as with the other wars.s

Urmi said...

Wonderful post. I liked it very much.

Joyful said...

Ann, tbat is so sad. It just really goes to illustrate that many vets are indeed forgotten. Ray's blog is called "Forgotten VeT". Thanks for stopping by and taking time to comment.

Joyful said...

Babli, thank you for your faithful following and your kind comments.

Filipina Ini said...

Hopefully she gets better soonwith that knee replacement operation... God Bless this couple.

Shanda said...

Thank you for drawing attn to this. My husband also suffers from PTSD. He was in war for 4 years in Rhodesia at the time. I know how bad that can be.
Also, if you'd like to add your new edited version to the blog hop, I will delete the other. Sorry I deleted the wrong one.

Nancy said...

A nice thing for you to bring attention to Ray and this affliction. There are so many vets that suffer.

Joyful said...

Ina, thank you for your well wishes for this couple.

Joyful said...

Shanda, my heart goes out to those like Ray and your husband who suffer from PTSD and to the spouses. You all deserve a big hug and a load of encouragement and prayer.

Joyful said...

Nancy, thank you for visiting and for caring about this issue and about our Vets. May God bless them every one.

❀~Myrna~❀ said...

Thanks so much for sharing, I will pray for both of them.

Joyful said...

Wonderful Myrna. Thank you!

Kilauea Poetry said...

Sad..one is bad enough and now we're involved in Libya. I know of many vets over here and a lot have this as well as hep c. Staph is common on the islands and I actually picked that up in a hospital and came close to losing my leg (internal). Well, they've seen more than we can imagine..I will try to visit soon as I get a moment..thanks-

Joyful said...

Thank you, Regina. I'm sure Ray and Crystal Mary would love a comment from you if you can make it to their blogs. Happy weekend to you.

Susan said...

Thank you so much for reminding us of the ongoing sacrifices made on our behalf - and charging us with something simple to DO that might make it a small bit easier for at least one. So glad I stopped by! Susan

Joyful said...

Wonderful Susan. I'm so glad to hear that you are a doer and not a hearer only. God bless you!

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