The Marine and Saint Michael

Video of a radio broadcast, based on a 1950 event:

The Marine and Saint Michael

PTSD / TBI / Epilepsy

Two videos originally made for my neurologist. See info on videos for explanation. WARNING: SEIZURE VOICE SOUNDS -Value of Service Dogs:

12 22 18 2 (WARNING - SEIZURE VOICE SOUNDS)

12 22 18 3 ( Part 2) (WARNING SEIZURE VOICE SOUNDS)

Coco is a rescue dog whose orig owner died very suddenly of a stroke. Within days she and her sibling were given away. I had to train "out of her": a fear of being abandoned, of ambulances, of linoleum floors and illness. She not only overcame those, but now is like a nurse to me

I post these videos not only for the value of Service Dogs, but because these types of seizures have been diagnosed as epilepsy, but my neurologist is also testing me for long-term PTSD damage. Whichever, the dog gets me through each time this happens.

In addition to her situation when given up to a kennel in the south (high-kill), I then had her trucked up to RI (13 hour trip)and picked her up from there. The southern kennel works with a town dog officer in RI to get abandoned dogs to good homes (for a price of course)

She wasn't as cheap as some adopted dogs are, and I did take somewhat of a risk. But she has gone from not knowing what a leash is to being able to carry hers. Almost 8 years now, this dog has repeatedly saved my life.

Video:

LifeStation Medical Alert Service Button

Re: PTSD - 27 years ago I had a car accident. I was then diagnosed w/ (and still have) severe PTSD (nightmares, flashbacks, etc.) At the same time I was blacking out sporadically (even just after accident when still trying to drive). Those blackouts progressed into epilepsy.

In addition, over my life I have had 15 near-death experiences, many of which involved serious head hits. People say to me "you look fine". :) @DeptVetAffairs and @VeteransHealth hopefully are examining our Vets having also all of these elements: TBI/PTSD/Epilepsy

Service Dog Videos

Service Dogs

THE ADA LAW FOR SERVICE ANIMALS

These are some very good Service Dog videos

Dollar store refusing service dogs

SERVICE DOGS FIRST DAY AT HIGHSCHOOL

Inside California Education: Service Dog in the Classroom

Air Travel with a Service Dog

A Day In My Life // High School with a Service Dog

Kicked Out Of Hotel Because Of My Service Dog

How a Service Dog Eased 13 Years of Pain For a Veteran

Making An Emergency Slip Lead - If A Dog Moves Against Your Service Dog

How To Use A Slip Lead

Some of my own videos with Service Dog Miss Coco Bean:

The Toolbox

The Toolbox

I have about a month before my apartment gets out-priced and won't be approved by Housing for my lease to be renewed.  This has been an ongoing battle for 3 years. The market rents are in the 1500.00 a month range for my apartment and Housing allows about 1,000.00 a month.  It is a nationwide problem, and has very many people, working, non-working, and disabled, all facing homelessness.

What I have been doing for the last three years is being prepared to live in a tent. With my Service Dog, and still being able to make Quilts For Veterans. The fact that I have TBI and PTSD has made this both much more difficult (because I am less and less like other people), and yet, somewhat easier (I have nothing left to lose in many ways).  The threat of not having a warm bed, a hot meal, clean water, can be extremely debilitating for anyone. For those of us with PTSD, it can be life-threatening because many of us don't have the same skills we had prior to the accident or event that left us disabled.  But this isn't about the difficulty. It's about using the tools we can make ourselves, the tools we have a natural skill to use.

I have a green metal toolbox that holds the hand-carved tools I have made in order to continue taking care of myself and also be able to make quilts should I be living in a tent.  The quilts are easy- fabric, batting, needle and thread. The Service Dog sets for Veterans need lucets, spool kntting, hand-spun wool, and cotton warp.  There are many other tools I was able to carve from my Eastern White Pine, and in fact I would have had more, except some of the branches had to be destroyed due to aphids.  If you are facing homelessness, civilian or Veteran, maybe you also could use a tool box like this to make your own things.

Needed: yarn for some items, fabric as needed, wool for spinning if you choose to use all American-made yarns. You will also need to add hand sewing needles and thread.

The toolbox and large branch lucet:

The toolbox is all metal and lockable.

The tools: Large spool knitter made with keys for pins. Small spool knitter. These two items can make ropes, pillows, mats, rugs, and if woven, bands.

Double-point Knitting Needles: Sizes 15, 13, 8, 6, 4 - these can make socks, sweaters, vests, blankets, scarves, hats, mittens, and dog comfort collars

Large and small lucets: These make the place markers for the Service Dog sets, ropes, cords for tying smaller items, leashes, and necklaces and bracelets.

Belt-width backstrap weaving loom: Belts, leashes, bands, strips of woven fabric for batting, narrow flat straps for bundling objects like a bedroll. Strips can also be sewn into ponchos.

Spindle made of a dowel and pewter wire whorl: for spinning wool or cotton fiber.

Yarn sewing needle: sewing yarn

Crochet hooks: Sizes Q and G - for afghans, faceclothes, ponchos, granny square mats or rugs, etc...

Added: two bobbin boxes with thread for sewing (hand-quilting thread), and a small green sewing kit (Korean War replica kit) as well as my own needle book with plenty of hand-sewing needles.

What I would be leaving behind: a  sewing machine, my spinning wheels, my larger weaving looms, my knitting box, my sewing boxes, my crochet boxes, my hundred or so spool knitters and about 15 lucets.

In addition to what is here now, I can tweek this set anytime I want by keeping a simple jack-knife with me for additional carving, as well as some small blocks of Sculpey clay to add to any tools or make a new heddle for the backstrap loom.

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Brochet

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Sculpey clay to add to any tools or make a new handle for the backstrap

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Texting to 911

Massachusetts allows texting to 911 in an emergency.

Text to 911 FAQ

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Admiral McRaven Leaves the Audience SPEECHLESS | One of the Best Motivational Speeches

Support Quilts For Veterans

To support Quilts For Veterans, please visit my shop on Etsy, Cape Cod Knit.  Thank you!

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How to Hijack Amazon Prime Now for Good

Medical Alert Buttons and Services

Recently I had a severe seizure which left me somewhat incapacitated for five days. Don't let this happen to you, or the Veteran you care for.

Page link for different companies that offer "Medical Alert" buttons - even if you aren't elderly or incapacitated, it is easier to train a Service Dog to push a button than it is to swipe an iPhone LINK

I have ordered the service from LifeStation - $29.95 a month, but has GPS and they can help wherever I am. This last seizure had me befuddled for 5 days (when I finally grabbed a neighbor) - don't leave your health up to others - This rate reflects a discount by the Lifeline Program by the Federal Government that offers a $9.92 discount per month to low income people. LifeStation calls it a fixed rate plan.