Today, as we reflect on the sacrifices of those who fight for our freedom, it’s good to remember there’s plenty we can do to thank them. I’ve been part of the fund-raising crew for Project VALOUR-IT for several years now, and we’re at it again, raising money to get voice-activated laptops to wounded troops. Computers and other spirit-lifting electronics can make more of a difference than you know, according to Chuck Ziegenfuss, whose 2005 injury in Iraq was the inspiration for the program, which has since supplied more than 1,500 computers to troops:
“Not only could I not get out of my bed to walk down there (to the hospital computer), but my hands were all blown up, he said. “I only had really one finger on each hand that I could use, and one of those was in a cast…I was really incapable of communicating.”
A computer with voice-activated software changed his outlook:
“Here’s the thing. They give you enough [pain meds],”-strong, expensive, good meds-“to knock out a horse, and it honestly sometimes doesn’t begin to touch the pain. You really don’t have anything else to think about.” While on the meds, the pain is better, but all the body’s processes slow down, which means you may be in less pain, but you also may be in a hospital bed quite a bit longer. And, the longer you’re on the meds, the harder it is to get off them. For accomplished soldiers who have just had their independence ripped away, anything that can shorten that process is welcome. For Chuck, it was a computer.”When you’re using something that takes your mind off the pain…you get the benefit of your body being able to recover without being heavily drugged,” he said.
You can help give a bit of that independence back through a donation to VALOUR-IT. I’m Team Air Force, in honor of the service of my dad and granddad, and much to the chagrin of my Army granddad and Navy grandmother, no doubt. Please feel free to use the interservice rivalry to motivate you to donate to this great cause.
