 |
Charities Provide Relief to Bethesda's Wounded, Families
(January 20, 2011) |
|
| BETHESDA, Md. (NNS - 1/18/2011) -- The National Naval
Medical Center (NNMC) treated more than 500 combat-injured
service members, each accompanied by an average of three
family members, in 2010.
As many of the family
members leave their jobs to be with their wounded service
member, NNMC staff works with several charitable groups to
ensure the needs of the families, as well as the wounded,
ill and injured are met.
The charitable groups
provide a variety of goods and services, ranging from
clothing, plane tickets, medical assistance and financial
grants.
"These families aren't prepared, and when
they find out [their loved one has been injured], they drop
everything immediately, some of these families are here for
months, and that's just here, then they could move on to
another facility and be there for months," said Dawn Van
Skike, of the Semper Fi Fund. "The wounded, ill and injured
are more motivated if their family members are here. Our
organization helps with that."
The Semper Fi Fund is
just one of the many organizations helping to provide relief
for troops and their family members.
"If there's a
need, it's immediately addressed and handled. Our goal is to
help with that need," said Van Skike. Be it medical or
non-medical assistance, "Our goal is to meet and get to know
all the families and let them know we're here for them."
The Semper Fi Fund provides relief to service members,
including transportation assistance, home grants, adaptive
housing support, education and career transition assistance.
Since its establishment in 2004, the 501-1 (c) (3)
organization has given out more than 24,000 grants, totaling
more than $44 million.
The Inpatient Warrior and
Family Liaison Office (IWFLO) works with a number of
organizations throughout the year to ensure needs are met,
said Chief Brian O'Keefe, IWFLO officer. Some of the
organizations O'Keefe works with include the Aleethia
Foundation, the Wounded Warrior Project, Armed Forces
Foundation, Soldier's Angels, United Services Organization,
the Fisher House, the Oakleaf Club of Greater Washington,
D.C., and many others.
"I think we've done just
about everything we could come up with, from boarding pets
to helping families from losing their homes. The only
problem we can't solve is the one that we don't know about,"
said O'Keefe.
Navy Safe Harbor also works with
benevolent organizations to ensure resources are provided to
patients and their loved ones. Since its establishment in
2005, the Navy-run program provides one to two non-medical
care managers at all the major medical treatment facilities
throughout the country, providing non-medical care
management.
"We're going to be with you from the
time you enter those doors, throughout the time you're in
the Navy," said Cmdr. Shauna Hamilton, non-medical care
manager for Navy Safe Harbor. "They'll be getting a phone
call, letting them know that everything is taken care of so
all they need to do is focus on taking care of their loved
one, and we'll make that as easy as possible."
Benevolent organizations, and those that assist with
coordination of their efforts, work quickly and efficiently,
said Hamilton. Additionally, the Wounded Warrior Battalion
East — Bethesda Detachment also works with benevolent
organizations, providing for the wounded, ill and injured
Marines at the hospital, said Lt. Col. Michael Wall,
detachment officer-in-charge.
"[Charitable groups]
do an awesome job helping the wounded, ill and injured
warriors and their family members," said Wall. "They help
the family members whether they're [organizing] a dinner,
assisting them in shipping [belongings] back to their home
address...We're very grateful for the support and everything
they do."
Marine Corps Liaison Office (MCLO)
Events/Charitable Organizations Coordinator Sgt. Joe Bradley
added that all groups are afforded an opportunity to assist.
The MCLO also works with numerous community organizations to
coordinate events for the Wounded Warriors.
"We want
to be able to maximize the benefits for the Marines," said
Bradley.
"We really do grow a relationship with
these families," said Van Skike. "We've become such a part
of their family in the time of crisis...you bond."
Semper Fi Fund is also one of the many organizations that
follow up with families to check on their well-being, as the
wounded, ill and injured return home to face a new set of
challenges.
Robin Dawes, whose husband, a Marine,
was injured in Afghanistan in 2007, said she feels the
hospital staff and members of these charitable organizations
have become like family. After her husband, Gary, was
injured, they spent about a month in the Intensive Care Unit
at NNMC.
"It was a very emotional experience," said
Dawes. "We continuously had to go back for surgeries...we're
still coming here."
The IWFLO has been one of her
main points of contact, said Dawes.
"They always
make sure we have a place to stay, and everything we need,"
she added.
Like many families with an injured loved
one, bills at home can seem out of hand.
Dawes said
the Navy Relief Society stepped in to lend her family a
hand.
"We have people who come to us simply to see
how we are doing," said Dawes. "When you've been doing this
for three and a half years, it's nice to know who's there
and who you can count on and that you won't be forgotten.
The last thing you want to worry about is financial
[issues]. You have to concentrate on getting your
significant other better."
All organizations,
including federally-approved and private organizations, have
an opportunity to donate their goods and services to the
wounded, ill and injured and their family members. We are
looking forward to expanding our relationship with
benevolent organizations as we merge with the Walter Reed
Army Medical Center to create a world class medical
treatment facility for beneficiaries and their families. For
more details, contact the IWFLO at 301-319-6805.
For
more news from National Naval Medical Center, visit
www.navy.mil/local/nnmc/. |
By Sarah Fortney
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Public Affairs
Copyright 2011 | |
Reprinted from
Navy News Service
Comment on this article |
|
