A Victory for Veterans

New York Times, May 18, 2011

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ordered an overhaul of mental health care for veterans, who are killing themselves by the thousands each year because of what the court called the “unchecked incompetence” of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In a scathing 2-to-1 ruling on May 10, the judges said delays in treating post-traumatic stress disorder and other combat-related mental injuries violated veterans’ constitutional rights. The delays are getting worse as more troops return from Afghanistan and Iraq, the judges said. About 18 veterans commit suicide on an average day.

The government’s obligations are clear. Veterans are entitled by law to be treated for injuries and illnesses. Benefits claims are supposed to be dealt with in days or weeks, but it takes an average of more than four years to fully adjudicate a mental health claim. When a veteran appeals a disability rating, the process bogs down drastically. The problem is an overwhelmed bureaucracy and a chronic inadequacy of resources and planning.

The judges said the system for screening suicidal patients was ineffective, and cited a 2007 inspector general’s conclusion that suicide-prevention measures were mostly absent. The same report found that the veterans department’s regional medical centers have suicide-prevention experts, but its 800 community-based outpatient clinics — which veterans most often use — do not. This crisis plagues active-duty soldiers, too, and the Pentagon has lagged in responding effectively. The government has long known what it was up against with P.T.S.D. and brain injuries — the signature afflictions of current wars.

This new ruling came two years after the appeal was filed, during which lawyers for the government and the nonprofit advocacy organizations that sued, Veterans for Common Sense and Veterans United for Truth, were trying to negotiate a plan for fixing the system. Those negotiations did not succeed, so the judges have remanded the case to the district court to order one.

The government can keep appealing, but it should work with the advocates and enact a plan to fulfill the promise of the veterans affairs secretary, Eric Shinseki, to do better. For 25 million veterans, including 1.6 million who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, the choice is clear.


http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/19/opinion/19thu2.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha211

After All This Time

Heading out of town and want to leave this with you, Dear Leslie (Listen to the words here):

There were trains And we out-run 'em There were songs And we out-sung 'em There were brighter days never ending There was time And we were burnin' There were rhymes And we were learnin' There was all the love two hearts could hold

And after all this time You're always on my mind Hey I could never let it end 'Cause my heart takes so long to mend The dream that keeps your hopes alive The lonely nights you hold inside And after all this time You're always on my mind I still want you

There was rain That we outlasted There was pain But we got past it There were last goodbyes still left unspoken There were ways I should have thrilled you There were days I could have killed you You're the only love my life has known

And after all this time You're always on my mind Hey I could never let you go A broken heart that heals so slow Could never beat for someone new While you're alive and I am too And after all this time You're always on my mind I still love you

And I could never let it in 'Cause my heart takes so long to mend The dream that keeps your hopes alive The lonely nights you hold inside And after all this time You're always on my mind I still want you Hey after all this time You're always on my mind I still love you

Hi Michelle!

A couple of days ago we went to Super H – a huge Korean grocery store with a good food court. We had bulgogi and crab cakes and it was great. A woman sitting at our table went out of her way to make us feel welcome, so it was more than just a good meal. We went back today for sushi (crunch roll – fried shrimp, avocado, cucumber, crab, “made crunchy”) and some spicy Chinese chicken and soups. It was a good lunch and grocery store trip and something wonderful happened.

I ordered the sushi and went over to where Leslie was ordering the Chinese food. She was saying that what a young man sitting nearby was having looked better than what we’d planned on getting and when I looked over at his food, the young woman sitting with him said, “Mr. Kemp.” It was Michelle, a former student who had done a really good job working with Karen refugees. Having an understanding about these things, she was able to touch people’s lives and she was willing to give self to people. Nice.

Things like this happen, connections, memories, things that affirm us all – Michelle, Leslie, me. Photo: Karen woman holding Michelle's hand as they walk

I had a student once, who had worked at the edge for quite a few years – a missionary in Latin America, liberation theologist. She said to me (old Marine, hospice worker, refugee worker), “You know, you and I are the oldest and least cynical people in this room.”

More dreams and sparkling realities

Voting: Below is a link to voting for Gardeners in Community Development, AKA, "The Garden" - the people and effort that have meant so much to our East Dallas community and the refugees who found refuge with us. Each vote takes GICD a step closer to $5000 for walk-ways and other improvements for elderly (that's me) and handicapped (not just yet) gardeners.

Visit www.deloachcommunitygardens.com to view videos from nominated gardens. GICD's entry is next to the last, Center for Growing People. Thanks!

To Phyllis: I taught and practiced that what we do should make a difference. If we weren't there, would it have happened? If the answer is no, without us it wouldn't have happened and if what happened helped or lifted people up, then we’ve done well. I saw Phyllis, my former Dean today and it was a lovely reunion. She said (or I think she said) something about challenges in working with me and later I’m thinking, thanks to her being able to let me do the work, which wasn't always easy for her to do, and me doing the work, many students had life-altering learning experiences and many people were healed, helped, informed, lifted up – mercy was given and received. If you think about it, it was an amazing thing we did.

Our House

Our house was built in 1931. We bought it in 1979 and have lived here ever since. We’re talking about moving for several reasons:

• David will be graduating in a few months and wants to live in a more progressive place than Dallas (and so do we). Our plan all along has been to live close to one another and we intend to be where he is.
• We’re getting older and less willing to do the upkeep on this house vs. what we think a condo would involve. It would be interesting (though I'm sure, expensive) to live in a house with climate control, with central heat and air for example.
• We like to travel for months at a time. Living in a place where we can just lock the door and go has enormous attraction to us.

Thinking in real terms about leaving the house, I thought I would put together some of the photos I’ve taken of the house, the garden, and living here. Looking at the photos clarified that it’s not just the house, but our life in this house – what we see when we look out the windows, what we bake, the neighborhood, the birds singing, and so on.

My Mom lived for several years in the little house behind ours. She died there and we took care of her through months of cancer. Our son grew up here. Oh, there are joys and treasures and memories beyond measure in those happy times in our little family ... all the Christmases, the tent in David’s room, cooking, baking, snow days, ball in the hall, Grandparents living with us (3!), Christmas tree forts, playing in the front yard – back yard – field – railroad tracks, the babies, homework, eating at DK’s little table in the kitchen, Goldy, Judo, Chris and David playing in the mud – building fires – playing up and down the street, Katy, Laura, Chuck living out back, making the couch into a boat, the tree fort, the garden, Little Wolf, not to mention Running Bear! It just goes on and on through countless happy days in this house. Leslie and I being in love, making love, being parents, sharing life, working together, lying in bed and having coffee and a back rub almost every morning, now growing old … and so

Here are some photos of our house and life

Nice secluded house for rent

The little house behind our house will be available for rent in May. Details:

Lakewood/Old East Dallas area – 3 minutes to new Whole Foods, 8-10 minutes to Baylor, 10-12 minutes to Central Market or SMU, 12 minute bike ride to White Rock Lake.

One bedroom cottage with living/dining area, kitchen, bath – 550 square feet. Newly painted. Mostly carpeted, some parquet floor. Living room & bedroom windows look out on rose & perennial garden. Photo: Living area. See bedroom window far right of photo.

Three ceiling fans, one air conditioner – unfurnished with gas range, refrigerator, provided. Good built-in cabinet space, shelves, bike storage.

Very private & peaceful on quiet residential street. Cottage is behind our home, so quiet is important (we’ll be quiet, too). Photo: From living room window

Limitations: no smoking inside, no pets, no loud motorcycles, 1 car only.

$600/month, bills paid (with moderate utility use). Phone, cable, internet not included. One year lease with security deposit.

We are seeking a single, quiet person or couple with references.

Reply by email to schedule an appointment. chaskemp gmail.com

Heroic journeys

Do you believe in magic?
These people have been on my mind.

Aaron is a former student of mine, who, along with his wife Diane, has a small farm (http://www.oneworldfarm.com/) in Venus, Texas – a farm and a state of mind where new hope is found – where the answer is Yes – where a man with far-advanced alcoholism (a fifth/day) became sober and more than a year later is still sober – where a child with no place else to turn found a home and love and a new life – where furniture made by refugees can be bought – where dogs find refuge – where people find refuge. Some people wonder, what’s the deal on the child who found refuge at One World Farm and the answer is, there’s no deal, it just is. Here is something on Youtube on the Karen. Photo: Here comes the sun ... it's alright

Claire was working in the garden, was bitten by a mosquito, infected with West Nile virus, ended up in critical care for many weeks, became a “feeder” (fed via a tube), and many months later is still wearing leg braces, using a cane, and suffering lingering neurologic effects. The rehab team wanted to do some cognitive restructuring, so assigned her mental exercises like designing a shopping center. Let’s see, do we want the paint store next to the hardware store or the tire store? Claire said, “Naw, I’m not gonna do that.” Instead, she studied for her nurse practitioner boards to become re-licensed – a very very difficult and complex undertaking. And she passed. Next on the agenda was finding a place to get in the many clinical hours required for re-licensure. After several rebuffs she ended up volunteering at Agape, where she distinguished herself in providing women’s health services, helping people deal with sexual issues, inspiring staff and volunteers, and keeping it real.

Chuck has renal cell carcinoma with distal metastases. He has known despair and defeat and has persevered. Markedly thinner than before, sometimes the sadness written clearly on his face, he has continued to study and teach his faith. This past Christmas he asked for help in connecting with people in need. I put him in touch with Nora (speaking of Heroic!) and by the time Christmas rolled around, 54 people – the poorest of the poor, the ones who never get to a Christmas handout program – had a nice Christmas. And good grief, he continues to referee basketball games! I should also note that his wife Joan, a beautiful and good woman, is central in this journey.

Small wonder that I would be thinking of them - Imagine!