General helping Florida recover had donated kidney in his spare time?

How a 2-star Army general took charge of a broken city

Associated Press
By: Tamara Lush
October 28, 2018

"There was a gentleman who needed a kidney," he says casually.

That's right. In the last four months, McQueen has retired from the military, started a new job, helped coordinate one of the largest hurricane responses since Katrina, and donated a kidney. To a stranger.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Mark McQueen’s sand-colored combat boots have walked the ground during many disasters.

Afghanistan.

Iraq.

Florida's Panama City.

Then-Maj. Gen. Mark McQueen, commanding general, 108th Training Command (Initial Entry Training), takes a moment to praise the soldiers of the Special Troops Battalion, 304th Sustainment Brigade, for their 12 months of serving as CRC Cycle 4 at the Conus Replacement Center on Jan. 13, 2017, after their transfer of authority ceremony at Fort Bliss, Texas. (DVIDS)

The two-star general had no sooner retired from the Army and started his job as city manager for this Gulf Coast community when it was slammed by a category 4 hurricane. Hurricane Michael became the most devastating hurricane to hit Florida in decades. Almost all of Panama City's water, sewer, electric and cell services were wiped out.

Despite McQueen having no municipal experience and having been on the job only two weeks, city leaders say he's exactly the man they need for the long recovery ahead.

"I believe the Lord sent him," said Panama City Commissioner Billy Rader. "God knew this was going to happen before we did."
read more here

Tiny Homes for homeless veterans face "code" issues

Veteran's tiny home collides with Kitsap County code

KING 5 News
Author: Tad Sooter, Kitsap Sun
October 26, 2018

Lynam said there are ways for Rye and his tiny home to remain on the property. The county allows "special care units," essentially small homes for people who need care due to a health condition or other circumstances. Rye's home would likely qualify, he said. Under a recently-passed transitory accommodations ordinance, a property owner can also provide space for an RV or other shelter to house a homeless household for up to 180 days.

Volunteers transformed a bare trailer chassis into a tidy framed house for a Navy veteran. But a complaint led county staff to inspect the property where the home was located and found it collided with county code.

SEABECK — Sam Rye's tiny house is a palace compared to his last abode.

The former Navy machinist camped in a tent in state parks around the Kitsap Peninsula before military buddies banded together a year ago to help him build a little house on wheels. Big retailers donated supplies for the project.

Volunteers transformed a bare trailer chassis into a tidy framed house, with a bedroom, composting toilet, kitchen and cozy living room. The electric fireplace flickered beneath a flat-screen TV on Tuesday as Rye discussed his diminutive dwelling with pride.
read more here

Night to remember at Rock and Brews in Kissimmee

Rock and Brews Kissimmee Soft Opening

Combat PTSD Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
October 28, 2018

Last night was the soft opening of Rock and Brews new location in Kissimmee Florida. We got to taste some great food, and had a lot of fun in the kitchen. 

Sgt. Dave Matthews of Never Forgotten Memorials brought out a fabulous rum cake for the staff to celebrate with them.

Cycle Fever was out doing an interview too!

Sherrie LaBarre, of Team Red White and Blue talked about her service in the military and how she continues to serve in the veterans community as Outreach Director.

What is your purpose now?

Types of vehicles have different purposes

PTSD Patrol
Kathie Costos
October 28, 2018

We choose vehicles based on what we like and what we need to do. If you need to clear snow, then you would want to have a snow plow. While a plow will clear snow, it would not be good to put one on a race track. That is, unless you plan on clearing other cars by shoving them out of the way.

On the other hand, a race car is meant for speed, and could clear snow very fast with a plow attached to it. The trouble is, it would not be able to do it very long.

When I was young, I wanted to be a writer. I always thought that I would be writing horror novels, instead of surviving horrors. Now I write about horrors in a much different way.

I could look at my life and think that it went off track, because while I wrote three books, I have not finished one of the several horror books I started. I am not sure what to even find the manuscripts now. I did not choose this work. My life did.

Most of us think we are supposed to do something and it sucks when we cannot do them, for one reason or another. You may think that because your job caused you to be invaded by PTSD, you cannot save anyone anymore.

That is because you are not looking at how many you can still save by letting them know there is hope for their lives too. 

Think about the group of veterans in TEAM RUBICON. They are no longer in the military, but used their training and desire to help by responding to disasters. They put their lives on the line all the time because they put others first, just like they did in the military.

Find what you do best and then find a different way to do it. Being of service to others comes in many different ways. You can still be true to the core of who you are, even though how you do it changed. #TakeBackYourLife
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Google thanks First Responders a million times

Google donates $1 million to First Responder Support Network to assist with PTSD recovery

9to5 Google
Ben Schoon
Oct. 26th 2018

The First Responder Support Network (FRSN) was developed by and for first responders. Their goal is to provide education and assistance to those still recovering from incidents that impact their day-to-day life and thoughts, such as a child who didn’t make it or a wounded colleague.

With all of the disasters that happen around the world nowadays, we sometimes forget about the first responders whose career it is to be on-site at these tragic events. Today, Google is donating $1 million to the First Responder Support Network to assist in helping these first responders with PTSD and other aspects of recovery.

Google announced in a post today on The Keyword that the company would be making this donation to the First Responders Support Network. The FRSN provides support for first responders who are dealing with PTSD and other issues following incidents.

The network offers one-week residential programs for first responders to help educate, and help them cope with their situations. The waiting list for this program can often be up to 6 months long.
read more here

Thanking First Responders

Hope for a better future came with 4 paws and a tail

Bill White: Troubled veterans are paired with service dogs. 'This guy's my world'

The Morning Call
Bill White
October 27, 2018

“Many of our veterans have difficulty engaging in treatment due to challenges with verbal processing, anxiety, isolation, etc. In a sentence, you have helped veterans become ‘unstuck’ and offered hope for a better future.” Laura Fahringer of the Coatesville VA

Harold Siegfried and his service dog Phelan (center) meet Oct. 14 with Lt. Col. Mark Phelan's widow, Brenda (right), her daughter April Chau and granddaughters Cora (far left) and Ada. (Harold Siegfried/Contributed photo)

Harold Siegfried was volunteering at ArtsQuest’s Christkindlmarkt two years ago, accompanied by his service dog, Phelan.

Siegfried and Phelan were brought together by Tails of Valor, Paws of Honor, a nonprofit program that trains service dogs to interact with and become companions for veterans who are struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries and physical disabilities.

All the dogs, rescued from area animal shelters as puppies and trained for on average 18 months, are named for military personnel who were killed in action or who committed suicide after returning home. Phelan was named for Lt. Col. Mark Phelan, who was killed in 2004 by a car bomb in Iraq.

A man who was visiting from East Norriton, Montgomery County, approached Siegfried that day and asked about his dog, a black Lab mix. Siegfried began telling him about the program and that each dog was named for a fallen serviceman or servicewoman.

When he told the man that his dog was named after Lt. Col. Mark Phelan, the man dropped to his knees and began crying.

“What did I say?” Siegfried asked the man’s wife.

“That was his brother,” she replied.
read more here

Help save the demon from PTSD Patrol

The demon of PTSD wants to live and needs your help to make sure it wins more lives. You can help by spreading suicide awareness so that these souls never find hope that they can heal!

Ret. Army Sergeant Major without legs competes with Marines

Army Ranger who lost both legs in Afghanistan inspires runners at Marine Corps Marathon

WJLA 7 News
Victoria Sanchez
October 26, 2018

“When you lose something that you’ve always been with, you feel like, ‘Alright, maybe I’m a little bit less. Maybe I’m not as important.’ I found out by making other people feel better and engaging with other people, it kind of took the place of my legs, you know?” said King.

Cedric King (Victoria Sanchez ABC7)

WASHINGTON (ABC7) — The Marine Corps Marathon will host 30,000 people from 64 counties Sunday morning. One of those participants is already inspiring others before the race starts.

Cedric King always has time to talk. Even when the former Army Sergeant Major is gearing up for this weekend’s 10K at the Marine Corps Marathon.

“What’s going on, man? You’ll be out there?” said King to a man walking near the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial.

“Absolutely.”

“Alright. Good deal, man.”
read more here

Suicide Awareness groups need to Stand Down!

Why think about only one way out of pain?

This is the result of all the suicide awareness groups delivering their deadly message. It is all over social media and in every email box filling up with stunts being pulled in your area.

If you have one of these groups, you need to stand down so that the rest of us can do our jobs. If you are serious about changing the outcome, then help us!

Keep all the money you are getting. Most of us do not want it because most of us have been doing the work for free! For the sake of those we are all supposed to be trying to help, help us get the message out that they can heal and suicide is not the only way out of their pain!

Stand Down on the message of death and stand up the message of hope that they can heal. Fight PTSD and #TakeBackYourLife instead of constantly reminding them of how far to many never heard they could!

This video is about first responders, Firefighters and Police Officers as well as National Guards members. It won an award from the IFOC back in 2008 when it was originally uploaded on YouTube.

Local first responder: ‘I felt the only way out was to kill myself’

WHIO
By: Gabrielle Enright
October 25, 2018

Like many full-time organizations, his deputies have access to mental health professionals. However, many first responders argue that more help is needed especially for small police and fire departments with part-timers and volunteers.

Marshall Gorby/Staff

— For most of us, the worst thing that happens at work is our boss gets angry or we lose a client. But for our first responders, work means a daily encounter with danger and death. Ben Norrod's 13 years as a Jefferson Township Firefighter had a heartbreaking start.

"Three months into my career, I had my first full (cardiac) arrest and it was a two-year old child," said Norrod. "We got back to the station and I just sat here and cried and I almost didn't want to do it anymore."

"The pain, it was overwhelming. I felt the only way out was to kill myself," Norrod said.

He is not alone. Suicide rates among first responders in the U.S. are soaring. The latest statistics show 103 firefighters and 140 police officers died by suicide last year. That is compared to 93 firefighters and 129 police officer line of duty deaths.

"If it takes one life, it's a problem," said Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer.
read more here

Report shows emergency responders are committing suicide more than line of duty deaths

FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live)- "I think a lot of it has to do with the tendency of firefighters, police officers, EMS workers. We see a lot day to day, and we kind of hold it in a lot. We don't really talk about it," says Dan Fuller, Chief at West Fargo Fire Department.

Emergency responders put their lives on the line to protect and keep us safe.

With the unpredictability of the job comes a lot of stress, which can cause mental health challenges.

A new report shows that in 2017, firefighters and police officers are taking their own lives more times compared to them being killed in the line duty.

First responders are the first ones on scene, seeing some of the most tragic events. This can cause mental health challenges for some firefighters and police officers.

"The job itself is stressful because of the situations that we go to every single day, they're different from one to the next," says Jessica Schindeldecker, Fargo PD Crime Prevention and Public Information Officer.

A report shows that in 2017, there were 103 firefighters and 140 police officers who committed suicide compared to the 93 firefighters and 129 police officers who died in the line of duty.
read more on Valley News Live

‘Ask for Help:’ Husband of First Responder Speaks Out after She Took Her Own Life

SACRAMENTO -- Suicides among first responders are not uncommon.

It's a pain Marc Zayas knows very well.

"She was incredible. She did a lot in her short amount of time," Zayas said, remembering his wife, Chelsea Fox.

Zayas' 36-year-old wife was a former firefighter and veteran 911 dispatcher for the California Department of Forestry for the past 12 years. She excelled at her job but with that came overwhelming stress, chronic back pain and issues with opioid addiction.

"We're dealing with people on their worst day," Zayas said. "They don't call 911 for anything. So, you're dealing with someone on their worst day."

That stress ultimately led to her to take her own life last month.read more on FOX 40 News

CHP officer dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound

A California Highway Patrol officer killed himself Tuesday afternoon near Elk Grove with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the CHP said.

Officer Sean Poore, 31, a nine-year veteran, was found dead in his patrol vehicle, the CHP said.

Sacramento County coroner’s records show he was found on Lambert Road beneath the Interstate 5 overpass, and broadcasts of scanner traffic maintained by Broadcastify.com indicate fire and Elk Grove police were dispatched to the scene shortly after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday for a report of an “unresponsive” person.read more on Sacramento Bee

If you have PTSD you have rights you need to know

VERIFY: Do you have to tell your employer you have PTSD?

First Coast News
October 26, 2018