Injured soldier, bride ready to face hurdles together

The couple squeeze their wedding in before the groom's next surgery.

By Kevin Haas

RRSTAR.COM

Posted May 29, 2009 @ 10:01 PM

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ROCKFORD —

Four days before Sgt. Joseph Mershon was scheduled to return home from Iraq and propose to girlfriend Hillary Krueger, he was seriously injured when an improvised explosive devise struck his troop.

The couple were able to follow through on wedding plans today by tying the knot in a small ceremony inside the chapel at SwedishAmerican Hospital. Hillary works as an aide for the hospital’s medical imaging services.

“It’s been canceled twice,” said Mershon’s mother, Christine. “He was supposed to come home Feb. 23. Then he was supposed to come home in March from the hospital for 30 days, but that got pushed back because of his injuries.”

Joseph Mershon proposed on March 6, and the ceremony was held less than three months later so the couple could get hitched before his next scheduled surgery.

“It all happened like a whirlwind,” Hillary Mershon said. “All our parents and family and friends, as soon as we set (the date), they sprung into action.”

On Feb. 19, the explosive device ripped the meniscus in Joseph Mershon’s right knee. He also suffered a traumatic brain injury and suffers from reflex sympathetic dystrophy, which causes chronic and progressive pain in his right ankle, Christine said.

Joseph Mershon moves mostly by wheelchair now, but he stood to take his wedding vows.

His next surgery is scheduled for June 22 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, and there is still a 50-50 chance he could lose his right leg from the knee down, Hillary Mershon said.

“I’m relieved,” she said. “But there are plenty more hurdles we have to clear. But we will, together, holding hands.”


Staff writer Kevin Haas can be reached at khaas@rrstar.com or 815-987-1354.

"Don't Look Back"

If you're a person, like I once was, who has a hard time making a decision, then you are probably aware of the time and energy you spend in the process. Changing indecisiveness is a very difficult job, particularly if it is deeply ingrained into the fabric of your life, (like cotton..haha). But indecisiveness is learned, and therefore it can be unlearned. It will, however, take tough choices and regular practice before decisive decision making comes easily.

Ask yourself:

On a scale of 1 to 10, how decisive are you?
How long did it take you to answer that question? hahahaha


Major decisions still need major consideration, but wisdom lies in recognizing which decisions are minor and can be decided quickly.

Once a decision is made, you may still second-guess it. That's a problem for many, which produces major anxiety. They live their lives in the land of "should haves" and "could haves." This is an incredible waste of time and energy, since most decisions cannot be undone. It's best to live with your decision -- or learn from it and use that knowledge to make a better choice next time.

Try practicing telling yourself one or more of the following phrases.

1. "What's the worst that can happen?"
This is especially helpful for small decisions. When you're agonizing over whether you should go to a meeting or whatever, because you're feeling especially run-down, ask yourself, "What's the worst that will happen if I miss that meeting tonight?"


2. "I made the best decision I could with the information I had at the time. Whatever outcome, I'll make the most of it."
This applies to major decisions, which can be subject to major second-guessing. Practice this phrase for yourself. It really works! Whether the decision is big or small, we can only deal with the knowledge we have at the time. Hindsight might tell us more about what we might have done, but don't worry about hindsight. That's a no-win situation!! We can't look back. We must learn and look forward!
Many have agonized over the decisions involved in buying a house. These choices can cost or save thousands of dollars. Should you lock in at a certain interest rate? Or should you wait in case the rates go down? Of course, the experts disagree on the direction of rates, so you can constantly agonize over this. But what's the worst that can happen? Well, a wrong choice would mean a higher mortgage payment each month. If that thought isn't very comforting, try this phrase: "I made the best decision I could. Once the decision is made, there's no sense in looking back."

3. "God is still in control, life still goes on, and I can adjust to whatever happens."
This is another comforting phrase that we should practice often!! God never wakes up and says, "Oh no! Look at what happened while I wasn't paying attention!"
As Christians, we can trust that God is in control of our lives. Yes, we make mistakes, but God is still in control. As long as our attitude is one of submission to him, there is really nothing for us to fear.

Hopefully you can, and will, take the gist of one of those phrases above and put it in your own words. Or make up a whole new pep talk, to keep yourself from wasteful second-guessing of the decisions you' ve already made.

Laugh Your Way To Health

Friday, May 22, 2009 by: Cindie Leonard, citizen journalist
(NaturalNews)


In Jimmy Buffett's famous song, "Changes in Latitudes," a key line in the chorus is: "If we couldn't laugh, we would all go insane." This verse in this fun and somewhat philosophical song is supported by scientific research. Our mental health is positively enhanced by laughter.


Using laughter as medicine is not a new concept. As early as the 14th Century, French surgeon Henri de Mondeville used humor therapy to aid recovery from surgery. He wrote: "Let the surgeon take care to regulate the whole regimen of the patient's life for joy and happiness, allowing his relatives and special friends to cheer him and by having someone tell him jokes."

In the 1930s U.S. hospitals began to bring in clowns to cheer children hospitalized with polio. In 1972, the Gesundheit Institute (of Patch Adams fame) was founded to bring "fun, friendship, and the joy of service back into health care."

Norman Cousins calls laughter "internal jogging." Cousins had been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness, an experience that had led him to question Western medicine. Cousins found the treatments suggested by his doctors to be totally lacking, so he checked himself out of the hospital and checked into a hotel. From here on, he literally laughed himself back to health. He immersed himself in only funny movies and television shows. He enjoyed every one of the Charlie Chaplin movies, and watched "Candid Camera" episodes until his sides hurt, laughing. His illness disappeared. From this experience, he wrote an enlightening book, "Anatomy of an Illness."

Even the Bible suggests that we keep a happy heart: "A cheerful heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit makes one sick." Proverbs 17:22

Solid scientific research demonstrates that laughter offers the following benefits:

Lowering blood pressure

Strengthening cardiovascular functions

Reducing stress hormones

Improving circulation

Increasing muscle flexion

Oxygenating the body by boosting the respiratory system

Boosting immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, disease-fighting proteins called Gamma interferon and B-cells, which produce disease-destroying antibodies.

Triggering the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers

Producing a general sense of well-being.

Even anticipating laughter can enhance our biochemistry. In a novel experiment conducted at Loma Linda University, researchers studied a group of 16 healthy male volunteers. The participants were assigned to two groups. Blood was drawn from both groups four times during the event and three times afterward. The experiment group was told that they would be watching a humorous video. The control group was not. The findings were astounding. The experiment group showed not only a decrease in stress hormones (cortisol, epinephrine, and dopac,) but also an increase in beta-endorphins (chemicals that alleviate depression) and human growth hormone (which boosts immunity.)

Dr. Lee Berk, the team's lead researcher, sums up the study: "Our findings lead us to believe that by seeking out positive experiences that make us laugh we can do a lot with our physiology to stay well."

In an earlier study conducted by Dr. Berk and her team, the experimental group watched a humorous video. Blood samples were measured on both the experimental group (that watched the humorous video) and a control group (that did not watch the video.) The results were similar to the above experiment showing positive biochemical changes by those who watched the funny video. In addition, this study also demonstrated the positive physiological changes that occur after a session of laughter. Dr. Berk states: "The physiological effects of a single one-hour session viewing a humorous video appear to last anywhere from 12 to 24 hours in different individuals."

Interestingly, one can exercise both mind and body is a class called "laughter yoga." This trend has been active in India and China for years and is now part of a growing trend in the United States. The students are re-learning something children already know instinctively -- that laughter makes you feel better. Barb Fisher, a certified laughter yoga teacher, states that "kids laugh about 400 times a day, and adults only about 15...Laughter is a gift that has been given to us to make us feel better."

Laughter is proving to be a tool to protect ourselves from heart disease. Dr. Michael Miller, director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center, sums up the benefits of laughter: "We don't know yet why laughing protects the heart, but we know that mental stress is associated with impairment of the endothelium, the protective barrier lining our blood vessels. This can cause a series of inflammatory reactions that lead to fat and cholesterol build-up in the coronary arteries and ultimately to a heart attack...The ability to laugh -- either naturally or as learned behavior may have important implications in societies such as the U.S. where heart disease remains the number one killer."

Research into the positive effects of laughter is generating a global interest into humor and well-being. The Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor sites this official definition of Therapeutic Humor: "Any intervention that promotes health and wellness by stimulating a playful discovery, expression or appreciation of the absurdity or incongruity of life's situations...This intervention may enhance health or be used as a complementary treatment of illness to facilitate healing or coping, whether physical, emotional, cognitive, social or spiritual."


How many other therapies can you think of that are effective, free, and have no known negative effects?



"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."
~E.E. Cummings



Source

GREAT Information....Please Share!!

Hey everyone....I am going to share with you a couple of AWESOME information that will help you, or your loved one, or even your neighbor. So please share with anyone and everyone you know, because maybe they know someone that will benefit from either or both of these resources!!

Are You A Woman Battling Cancer?

When you are battling cancer, a clean house isn't just a matter of aesthetics, it's a matter of health. A clean environment is essential when an immune system is compromised.

That's why the "Cleaning for a Reason Foundation" offers FREE monthly housecleaning services for four months to women undergoing cancer treatment.

To donate or request services,
visit: www.cleaningforareason.org

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Do You Need A Wheelchair Ramp?

If you, or someone you know that lives in Texas and are in need of a wheelchair ramp in order to get in and out of your house, this information will make your day!!

"The Texas Ramp Project" - Building Freedom For The Home-bound, can provide you with that much needed wheelchair ramp for FREE!! That's right....for FREE!!

To find out how to have the volunteer's from "The Texas Ramp Project" give the gift of freedom to you or someone you know, or if you want to be one of the volunteer's in your area....

visit their website: www.texasramps.org or

if you want to send them a note,
email them: info@texasramps.org or

if you would like to give them a call,
dial: 972-235-7309

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I have to tell you, I am completely impressed with both of these organizations!! These are the type of organizations and volunteer's we need to see more of!!



If you know of an organization that is doing things like this, please share them with us.

Have an Amazing Day....Every Day!!

Man Sentenced For Worker’s Comp Fraud

By Donna Willis
Web Content Coordinator
Published: May 12, 2009

RICHLAND COUNTY, Ohio—A Mansfield man was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to fraud.

Roger Roseberry pleaded guilty to fraud following an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Special Investigations Department (SID).

A Richland County Common Pleas Court judge ordered Roseberry to pay at least $500 per month to BWC.

He will face incarceration for six years if he fails to pay.

He also was sentenced to five years of community control.

Roseberry was collecting permanent disability from the BWC for an injury that included total loss of use of his right arm and both legs due to Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, also known as RSD.
A BWC attorney referred the settlement to the SID for review after Roseberry submitted an application for a lump sum settlement in the amount of $617,000.

The SID’s investigation revealed Roseberry did have use of both his legs as well as his right arm.

“Injured worker fraud draws resources from workers who have legitimately been injured on the job, and unfairly raises premiums for employers who are working to maintain safe workplaces,” said SID Director Tom Wersell. “Careful monitoring of claims helps us identify and prosecute those who abuse the system.”

Special agents conducted several days of surveillance and observed Roseberry operating a motor vehicle, driving long distances, walking, opening and closing doors, holding items and writing. The videos were later shown to Roseberry’s treating physicians who indicated the video contradicted the conditions allowed in his workers’ compensation claim. Upon completion of the investigation, the settlement was rejected by the BWC and Roseberry was referred for prosecution.

Roseberry admitted to fraud related to collecting permanent total disability benefits and his request for the lump-sum settlement.

On March 30, 2009, Roseberry pleaded guilty in Richland County Common Pleas Court to one count of workers’ compensation fraud, a third degree felony and one count of theft, a fourth degree felony. As part of the plea agreement, Roseberry has agreed to repay $23,536.92 in restitution and $7,000 in investigative costs.

Source

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Stories like this makes me so frustrated!! It makes it more difficult for those of us who are "REALLY" having pain from RSD to get proper treatment!!

What are your thoughts on this story?

Today is "NATIONAL FIBROMYALGIA AWARENESS DAY"!!

I am so glad there is a day set aside for everyone to be honoring and spreading the word about Fibromyalgia and it increases the awareness!

Today on my show the guest will be "Mother Knows Best" will be giving some healthy and natural tips on how to manage your Fibromyalgia!
Click here today at 1:00pm CST to listen.

Also, join us members of "Living Whole With Chronic Pain Support Network" in honoring and supporting those of us with Fibromyalgia! There will be 'Door Prizes', 'Recipe Contest', 'Live Chats' in the chatroom, and much much more!
Click here to check it out.

Do you have any special events or activities in support of Fibromyalgia that you would like to share here with everyone? I invite you to post any and all info in the comment section of this post. Include links to your own website, those events, etc. and I will also post those links here on the main page of my site.

Wishing you all a most AMAZING day!!

"If You Only Knew Syndrome" - Do You Have It Too?

If you are someone living with a chronic illness that nobody can see, you know what "If You Only Knew Syndrome" is!

When people say things like: "Wow, you are really looking good, things must be going well with you" or "So you must not be ill anymore because you are so active again, and you're looking better", that is when you just want to sarcastically say to those people: "If you only knew!" Right? Sometimes you just want to scream: "Buy a vowel already because you DON'T have a clue!"

But you hold that sort of response inside, biting your tongue so hard that you could draw blood, and smile and say something like: "Thank You! I'm doing pretty good 'today'!" or maybe: "Good thing I don't look like I am feeling inside!" and you just laugh it off. While in the back of your mind you are feeling frustrated, discouraged or you're fighting the urge to shake that person and explain how ignorant they are!!

You have felt those things, or worse, haven't you? Sure you have, all of us who are living with a chronic illness that doesn't show itself on the outside where everyone can see, goes through situations like that, it's inevitable! It's going to happen!

But....do they really mean it as a compliment with some understanding or knowledge of what you're going through?

How could you know this for sure?

You can't honestly think they are saying it to be mean or hurt your feelings can you? No, of course not!

So why is it that we take such offense to those comments?

I know, for myself - and many others, the answer to that question is because we are getting 'sick and tired' of being 'sick and tired' and we long to be "NORMAL" again.

We really don't want to park in those handicapped spaces. I mean, sure they are closer to the door and real convenient. But you feel a bit "guilty" when you get out of your car and people look at you like: "What the heck? That person can walk, there's no reason for them to be parking there" or they have an angry look on their faces as they watch you walk in the store. Ever experience one or both of those?

You also feel 'guilty' because of what you perceive to be your limitations. (e.g. cleaning, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, making the bed, cooking, etc.) Right?

I remember life before chronic illnesses and pain, and how much I loved it. So when someone looks "down" on me because they 'assume' I don't do anything except sit around all day eating bon-bons and watching soap opera's, it would really upset me to the point of causing much undo stress and my slithering into depression over it. I use to think to myself, "Man, if this is how the rest of my life is going to be, then God....Take me now!!" And I know I'm not the only one who experiences those types of feelings, Am I?

With a chronic illness that is invisible to the eye, all you want is for people to understand how dramatically your live has been altered by what is causing your illness or pain.
You just want "Empathy" not "Sympathy"!!

How do you ever get that "empathy" that you want and need?

Unfortunately, to get the much needed support and sense of understanding from others, you first need to "accept" things as they are and begin your journey into wellness!

You are probably sitting there asking: "What does she mean by that?", aren't you?

Well, can you honestly say you have "accepted" the fact that you are in chronic pain, or you have a chronic illness that only you can see because you feeeel the affected area.
But to those who have never felt the type of pain you have, it is incredibly difficult to describe what or how you're feeling. Should you even try making them try to feel it? No, probably not. Why? Because unless they are diagnosed with the same illness, they will never come close to even imagine the things you go through on a daily basis!
So what then are you to do?

Share some of the things that have helped you "accept" things and move 'forward' in your journey and find that much needed sense of understanding and empathy!

Here are just a few of the things I have done when I sincerely didn't think there was anything that could get me to the next level of the relentless agony I was feeling each and every second of each and every minute of each and every hour of each and every day!!

1. Realized nobody could help me any better than I could, so it was completely up to me how my life would go, and I chose to Live!

2. Learned how to meditate and visualize my journey being in a much happier time and place.

3. Learned how to 'breathe' correctly so I could get the full benefit of all those deep breaths I had been taking.

4. Learned how to 'relax'! This one of the most important things you will ever do for yourself! I invite you to find a way to unwind and enjoy the beauty God provide for you each and every day!


Ok, your turn... =)


Looking forward to reading your tips that has gotten you to where you want to be....And if you aren't where you want to be, ask me, or someone, how you can!


~God Bless~
Coach Marla