Dear All,
All gulf war veterans- are going to pull it together!
I well tell you all that you probably will not see too many more
opportunities to have on speaking up on Gulf War Illnesses if you all
don't get out of your bunkers NOW.
WE have an opportunity this September to make a huge impact! WE have
both the Research Advisory Committee presenting a major report on the
second day of their Sept 15-16 meeting in DC. This is alot of work from
alot of scientist and those on the Veterans Affairs Research Advisory
Committee. A group that truly believed in the physical problems! A
group that wants to try to find a way to help gulf war veterans.
They have over the last 7 years worked with a focused approach. They
have helped to get us off the bad research direction re Stress, Stress,
Stress, Psychology to finding answers of what has happenned to our
bodies! They have focused the research into finding diagnostic and
biomarkers to help prove and guide future research into treatment. They
have pushed to get small scale treatment trials that are cost effective
to find some treatments for us ....that then could lead to large scale
treatment trials and then into changes in the clinical area.
The research is not always next door to you! Some of the projects will
help with cost to get there and some don't. We have about 3 that will
get going shortly. DR Golumbs out at University of California San Diego
is the first one to get started....We will be posting others as they
become active. We will also post info on ones that you might try that
fall in area of Chronic Fatigue, MS, etc as we find them. I encourage
all to give these serious thought.
We have gotten the UTSW Medical in Dallas with a Colloborative Center
started. That will hopefully be over the long term(funding for 5
years) for more high level research.
The new advisory committee Gulf War Veterans Advisory Committee will be
having their second meeting Sept 24-25 (we are trying to get the date
moved up closer to the 15th and 16th so gulf war veterans can attend
both on one trip!)
We are hoping for SEPT 18-19th or even 22-23rd. You could help by
sending letters to Secretary Peake and asking for the Gulf War Veterans
Advisory Committee to move up their date from Sept 24-25 to Sept 18-19
preferably. Maybe if he hears from the gulf war veterans and VSO's and
other groups we can make this happen.
WE are hoping that other activity will happen on Sept 17th. so we are
holding that day free.
WE Need you all to make the effort now. There was a huge push to get
the new advisory committee for gulf war veterans. This was so each of
you could come forward to input what you have gone through, the problems
and frustrations you have experienced in claims and health care. To
have each of you be able to offer suggestions for improvement and
change.
This is about making change happen and it will take each of you to give
your input.
This Sept we have a rare opportunity to be involved in both advisory
committees in one place!
I don't think you have that many opportunities! It also will allow you
time to visit on the hill in DC!
Only the squeaky wheel gets attention otherwise they think there is no
problem!
WE know better than that!
WE need each of you to come forward out of the bunkers. We are going to
try several things to help organize this effort! To help facilitate
your trip and networking with other veterans.
But we are going to need you to speak up now and as soon as possible so
we can lay plans to make the efforts to help. Without you speaking up
we have no idea how many will do it.
Simply it can not be done without you because this is about you and your
care and your benefits and your buddies!
It is 18 years since 1990 when Operation Desert Shield started followed
by Operation Desert Storm. Many of us have consistently done our best
for all the rest of you will ---I am telling you the time is now for
you!
It is truly a golden moment that will not happen to often now!
WE all must do this for each other!
Now to the spouses and family members, other veterans of other wars and
groups, and civilians it is time to realize that the gulf war veterans
urgently need your help! Spouses are also welcome to present public
comment! The priority is for the veterans and the spouse/significant
others but other veterans/civilians also can help!
Some of us have been involved since 1991, 1993, 1996, etc it has been a
hard battle!
We have helped get laws, hearings, committees, etc. WE have those that
got their benefits and crawled into a bunker and went quiet, we have had
those end up in wheelchairs, we have those that we have lost! Well my
Vietnam Veterans friends have told me we havent done enough in getting
you all forward. WE havent wheeled in enough in wheelchairs scotters
etc like they did.
WEll now is it! Listen up you want to help get better care for yourself
and your others....it is the bell time!
I don"t know what else we can say--- But help make a difference come
forward now!
Sincerely,
Denise Nichols