Bring the whole family to the Community Health Fair on Saturday, June 22, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. The location is 5520 Bridgeport Way West, in University Place. It's an outdoor event that will be held in the large parking lot of University Place Care Center (weather-permitting). If there is heavy rain, the event will be moved indoors, but "the show will go on" no matter what the weather may bring. The healthfair is free and everyone is welcome to attend so bring the whole family. Have your blood pressure checked and gather information from every imaginable aspect of health, e.g. spa services, massage therapy, hypnotherapy, the latest in eyewear, and much more. Puget Sound Blood Center's Bloodmobile will be on-site receiving blood donations. Plan to donate while you're there. Parking is free, too. Bring the family! For more information or for any questions, please call 253.566.7166and ask for Chris, Jeanne or Sheila. Visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/UniversityPlaceCareCenter
Where have I been? Clouds dance across the Sound and I wonder, where indeed? We’re still in the Aerie above Joe’s Bay in Home, holding up our little patch of sky, standing firm on the land we pay to take care of, “watchin’ the tide roll in…just to watch it roll away again,” as one of my personal top-ten songs of life testifies. I really don’t know how sane I would be at this point, if not for Mama Nature’s kinetic art, movement that so soothes me. Seems normal is a very movable fulcrum, on this little ball that wobbles through space. You don’t go looking for a cause…a cause slaps you, upside the head, as I’ve said in this space before.
My family is in our fifteenth year of a journey with my daughter’s Lyme disease, complicated by co-infections…and a deplorable set of guidelines that perpetuate abuse in our medical system. At first we felt so alone, trying to understand tick-borne infections within a firestorm of political, “yes it is—no it isn’t,” and definitely not understanding why we were told Anna was “cured” of Lyme by a short course of antibiotics, told that it was all in our heads when it was so obviously an ongoing infection, the symptoms of which began to fill more and more pages with each passing year.
Slowly we began to meet other patients, families, advocates, and activists. Anna has been interviewed in print and on the radio, as have so many patients (even famous ones like singer Daryl Hall) trying to get the word out about chronic Lyme and the Infectious Disease Society of America’s chronic denial of this very real and growing problem.
Then Connecticut State Attorney General Blumenthal, now a Senator, felt there was enough evidence to move forward with a criminal investigation into the panel that made, and profited from, the Lyme Guidelines. We kept telling anyone who would listen, but a last-minute deal was reached, wherein the panel would review their guidelines. We held our breaths…but the new panel slapped the old ones on the back, and kept the exact same devastating misinformation as fact. Head of the original panel, Dr. Gary Wormser, actually used the term “Lyme-nuts” when speaking of the suffering patients he was supposed to help.
Anna has had a new primary since last July, when Medicaid required doctors to sign contracts with them, in order to pay for treatment, and her Lyme doctor refused. He had taken her on as primary care physician six years before, promising to see her through her illness. The change in rules made it easy for him to break his promise to Anna. Being let go as his patient turned out to be a blessing in disguise though, as this doctor had lost interest in her, and other complicated patients who weren’t responding to basic ILADS (International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society) antibiotic protocol and Naturopathic supplements. He had left ILADS and now seemed more concerned about moving his practice and home to an upscale Seattle neighbourhood. He added “Shaman” to his Medical Degree (after what amounts to two months of weekend ‘study’ at www.shamanism.org over two years) and began charging some $600 to make patients lie on the floor, listening to a CD of drumming, while he “retrieves parts of their broken souls,” as it says in his clinic’s literature.
Yeah.
I worked with a Native American Shaman for seven years, was taught Honour, Respect, Humility, and Love… how to recognize scat when I see it, and name it. Patients looking for doctors would do well to visit www.ratemds.com before making appointments. Problem was, Anna was now bounced to the side of the fulcrum that takes her Medicaid insurance, but full of doctors who have been trained to ignore Lyme. Many refused her because of her chronic illness, and the doctor who did take her states categorically that he is “not interested in learning about Lyme.” Every appointment, for nearly a year now, has been a carousel of ‘first-visit hell’ while the DVD of “Under Our Skin” we gave him sits unopened in his office. He treats her like a drug-seeker when, for six solid months, she had to keep correcting him on her narcotics prescriptions…DOUBLE the amount, on one prescription! When mistakes are made, his office is unreachable, until I ask to speak to the Clinic Manager. Dr. Useless has a pamphlet which states, “I treat patients like family!” Well, I wouldnae want to be in your family, Jocko, as they say in Glasgow!
But there is a difference, here in 2013, from 1998.
Photo by Paul Mall.
Even Dr. Useless keeps Anna on a maintenance dose of IV antibiotics. Slowly, chronic patients, and those who advocate for them, are making some sense to mainstream doctors, albeit precious little. George W. Bush was treated with antibiotics, over the whole last year of his presidency and, when the word got out, common sense trickled just a little from the mountain-top, seemingly. It is not enough…but it is a change I can report to you, here in year fifteen.
Paul Mall, taking part in the Lyme "Die-In"
For a few years now, I’ve been taking action in May by standing at the intersection of SR302 in Purdy with a sign that says, “Lyme Lives Here!” and have been heartened by the waves, honks and best of all, those who stop to ask me what Lyme is. 2013 was different. This year, Lyme patients, families, friends, advocates, and activists from thirty countries around the world (Australia, UK, Romania, Canada, and the USA, to name just a few) banded together for a two-day protest, May 10th and 11th, a Friday and Saturday. Social media like Facebook and Youtube exploded with events, sites for posters, support and just about everything else. Story after story, after story, after story came up, refuting the IDSA Guidelines that denied chronic Lyme.
This year Anna, with more of our family and friends, joined me on the Saturday, at my usual stand in Purdy. We made posters, and tied green ribbons around the posts in front of us. We had a tremendous response from hundreds of good folks. In our hearts, we felt the closeness of every person around the world, standing for the truth at the same time. We couldn’t help but also feel the pain inside the Lyme community, finally reaching numbers that can gather strength for an audible shout. Even though I wrote to every major news station, we were not enough bodies to deserve a story. You get used to the duality, living with Lyme. Let me say here, we’re indebted to Cas Slater and the Key Peninsula News, for her ‘where are they now’ follow-up interview with Anna this year, helping us to get the word out about our worldwide protest.
The State of Washington represented! Photo by Dale Goodvin.
Anna has been wiped-out, ever since—me too! Think I’ve aged thirty years, inside this fifteen. Still, we managed to get information into doctors’ offices, pharmacies, and online throughout the month. Saturday, May 25th saw a larger than usual number, rallying for a March to the White House, in Washington DC. If it was not covered well by the mainstream news, it was ALL over that beautiful world wide web! If you only knew what this cost patients to do, physically and financially, after so many have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars, trying to achieve some quality of life, trying to get help with research and healing. Other side of the coin is how this push has fed the spirit of Lyme patients who are having a hard time holding onto hope, while personal worlds crash and burn. Sixty percent of personal bankruptcies are because of medical debt in this country.
Lyme is not going away any time soon. There are quite a number of deadly tick-borne infections present in Washington State actually, like Bartonella, and Babesia. It is a myth that ONLY the black-legged deer tick, riding on white-tail deer, carry these infections. It is fact that Lyme can be passed in-utero. It is a fact that Northern California is endemic for Lyme, and that birds carry ticks on their coastal migrations, north and south. This month some very interesting facts have come to light, about some less-than-transparent dealings between people at the CDC and the IDSA Lyme-Guideline Panel members, in Pulitzer-worthy articles by Mary Beth Pfieffer, for The Poughkeepsie Journal.
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/
Look to the bottom of the front page for all the Lyme-related articles. There’s a big tick…ewww! And below is a link to the article from Kris Newby, who made the request for emails from the CDC, through the Freedom of Information Act. It’s not supposed to take over five years to have a FOIA request filled. It’s supposed to take no longer than thirty days. A cover-up is no longer speculation.
Yesterday was the last day of May, Lyme-Awareness Month. It was an incredible thirty-one days of advocacy and activism. Clouds still dance across the Sound, on their way to the mountains of Washington, and we look to our next steps. Medicaid is moving Anna to a different system, where we have some hope in clinics that say they are used to having chronic patients, and will spend time listening to them. We’re going to try and get Anna to a good Lyme specialist in Northern California, and hope for more help. Around the world, patients with tick-borne infections hope for help. Those of us who love these patients, and have witnessed their private anguish, ask you to join us in the fight to see them cared for with respect and compassion. The IDSA Lyme Guidelines would be a joke at this point—if they were not still so damn deadly.
Brown
University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Rice University, and the University of Chicago will present an information session to
families from the greater Seattle-Tacoma area on Wednesday, May 8, at 7:30 pm
at Annie Wright Schools’ Kemper Center.
These five universities, all highly selective and providing broad-based education in social science, humanities, mathematics and science, reach out to seek not only academically strong students, but also a class of dynamic students that represents diversity in every way.
The
event will open in the Kemper Theatre with a one-hour presentation that will
include a brief overview of each institution as well as information on
admissions and financial aid. A 30-minute college fair, which will offer students
and families the opportunity to speak informally with admissions
representatives, will follow in the adjacent gym.
Although
the information shared will primarily cater to high school families potentially
interested in applying to these schools, the event is open to everyone.
Registration
and early arrival are strongly recommended for this popular event, as space is
limited.
The South Puget Sound online newspaper published a press release last Wednesday announcing a Community Listening Session with top military officials the following morning at Eagles Pride Golf Course (just off I-5 at Exit 116 for Mounts Road).
Happily, my new work schedule allowed me to be nimble enough to attend on such short notice. Another press release appeared in The Suburban Times at 4 a.m. on the day of the event. It included phone numbers to RSVP plans to attend. One was an 'after hours' number. I called at 6 a.m. and reached Maj. Arnold. I was concerned I might have awakened him by calling so early. It turns out he was in the midst of PT. Despite that he was happy to take my name and contact information to add me to the list of those planning to attend the event, which will be the first of several. I made a point of meeting him at the event.
The purpose of the gathering was to allow local business leaders and community members representing civic groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, and an array of local government officials to bring their questions to the top brass regarding mandated budget cuts that will result in the draw-down of active duty Army troops. (Air Force personnel are not affected by this) However, nationwide the numbers will be decreased from 570,000 to 490,000 between now and 2017. The impact to local businesses as it relates to the economy, housing, and health care were among the concerns. Approximately 125 people were on-hand to listen to Lt. Gen. Brown (on the right in the picture below) and then the question and answer session with the public in attendance. Here is a link to 5 minutes, 23 seconds of video from the General's presentation: http://youtu.be/Q103tn-IeX8
Interesting facts included:
70% of all active duty military and their families live off-post in the local communities
Stryker Brigade alone represents $231 Million in salaries
5,000 soldiers from JBLM are currently in Afghanistan
Highest number of troops affected at JBLM by draw-down will be 8,000 and this represents 12,000-15,000 including their families
4 Brigades have been in Europe, but this has been reduced already to just 2 (1 in Italy & 1 in Germany
JBLM is home to 52 C-17 aircraft
Madigan is the "crown jewel" in the Defense Health Agency.
Madigan trains 300 physicians each year and is "the farm system for future doctors."
Virgil Clarkson, the Mayor of Lacey, expressed concern that the "medical component" of services in this area might be cut-back, but was answered with "not significantly." The Defense Health Agency regards Madigan as the "premier military medical center west of the Mississippi."
Connie Ladenburg inquired about whether or not the National Guard and Reserves would be affected by the draw-down, but the answer was that the numbers pertain to active duty troops only.
Bob Levin of the City of Tacoma asked whether some of the cut-backs will be from attrition and that was affirmative.
Another matter that was explained was that of some 500 current Lt. Col. positions, 100 will be asked to retired after having been "looked at twice for possible promotion."
One audience member joked that the troop draw-down "could be as simple as moving a Stryker Brigade to the Korean Peninsula."
When Don Anderson of the City of Lakewood inquired about "encroachment" he was referring to how close civilians live to the perimeter of JBLM. It was explained that in many areas there is a larger buffer of some 5-10 acres established when a base is first set up to ensure that there is less "encroachment" and fewer noise-related issues and concerns. However, Fort Lewis "is the only base in the world, which was established in the early 1900s where citizens gave money and land" for its establishment. Over the years the local residential communities have grown up around it. Prairie grass preservation is just one of the concerns the military is mindful of environmentally.
There is a Facebook page where noise complaints and other concerns can be registered. Here is the link to that page: https://www.facebook.com/1STCORPS and it is maintained by David G. Johnson, Director, Public Affairs. He added that it is their intention and mandate to "ensure feedback gets back to the decision-makers." Interestingly, JBLM is interested in purchasing or leasing land from areas adjacent to the base to "introduce habitat." Letters from community leaders and other citizens are welcome input, as well.
The Washington State Fish & Wildlife Department work closely with the Department of Defense to protect rare or endangered species such as these (thanks to The News Tribune):
• The streaked horned lark, a ground-nesting bird also sometimes found near South Sound airport runways.
• The Mazama, or Western pocket gopher, which leaves crescent-shaped mounds of soil in its wake.
• The Mardon skipper, a little, brown, spring butterfly.
• The Taylor’s or whulge checkerspot, a showy, multicolored butterfly that also emerges in spring.
Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2008/05/20/365081/fort-lewis-prairie-a-sanctuary.html#storylink=cpy
(Photo left: Charles Jones, resident of Tacoma, and Cindy McKitrick, President of the Steilacoom Chamber of Commerce)
I was on-hand to represent Soundcare, Inc. http://soundcareinc.com, a local corporation that owns and operates four health care facilities in the South Sound region including Nisqually Valley Care Center, in McKenna, nearby to JBLM. I asked about how to facilitate serving more wounded soldiers in their rehab at Nisqually Valley Care Center. http://nisquallyvalleycare.com Tri-Care has transitioned to Tri-West and Tri-West is transitioning to United Health Care. A lot of changes, but officials ensured that those rehab services are going to be made available to soldiers and other veterans. Col Dallas W. Homas, Hospital Commander, and David Johnson, Director, Public Affairs each gave their assurance.
Rick Hansen, Mayor of Puyallup, inquired about government contracts here in the State of Washington. We were told that Washington ranks 17th to 20th for the number of government contracts. The Sequestration $80 Billion budget cuts are separate from the reduction in force cuts, but the "ability to use local contractors will be decreasing" as a result. Construction work, for example, from 2016-2019 will be reduced.
Javier Figueroa, City Councilman from the City of University Place, wanted to know more about the reduction in force and how it may affect those who desire to re-enlist. Often they will not be allowed to re-enlist, but in most cases will be made aware of that at least a year ahead of their separation from the military.
(Photo: Linda Smith, President & CEO of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce)
Dave Winslow, Mayor of Sumner, was concerned about the impact on local housing. The explanation of how city-by-city those numbers would play out was difficult to anticipate.
Mary, the Director of the Washington State Government Affairs education programs spoke about helping soldiers transition back into civilian life through job training, other education programs, Job Fairs, the Army Career Alumni Program, Soldier for Life program, VA employment services, need for college money, and unemployment compensation. After serving in the military students with that background are "mature, disciplined, creative, agile, and are skilled at solving complex problems." All of that translates for military members to enter 6-month apprenticeships before the soldiers even get out of the military. Careers available include pipefitters who will be hired in Japan immediately, or HVAC system apprenticeships have also just started. Currently, the Upward Bound program is not available in Washington, but work is being done on making that available to military personnel. It is a program that accelerates studies.
Senators Cantwell and Murray have done a lot to ensure that more engineering jobs are going to a higher percentage of veterans. The central point of contact -- again -- is through the Facebook page given above.
The GI Bill is still in effect.
It is important for businesses to come to events and have a booth with information about employment opportunities and to advertise training that is available with their companies.
For soldiers dealing with PTSD there are new ways to reach out for help. It's called "Virtual Resiliency" and is a website that offers financial assistance, chaplaincy services, PT, a website kiosk and easily visible, easy to find information, e.g. a 24/7 suicide hotline number, and for people who are more comfortable texting rather than talking there is now 24/7 chat available as an alternative to the toll-free phone number for suicide prevention.
Others who attended and presented some tough questions to Lt. Gen. Brown and other military officials included Kevin Phelps of Pierce County regarding OEA services, Rick Ritz (USAF) from the City of Orting regarding discretionary income and bomb squad bonuses; Ken Swarner, newspaper publisher, regarding overseas duties; Mayor Hardy of the City of Yelm, Bob Young of the City of Olympia; Dan Penrose of the South Sound Environmental Board, and others.
For the first time, Pacific Lutheran University’s Annual Powell-Heller
Conference for Holocaust Education will offer a program designed specifically
for high school students. The conference, now in its sixth year, will be held
tomorrow, Wednesday, March 13, through Friday, March 15. The high school
program will take place on Friday.
The
theme of this year’s conference is “Empowerment,” and the goal is to give
educators, students and members of the community a way to use the lessons of
the Holocaust to empower themselves and others. The high school curriculum,
designed by Annie Wright history teacher Bridgette McGoldrick and Charles
Wright history teacher Nick Coddington, addresses issues such as identifying
injustices and taking personal responsibility, and uses resources developed by
the Jewish Partisan Education Foundation.
The program includes breakout
sessions on defiance and empowerment, a talk with Holocaust survivor Suzie Sherman,
and a campus tour and discussion of the college process.
“Our
aim is to provide students with an opportunity to grapple with ideas
about this topic that both complement and
contradict their own personal worldviews,” said McGoldrick. “They will
hopefully leave with a better understanding of the Holocaust, not only as an
important historical event, but also as a part of the unfolding narrative of
world history in the 21st century context. Experiences like these,
outside the classroom, ultimately provide history students with a better sense
of how they can be active agents of change in their communities and the
world.”
The entire senior class at Annie Wright Upper School will attend the
conference, which is free for all high school students. Parts of the conference
will also be streamed live on the PLU website and Facebook page.
Annie Wright Schools host a monthly World Affairs Council Tacoma "Travel Talk" featuring international scholar/travelers and countries around the world.
World
Affairs Council Tacoma "Travel Talks" are free and open to everyone in the
community. The events take place in the Great Hall at Annie Wright Schools, 827 North Tacoma Avenue, Tacoma, WA, 98403. The next one is:
Wednesday, March 13,
2013, 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Harps and Harpists Around the World: A Musical Journey
The
World Affairs Council Tacoma (WACT) is an organization devoted to promoting
activities that enhance public awareness and interest of international,
cultural, economic and political issues.
Founded in Tacoma in
1884, Annie Wright Schools are two schools on one campus. Annie Wright Day
School serves boys and girls in Preschool through Grade 8, while Annie Wright
Upper School offers all-girls day and boarding programs for Grades 9 through
12. Annie Wright is proud to be an International Baccalaureate World School.
Learn more at www.aw.org.
The quick answer: A place for neighbors. It’s a place to get up to date on what’s going on around you, to tell a story, to share an idea or a bit of yourself. South Sounders created all the content on this page. Send questions, comments or feedback to matt.misterek@thenewstribune.com.
Our regulars
Stephanie Frieze …has always liked to write. Her experience includes three years at the University Washington School of Communications studying journalism. She had a stint at the Chinook Observer in Long Beach. Raised in Bellevue, she’s lived in Gig Harbor for nearly 18 years. She and her husband have a home in Ilwaco, where they spend as much time as possible. This mother of four loves books, spending time with family and the color purple. Contact her at dbandstefery@comcast.net.
Lorraine Hart …was born a nomadic mutt. She spent her life observing, writing and making music. She’s an unabashed carrier of the titles “hippie,” “feminist” and “liberal.” She’s resided in the South Sound since 1996 and is currently living above Joe’s Bay in Home. She juggles her time between being a caregiver, a writer, an artist, a musician, a minister, a wife, a mother, an advocate, a friend and a pilgrim – not necessarily in that order. Contact her at matlox@cablespeed.com.
Jaynie Jones …is a Tacoma resident with diverse career tracks in broadcasting, journalism, teaching, health care, desktop publishing, floral design, special event planning and photography. She’s best known as long-time KOMO radio personality Jaynie Dillon and was once a familiar voice on Tacoma stations KTAC, KBRD-FM, KTNT and KNBQ-FM. Formerly a resident of Tacoma’s East Side, she’s volunteered in the Eastside Substation and with Safe Streets. Contact her at jaynie.jones@gmail.com .
Tracy Lebenzon ...is a blog contributor from Greenwater. Greenwater is the last stop before Crystal Mountain, Mount Rainier and the surrounding wilderness areas. When not exploring the next mountain peak or forest trail, Tracy also contributes to the Greenwater Community Council and the Explore-Greenwater.com web site. He writes about topics ranging from favorite foot, bike, and snow trails to community events, local merchants and politics. Contact him at dmountains@explore-greenwater.com.
Joseph McGowan …is a chaplain who supports patients, families, friends, nurses and doctors at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Being 67, he’s learned this about living: Meet people on their own ground and you will discover that this Earth is our special place to meet and support each other. His motto: Live now. Share yourself now. Every living thing you experience is a pure gift. Love all life unconditionally. Contact him at mcg9940@yahoo.com.
Mizu Sugimura …is a third-generation Japanese American living in Federal Way. She’s married and a parent of one adult child. A lifelong resident of the Puget Sound area, she graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Washington School of Communications. and served on Federal Way’s Diversity and Art Commissions. Her interests are politics, art, the history of minorities in Washington and family history. She’s written a self-published family history about her paternal grandfather. Contact her at mizusugi@yahoo.com.
Kim Thompson …is a Grit City native who was born and raised in Tacoma’s Old Town neighborhood by the gulch. She boasts that she’s a former Lowell Leopard, Mason Mustang and Wilson Ram, a short-time PLU Lute and a longtime UW Husky. This former corporate businesswoman is a wife, a mom, a school volunteer, a substitute teaching assistant, a writer and a born-again distance runner. She has convinced friends from Bellevue that Tacoma is worth the drive. Contact her at kimricksy@comcast.net.
ugi@yahoo.com.
Bring the whole family to the Community Health Fair on Saturday, June 22, from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. The location is 5520 Bridgeport Way West, in University Place. 
