Monday, June 30, 2014

Walking into a VA Hospital is like rolling the Dice.

Tom's Journal. http://tomschuckmanjournal.blogspot.com/

tschuckman@aol.com


Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 20:54:23 -0400

 


The VA is doing what the VC could not do 


In total, VA hospitals reported 23 deaths due to 76 instances of delayed care, an April 2014 VA fact sheet said. Then on June 5, Acting Veteran Affairs Secretary Sloan Gibson revealed that at least 18 Phoenix patients died while waiting for treatment on a secret list kept off the books. It is not clear if that number is in addition to the 23 deaths reported earlier. During the past month, the scandal has resulted in the resignations of both the VA secretary and the leaders of its health care component.
According to a June 3 audit, 100,000 veterans had lengthy wait times for appointments. Of the nation’s 216 VA hospitals, 37 percent will require further investigation.
A whistleblower revealed Tuesday that seven of the patients listed on the Phoenix VA hospitals waiting list are already dead. That same Phoenix facility spent $20 million to build the nation’s largest solar carport. Phase one of the project was completed in 2011. The hospital also had an $11.4 million shortfall that year, an Inspector General’s report stated.
Also in 2011, only 49 percent of first-time patients nationwide got a full mental health evaluation within the VA’s own goal of within 14 days after initial contact, the IG’s report said.
The Phoenix hospital is not the only VA hospital to have installed solar panels while hiding long wait times. Millions in stimulus funds were used to install panels on two facilities, one Albuquerque, N.M., and another in nearby Tucson, Ariz.. With the latter, the VA spent $14.7 million between 2010 and 2012 to install solar panels on the roof of its medical center. The contract was awarded to REC Solar, the sixth-largest recipient of stimulus funds from the VA and a major Democratic donor.




Last day of June -- 2014!  I hope that I am not repeating myself [a trait noted from older people...  lol, and Hey, I am age 65], but I am still trying to play, "catch up" after losing a whole month of my sacred SUMMER TIME !!  Being in an 'Old Age Home/ Nursing Home' is/ must be a lot like being in jail, and I feel, and know from experience just how lonely and depressed many of those older people FEEL now.    I did a tremendous about of Praying while there [at Pinecrest Nursing Facility, JUST TO STAY SANE !!   I felt somewhat saturated from so much intense Bible reading/ study, and the lack of cable TV drove me batty too.   Please, please, if you have a loved one at some nursing home, go visit them, spend some time with them,  bring them some home made food, etc !!  Pray with them, and for them, rub their back, hug them and kiss them, please !  If you don't do these things for them,  they will die sooner-- than latter, folks. 
       Friends/ Readers,  If I consider myself to be a well educated, strong, bible studied Christian--- also a well trained Soldier, combat experienced Warrior, with 2 years in Vietnam, and I had trouble focusing in a Nursing Home, in Powers, MI., for just 2 weeks [although they were force feeding me via IV, mucho antibiotics, night and day,  I would think that a normal person would have a hard time there, surrounded by many older people with dementia and Alsziemers'  disease, etc.    For me, it was very depressing, even though the staff tried hard to be kind, friendly, professional, and caring.   But remember that this is not a charity, but a business looking to make a profit -- so the food won't be so hot... as putting it nicely... ahem.   I lost weight, and that's the only thing I can think of right now that is "positive."
     I went to the Iron Mtn.,/ Kingford, MI., VAMC this morning -- on a special mission... lol.  I did get a great professional, Robin Rappley, RN, who is a specialist in inserting a Picc-Line, going from my elbow inside -- to my Vena Cava [right outside the heart], that permits the staff to either draw blood, or deliver medicines via IV.  And I gave my permission to have another RN observe the procedure too.   I will tell you more if you are really interested, via email.   It didn't hurt one bit !  
    I found out that another 'doctor', 3 weeks ago did a real number on me, by just taking away 3 important Medicines that I depended on, a person called, Choragudi, from India, with a very dark complexion.   If he doesn't get his way --- it's the highway!   And only in a VA facility, there are some so-called doctors who are just 'so full of themselves, so arrogant, aloof, condescending, and all powerful, that they can really throw a monkey wrench into a person, a respected combat, honorable Veteran ! ! !  I hope that I never meet that little bug again.  In times such as these, you really wish other Doctors would step up and take the lead.   But the VA has their little 'pecking order.'    No wonder so many of my other Veteran buddies opt to get their care at civilian hospitals.  
     Well, guys, let me get OFF that subject for a while, please, while I am still in good spirits.  
   I was a very warm  cloudy day, but with the wind starting up with something latter that might be wet.   The world is getting worse and more violent, but those who put their faith in the Lord will survive.  I guess I will begin to write my Congressman, who also just happens to be a doctor at the VA here in our thriving little town of Iron Mountain, MI  49801.   I just wonder what side he will lean...... NOT.

Remember, tomorrow we shall see the new 'Obama-- tax laws, designed to make many of us POOR !

Warm Regards,
Tom Schuckman

Saturday, June 28, 2014

"Let not your heart be troubled."

Tom's Journal. http://tomschuckmanjournal.blogspot.com/

tschuckman@aol.com

A sobering statistic that doesn’t have to be…

Every year in the U.S. nearly 500,000 people acquire catheter-related blood stream infections. Up to 25% die, even though most of these infections are preventable.

The DualCap System™

The DualCap System™ is a breakthrough infection control technology that does something no other disinfectant cap can — safely disinfect and protect both IV access valves and the end of the IV tubing (male luer). In the past, contaminated male luers were overlooked as a source of infection and there was no reliably safe way to disinfect male luers. With DualCap® clinicians have a quick and easy way to keep IV connectors disinfected and safe for use, helping prevent deadly bloodstream infections. » Learn More

The IV line bundle begins and ends with DualCap™

Visit dualcap.com 

Event Calendar



 
 
Subject: #1 Cause of death
 
This is VERY important to watch! It’s short, so it won’t take up much of your time, but what it says really hit home. Please send this around.
 
 
 
 
Jot down what you think may have been the #1 cause of death in the world in the past 100 years then watch this clip.
Bet you never thought of this!

 


"Let not your heart be troubled."  ---According to John, Chapter 14, verse 27 b.   Well, that fine scripture is nice and soothing, kind and reassuring, isn't it ?   But not so for many folks who are suffering, in pain, alienated, alone, panicked, very poor, without hope, etc., or so we think.  Frankly,  I have been in so many situations, personally, that would surely test the heart of most Saints !!  Many people look up to me and say that they [personally] could NEVER endure such things.  And in reality, neither could I...  if I didn't have a "Helper" called the Holy Spirit, and God's Grace.  In my most recent 'episode'  I just spent 22 long hard days in places that I loathe, in places that produce panic attacks, nightmares, fear, anxiety and deep depression !!   I feel that I just about got so immersed, almost saturated in God's Word, that I begged for some human contact above the IQ of 70, just to take my mind off my own plight.    And please remember that all of us have some sort of phobia, some fear, some breaking point, if we don't have special training such as we Soldiers in Combat.   Having a solid Faith in the Holy God of the KJV Bible was my anchor, but I used everything I could get to survive. 

When I was younger I went to visit my grand father, my Mom's father, in a  Milwaukee nursing home,  and vividly remember the smell of diarrhea, urine, vomit, etc., and wondered how human beings could confine their fellow men and women in such horrible places.   I hated to put my passed wife, Sharon, in a nursing home in Kenosha, WI., but she became so ill that I could no longer take care of her, as she kept falling down in the house, and was also suffering from CHF [congestive heart failure], diabetes, RLS, and a host of other challenges.  She not only died in that nasty place, but I found out that the head nurse [male] of that wing was very abusive, verbally and other wise.   I came to see her every other day without fail, and we got that male RN fired,   one day before she died.  Good thing that I never saw him after that....  or I might have well been in jail... for all the pain that he gave other patients there at that place !!   I was told later that my dear wife,  Sharon, didn't tell me 'everything' for fear that I might kill that jerk RN !    Of course, not all nursing homes are bad.

I just spent the last 2 weeks at Pinecrest Nursing Facility, at Powers, MI., in the U.P., and 8 days at the Kingsford, MI., VAMC  hospital before that in the U.P. of MI., and still waiting to have my Picc-Line removed....  the Nursing staff is so busy !  If you all still don't know how many VA hospitals run....  I can surely tell you,  but I don't want to completely tick them off, as I may still need to use them, and the one U.P. here in Iron Mtn., MI is not as bad as the one in Milwaukee, WI.   But still has enough problems and challenges to work on, that's for sure !   And sometimes we still have some arrogant 'doctors' who walk around so pompous, as if they were a little bit lower than the Lord Jesus, Himself !!  I would say that doctors: Perez, Dr Weber,  and the good Dr. Carlos Medina, are among the best at that facility, and 3 great RN's, Karen Swiss, Robin Rappley, and Mark Noskey, come to mind.   I really want to have my PICC-LINE removed !
      I never want to burn all my bridges in case I might have to go back to them, and God only knows how fast some accident might befall us.   Just read wise old King Solomon, and Ecclesiastes.   Go to Eccl. 9:11,  'but time and chance happen to them all....'  But please read the whole scripture, and find out why the 'race is not to the swift,  etc.'   I sure didn't PLAN to fall off my 650 Kawasaki, on/ off the road dirt bike one month ago, either !!  And I've never in my life had a serious infection that could have almost cost me my leg either !  Wow!  People always wonder, 'HOW' could something like that happen to a seasoned, experienced motorcycle rider ??   Ha!  

Just ponder on this point for a minute, dear friends and readers....  Even IF, if we are very careful, educated, smart, athletic, clean and healthy, SOMETHING might/ could happen to terminate your life today or tomorrow!   The KJV Bible says that you then enter a 'door way' going to eternity [weather you like to or not... weather you want to believe it or not... in either one place,  or another !   Actually, the Lord Jesus Christ talked more about hell, than He did about Heaven !!   Hell is a real place where there is suffering, and it lasts forever !   On the other hand, 'Purgatory' is NEVER mentioned in the Bible, and does not exist...  sorry folks.   And it's NOT about "being bad or good," friends,  but IF, IF YOU HAVE CONFESSED THE LORD JESUS AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR, OR NOT.   So it depends on YOU ALONE, to have accepted Jesus Christ, or not.   I hope you see what I am driving at, folks.  Most of the time, we cannot choose the time and date when we die.   That holds true for the Rapture of the Church too.   It will come like a thief in the night.  
     And when you have the humility to confess the Lord Jesus, ask Him to forgive all your sins, and ask Him to come into your heart forever, you will have become "Saved" at which point the Holy Spirit will dwell in you, and open up that special "understanding" of the Bible, etc., as you join the 'World Brotherhood of Saints !'   Until God reaches that special "Number" we all ought to join in the preaching/ sharing, witnessing work of sharing the Gospel.   I always tell new folks to read the 2 bible books of:  John, and Romans, to get a good understanding and grasp for the Gospel, the life and death of our Lord Jesus
Christ,  but that's only the beginning.  Study of the KJV Bible is very important, so we know what we are talking about.... also getting to know what God wants of us, etc. 

I want you all to know what I saw in the Nursing Home, that I experienced first hand.  Some are younger who had bad accidents and are paralyzed, in various stages and to different degrees,  but they still have their intellect.   Others have Alsziemers [sp?], dementia, etc., amputees.   You will prob. thank God that you are still relatively healthy !!

I tell people that God loved me so much that He spared my life in Vietnam: 68-70,  two years in combat...  the 2nd year as a helicopter door gunner.   If I would have been killed over there, I would have ended up in HELL !!  Because at that time,  I didn't know the Lord !  But now I do !   I also have a loving wife, and many friends at church, and all over the USA, and the world Brotherhood of Saints --- other 'Born-Again Christians.'    I have heard and read that there are more real, bible-smart Christians in "under ground" China --- than in both Europe and America combined !!!   Yet, here in the USA, we all have free access to brand new Bibles !    Friends:    'Seek God while He may yet be found, and merciful !'

Warm Regards,
Tommy Schuckman
tschuckman@aol.com











Q&A

Are You Ready?


Q. I read and hear everywhere from all different sites that we all need to be ready when the Lord comes to Rapture us.  I don’t understand this.  What is it we need to do to be ready?  My understanding is that we need to be saved to be ready, and that’s it!  Am I missing something here?

A. The only qualification the Bible givesus for going in the rapture is to be born again.  This makes us a new creation in the Lord’s sight (2 Cor. 5:17), as righteous as God Himself (2 Cor. 5:21) and when it happens we’ll be changed in an instant from mortal to immortal, from imperfect to perfect (1 Cor. 15:51-53) and from being like Adam to being like Jesus (1 Cor. 15:49). What more could we do to prepare?
That said, it behooves us to live in a manner pleasing to the Lord while we wait, as an expression of our gratitude for having received the free gift of salvation and all that comes

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Home, Sweet Home.

Tom's Journal. http://tomschuckmanjournal.blogspot.com/

tschuckman@aol.com


A sobering statistic that doesn’t have to be…

Every year in the U.S. nearly 500,000 people acquire catheter-related blood stream infections. Up to 25% die, even though most of these infections are preventable.

The DualCap System™

The DualCap System™ is a breakthrough infection control technology that does something no other disinfectant cap can — safely disinfect and protect both IV access valves and the end of the IV tubing (male luer). In the past, contaminated male luers were overlooked as a source of infection and there was no reliably safe way to disinfect male luers. With DualCap® clinicians have a quick and easy way to keep IV connectors disinfected and safe for use, helping prevent deadly bloodstream infections. » Learn More

The IV line bundle begins and ends with DualCap™

Visit dualcap.com 

Event Calendar



 
 
Subject: #1 Cause of death
 
This is VERY important to watch! It’s short, so it won’t take up much of your time, but what it says really hit home. Please send this around.
 
 
 
 
Jot down what you think may have been the #1 cause of death in the world in the past 100 years then watch this clip.
Bet you never thought of this!

 

My Dear Missed Friends, Followers, and Readers,

I am finally HOME, FREE, very HAPPY, and so is my lovely wife, Terri ! ! !   She drove the 30 miles early this morning to Powers, MI., to collect me and my few belongings at o800, and I signed out for good, with the Picc-Line still in my Right arm, that enables the nursing staff to both draw blood, painlessly, or to administer more liquid Antibiotics the IV way, day and night, even at midnight and all ungodly hours, etc. ---much 'overkill' to make sure that there is no more infection in my body from that nasty motorcycle mishap that ripped open my Left shin and lower leg on "something"  sharp on that goofy 650 Kawasaki bike.  I made the wrong choice in buying that used bike, too high off the ground, and some things are just poor judgment, I guess.   I've been riding bikes [motorcycles all of my adult life, on and off the road, jumping ramps like Evil Kanivel, and also long cross country trips to Kansas and CO, etc., from the great State of Wisconsin.   But, IMHO, and for the sake of my wife's sanity and peace of mind, I have now quit my days of riding bikes, at the tender age of 65, for ever.  I have a very nice Dodge Ram, 4 by 4, pick up truck that I like too..... and Terri just loves it for haul more choice lumber for her various home projects and carpentry stuff, etc.

Folks,  I don't mind telling you all about my 2 week stint at Pinecrest Nursing Facility, stuck there without much intelligent English conversation, save SOME of the nursing staff, although they were so busy with other patients and older  residents there--- many of them so old and crippled/ disabled, just starring off into space in their own little world, who had to be spoon fed, and every other aspect of their lives....  very sad and discouraging.   They are our nations "throw away generation'  --- the forgotten, the abandoned, the neglected,  of those families who want to be free of them and the hard, to some extent time consuming work, sometimes painful duties associated with them.   Their are many bible scriptures that can be applied to this subject, and shame on the offspring of such parents who don't want to dirty their hands caring for our nations older generation !!  Yes !  They have special needs and many times the offspring of such parents don't have the medical skills to care for our disabled, senior citizens,  but Obama and his oinks would just give the elderly a 'death pill' and tell them to go home and lie down!   First Timothy 5:8, says:  But if any provide not for his own, and specially  for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel."   Plain and simple.   You've got to figure that our parents put up with us and cared for us for 18 years or more, so we owe them a lot, no matter what you may have thought about the subject.  But God's holy Word is clear and concise on this subject, and our abandonment of our elders when they grow older may block our relationship with  God Almighty !  Do what is right !   I live about 4 hours drive from my dear old Mom, but I call her almost every day to see how she is doing and send her cards on all seasons.   I am not ashamed to say that I love my Mom, dearly, and my wife has told her that she could stay with us in our home UP in the Iron Mtn., MI a real !  
     Sorry to say, I found that Nursing Home environments are sad and very depressing for me, even th0ugh Pinecrest, in Powers, MI., was one of the better, cleaner places I've visited, and MOST or the Staff there were kind, cordial, caring and professional, for the most part.  In fact, a few of the RN's were very kind and considerate to me, personally, like:  Heather N., an RN, on day shift, and Leann, another smart, kind RN.   I won't talk about the power hungry, nasty people I met there, today, and the Lord will Judge us all in the near future.  Just like, I knew that the goofy guy, LPN, Sam, didn't need to wake me up from a sound sleep like night at Midnight just to check my BP [blood   pressure], when he knew that I was going home that same morning, and all meds were stopped at that point.   He is not the sharpest knife in the drawer... duh.  But there were many CNA [nursing aids] who helped me in a most cheerful manner and respectfully, too, and I thank them.    I can also tell my readers that I will pursue any and all medical people if I find something in or on my body that is abnormal or wrong, such as renal failure, etc., I will ask for my "pound of flesh" that is legally mine !   I would NEVER take someone to court if I don't think it's their fault.  And I never bet unless I know I will win !  I don't consider myself a vindictive person, but I still have that right to pursue legal  redress. 
     I intend to go to the Iron Mountain VAMC early tomorrow morn and have my PICC-Line removed, etc., a very sterile procedure indeed, and then follow up on all scheduled exams and things to be done, etc., to expedite the rapid healing of my wound, but older people my age don't heal as well and rapid compared to a young man.  I was disappointed to find out that the nursing staff didn't help, and encourage me to rest and sleep with my wounded leg raised higher than my heart, like the good doctor in-house who helped sign me out the night before !!  He said that promotes a rapid healing, but why didn't the RN's / staff tell me that from the get go ??   I could have made faster progress or been completely healed by now !   Or... is it my job to figure these things out on my own....  duh?    Well,  that's just the way it goes now days in a laxidasical world we live in, where most of the workers are there for one thing... that paycheck on Friday...  or when ever they get paid.   

I tried to set a good example there, because I was also witnessing and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ every chance I got while at the VAMC and Nursing Home in Powers, MI., and placed a few informative bible tracts while there.   My 2 KJV Bibles were always on display in my one person room, that didn't have A/C all the time I was there, nor didn't have a shower either.   But I had a shower else where every other day on the premises, assisted by some kind, CNA [Nurse's Aid], and much appreciated.    I tried to be kind and mannerly, respectful   all the time I was there to the 2 long, l0nely weeks, and also kept a daily written Journal.   One never knows when he/ she might have another accident and end up in a nursing facility, and so you don't want to burn all your bridges.   

I thank my wife, Terri so much for putting up with me, and bringing me edible, fresh produce, fruit, and wholesome canned fish -- protein, to help heal my wound.  THANK YOU, DEAR TERRI !!!   It's so good to be home and hug one's spouse after all the pain and hassle away, in a "controlled" environment !   It was much worse then the Army, even in Vietnam !!   I also lost about 35 pounds in the 2 weeks I was gone, but learned that antibiotics actually make you FAT !!  ...From Dr, Oz., on TV.   And most of the veggies and fruit that we Americans eat if steeped and sprayed with poisonous insecticides, etc., and GMO's in the grain crops we eat everyday !  
       More latter, on many of the studied subjects I feel the need to share, concerning the VA system, and Nursing Homes in America.   So much to catch up on, now that I am HOME, sweet, HOME !

Warm Regards, Hugs,
Tom Schuckman

Remember,  John 14: 27b,  "Let not your heart be troubled,  neither let it be afraid.
  




>
>  Hard to argue with this:
>
>
>
> A  German's View on Islam - worth reading. This is
> one of the best explanations of the Muslim terrorist situation I
> have ever read. His references to past history are accurate and
> clear. Not long, easy to understand, and well worth the read. The
> author of this email is Dr. Emanuel Tanya, a well-known and
> well-respected psychiatrist.    A man whose family was German
> aristocracy prior to World War II owned a number of large industries
> and estates. When asked how many German people were true Nazis, the
> answer he gave can guide our attitude toward fanaticism.
>
>   'Very few people were true Nazis,' he said, 'but many
> enjoyed the return of German pride, and many  more were too busy to
> care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch of
> fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then,
> before we knew it, they owned us, and we had lost control, and the
> end of the world had come.’

>   ‘My family lost everything. I ended up in a
> concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories.'

>   ‘We are told again and again by 'experts' and
> 'talking heads' that Islam is a religion of peace and that the vast
> majority of Muslims just want to live in peace. Although this
> unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is
> meaningless fluff meant to make us feel better, and meant to
> somehow diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the globe in
> the name of Islam.’
>
>   ‘The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this
> moment in history. It is the fanatics who march. It is  the
> fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide. It is the
> fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups
> throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire
> continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead,
> murder, or honor-kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque
> after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and
> hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. It is the fanatics who teach
> their young to kill and to become suicide bombers.’
>
>   ‘The hard, quantifiable fact is that the peaceful
> majority, the 'silent majority,' is cowed and  extraneous.
> Communist Russia was comprised of Russians who just wanted to live
> in peace, yet the Russian Communists were responsible for the
> murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority were
> irrelevant. China 's huge population was peaceful as well, but
> Chinese Communists managed to kill a staggering 70 million people.’
>    
>   ‘The average Japanese individual prior to World War
> II was not a warmongering sadist. Yet, Japan murdered and
> slaughtered its way across South East Asia in an orgy of killing
> that included the systematic murder of 12 million Chinese
> civilians; most killed by sword, shovel, and bayonet. And who can
> forget Rwanda , which collapsed into butchery? Could it not be said
> that the majority of Rwandans were 'peace loving'?
>
>   ‘History lessons are often  incredibly simple and
> blunt, yet for all our powers of reason, we often miss the most
> basic and uncomplicated of points: peace-loving Muslims have been
> made irrelevant by their silence. Peace-loving Muslims will become
> our enemy if they don't speak up, because like my friend from
> Germany , they will awaken one day and find that the fanatics own
> them, and the end of their world will  have begun.’

    ‘Peace-loving Germans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians,
> Rwandans, Serbs, Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians, Somalis, Nigerians,
> Algerians, and many others have died because the peaceful majority
> did not speak up until it was too late.’
>
>  ‘Now Islamic prayers have been  introduced in Toronto
> and other public schools in Ontario , and, yes, in  Ottawa ,
> too, while the Lord's Prayer was removed (due to being so
> offensive?). The  Islamic way may be peaceful for the time being in
> our country until the  fanatics move in.’
>     
> ‘In Australia , and indeed in many countries
> around the world, many of the most commonly consumed food items have
> the halal emblem on them. Just look at the back of some of the most
> popular chocolate bars, and at other food items in your local
> supermarket. Food on aircraft have the halal emblem just to appease
> the privileged minority who are now rapidly expanding within the
> nation's shores.’

   ‘In the U.K, the Muslim communities refuse to
> integrate and there are now dozens of "no-go" zones within major
> cities across the country that the police force dare not  intrude
> upon. Sharia law prevails there, because the Muslim community in
> those areas refuse to acknowledge British law.’
>
>  ‘As for us who watch it all unfold, we must pay
> attention to the only group that counts - the fanatics who threaten
> our way of life.’
>
> Lastly, anyone who doubts that the issue is serious
> and just deletes this email without  sending it on, is contributing
> to the passiveness that allows the problems to expand.
>
> Extend yourself a bit and send this on. Let us hope that thousands
> world-wide read this, think about it, and send it on before it's
> too late, and we are silenced because we were silent!!!