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Heart Health Awareness: Listen Up Ladies! - VOM Magazine - Delaware
22 Mar
0

Heart Health Awareness: Listen Up Ladies!

By: Article Written by Lishamarie Hunter

Heart disease has become the leading cause of death for women in the United States, responsible for about 1 in 4 deaths among women. Starting in the late 1980s, coronary heart disease – defined as a blockage of the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart – has killed more women each year than men. Mortality rates from this disease are on the rise in women aged 35 – 54 years. Nearly two-thirds of women who have died from heart disease had no previous symptoms.

Some facts about women and heart disease:

  • Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, killing 314,186 women in 2020—or about 1 in every 5 female deaths.
  • Heart disease is the leading cause of death for African American and white women in the United States. Among American Indian and Alaska Native women, heart disease and cancer cause roughly the same number of deaths each year. For Hispanic and Asian or Pacific Islander women, heart disease is second only to cancer as a cause of death.
  • About 1 in 16 women age 20 and older (6.2%) have coronary heart disease, the most common type of heart disease:
    • About 1 in 16 white women (6.1%), black women (6.5%), and Hispanic women (6%)
    • About 1 in 30 Asian women (3.2%) (2023)

Reasons Why?

Women have smaller arteries than men, so coronary artery disease develops differently, and more diffusely. Also, coronary artery disease in women tends to afflict smaller arteries that feed the heart. An angiogram, a procedure commonly performed to look for blockages in the coronary arteries, won’t always catch the signs of disease.

The last reason delays in getting care has to do with deeply engrained societal norms.

“Women by nature are conditioned socially and culturally to be nurturers,” Dr. Chinnaiyan explains. “We generally put ourselves last.

“A woman is more likely to take her husband, having the same symptoms, to the doctor, rather than taking herself” (2023).

Because women delay care it’s important for women to know the risk factors of heart disease: high blood pressure or cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, lack of exercise, poor diet and high stress. What are the common and the not so common symptoms of heart disease? These symptoms may happen when you are resting or when you are doing regular daily activities.

Some women have no symptoms, others may have the following:

  • Angina (dull and heavy or sharp chest pain or discomfort)
  • Pain in the neck, jaw, or throat
  • Pain in the upper abdomen or back
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue

Sometimes heart disease may be “silent” and not diagnosed until you have other symptoms or emergencies, including:

  • Heart Attack: Chest pain or discomfort, upper back or neck pain, indigestion, heartburn, nausea or vomiting, extreme fatigue, upper body discomfort, dizziness, and shortness of breath
  • Arrhythmia: Fluttering feelings in the chest (palpitations)
  • Heart Failure: Shortness of breath, fatigue, or swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, abdomen, or neck veins

What are the risk factorsfor heart disease?

High blood pressure, high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. About half of all people in the United States (47%) have at least one of these three risk factors.

Several other medical conditions and lifestyle choices can also put people at a higher risk for heart disease, including:

  • Diabetes
  • Being overweight or obesity
  • Eating an unhealthy diet
  • Physical inactivity
  • Drinking too much alcohol

How can I reduce myrisk of heart disease?

To lower your chances of getting heart disease, it’s important to do the following:

  • Know your blood pressure. Having uncontrolled blood pressure can lead to heart disease. High blood pressure has no symptoms, so it’s important to check blood pressure regularly.
  • Having uncontrolled diabetes raises your risk of heart disease.
  • Quit smoking. If you don’t smoke, don’t start.
  • Discuss checking your blood cholesterol and triglycerides with your doctor.
  • Make healthier food choices and exercise at least 30 mins a day.
    • Limit how much alcohol you drink
    to one drink a day (or far less).
    • Manage stress levels by finding
    healthy ways to cope with stress.
    “You have to be able to work on it from early on in your childhood. It’s really hard to change in your 70s if you haven’t worked on it earlier in life’ (2023).
    It’s never too late to make changes so that you can live a longer healthier life.
    Reference:
    American Heart Month Toolkit 2023. www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/american_heart_month.htm.Retrieved 18 February 2023.
    Explore more articles from VOM Magazine here: https://www.veteransoutreachministries.org/vom-magazine/

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VOM Magazine - Delaware
15 Mar
0

Spring 2023 VOM Magazine is Here!

WELCOME from the Board of Directors

Welcome to the Spring Edition of the VOM Magazine. The weather is still changeable with decent weather conditions forecasted for March and the possibility of still cold weather including snow and rain, but we’re hopeful for only the latter.

Please take the time to check on family, friends, senior citizens, and veterans, many who may be secretly suffering from depression, anxiety, and other emotional issues including thoughts or attempts at suicide. These are being brought on by the changing weather conditions, disability, or times of distress.

Also, at this time of year some people will have low energy which will make them very moody and out of sorts. We encourage you to get outside to exercise and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine. Even only 30 minutes of physical activity a day is known to improve mental, emotional, and physical facets of life.

Families with children are also very susceptible and should be checked on as children suffer from the same emotional conditions as adults, and anguish experienced by a parent or guardian can affect the children they are in proximity with. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it can take a village to help protect a family.

Many times you do know these conditions exist as the people affected are adept at hiding their conditions from friends and family members that are trying to help them. If you suspect emotional conditions exist, please direct them to a doctor, pastor, trusted friend or family member that will be able to help them. In the case of veterans, please direct them to a local Veterans Outreach center.

Our two local centers are located in Cecil County, MD and New Castle County, DE. We hope to announce soon a third location in Philadelphia, PA.

There are also Veterans Outreach centers in all 50 United States that are available to help. As a non-profit organization, the mission of the Veteran’s Outreach Ministries is to offer support to all veterans and their families through a Christ-centered ministry using prayer, bible study, fellowship and worship.

Read more articles from VOM Magazine here: https://www.veteransoutreachministries.org/vom-magazine/

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Male Veteran of the Quarter - Rebecca Rondone - Veterans Outreach Ministries
17 Feb
0

Female Veteran of the Quarter – Rebecca Rondone

Article Provided by Rebecca Rondone

The Veteran of the Quarter is SGT Rebecca Rondone, a native of Phillipsburg, NJ who currently resides in Perryville, MD. Rebecca served in the U.S. Army as a Military Police Officer on active duty from 2000-2005 and IRR from 2005-2008. Rebecca graduated basic training as an Honor Grad for her PT and Marksmanship in Fort Leonard Wood, MO. She was able to lead A CO 787 at graduation as the Guidon Bearer.

Following graduation, Rebecca was stationed at Fort Lewis, WA with the 504th Military Police Battalion. Rebecca performed duties as a Military Police Officer, providing force protection and quality enforcement support to the Fort Lewis community of over 80,000 soldiers, civilians and family members. She also attended JRTC(Joint Readiness Training Center) in Fort Polk, LA as a member of Task Force 504 in support of the 10th Mountain Division, Kosovo 3B Rotation. She later was assigned to Aberdeen Proving Grounds Directorate of Law Enforcement and Security, Patrol Division.

While on APG on active duty, Rebecca went through and completed the 683hr CALEA Certified Federal Police Academy. During the Academy, she was selected as squad leader, due to her demonstrated exceptional leader ship, and upon graduation, was awarded the class leadership award and the highest physical fitness award, demonstrating her dedication in fortitude.

After her active duty time was completed, Rebecca went right into civilian police work for the Department of the Army in 2005. Rebecca worked the field as well as performing as the desk supervising sergeant. Rebecca was tasked with direct supervision of a squad of 15 military and civilian police officers on rotating shifts; responsible for the protection of life and property and enforcement of Federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations; She provided initial command and coordination for several specialized units tasked with a safe and secure environment for an installation that is over 75,000 acres and 120 miles of shoreline housing nuclear, chemicals, and biological resources; enforced physical security measures for facilities storing arms, ammunition, and explosives; supervised traffic and crowd control during nuclear/chemical incidents; supervised initial investigation of crimes; responsible for accountability and maintenance of government property. Later she was able to take her experiences in the Police Field as an instructor for the Federal Police Academy Schoolhouse, instructing new cadets for their PT and self defense. Due to her accomplishments, she was the only military member selected for and completed the field training officer program in the associate instructor program in order to teach and train, new military and civilian police officers. Rebecca was certified as a Maryland First Responder and obtained her degree in psychology.

In 2016 she establish Pura Vida Yoga and Physical Training in Perryville, MD. Rebecca has over a decade of experience being a Personal Trainer and is a 200 Hour RYT. Her veteran owned business has been voted Best Yoga class for 6 straight years. Rebecca and her instructors embody a comprehensive skill set geared to enhancing the psychological and physiological well-being of their clients and customers.

Rebecca is also a mother to her 3 children. Jadynn(20) a creative artist, Chase(18) also currently serving in the United States Army as a Cav Scout, and Colbie(14) attending Perryville High School.06

Read more articles from VOM Magazine here: https://www.veteransoutreachministries.org/vom-magazine/

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Handling Change - Veterans Outreach Ministries
10 Feb
0

Handling Change

Article by Pastor Scott Stevens,
US Army and Disabled Veteran

When I first came into the military in 1990, fresh out of high school, I was a tennis all-star and academically at the top of my class in FL, yet I was without a direction or purpose in life. An Army recruiter appealed to me to go into the US Army to get into better shape for college tennis, to make money and to use the GI College Fund to help me pay for college and my dream was to play Tennis at the next level.

As I entered the Basic Training at Fort Dix, NJ in at the end of Fall of 1990, everything was going as planned. I was maxing out in my PT Tests, impressing the Drill Sargent as a Squad Leader, and had the respect of my peers as I was always out in front every march, run and during drills. Yet, early into our training and as I entered AIT, as a Tank Mechanic, we got news that Desert Storm and the Gulf War was beginning to take shape.

Our training shifted from Basic to training for War. I had a choice to step-up to this new challenge or to fold under pressure. To add to the mental stress, my mother, who was only 45 years old, went into the hospital with a Brain Aneurysm and within 3 days, just as I got orders from Red Cross to return to FL, she died.

Now, I was all alone, she was my sole source of love and support, as my Dad had a new family and my older brother was married with 2 young kids. As I stayed to bury my mother, my unit was deployed with a Calvary Unit from TX on their way into Kuwait, Iraqi. I was now left with a choice, Who am I? What do I do now? And What are my next steps in life?

As I returned to training and my unit at APG, I was introduced to a godly man and Chaplain Captain May. He not only counseled me but introduced me to God and I began my person relationship with Jesus. Chaplain May showed me a God that loved me and cared for me.

I read in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcame the world.”

My first step was to embrace that peace and realize that I am not in control. I found comfort in a personal relationship with Jesus and found comfort in God’s words, Psalms 121: 1-2 states “I lift up my eyes to the Hills (mountain or Heavens) where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heave and earth”.

As I progressed and matured in Christ and in life, the Lord has always seen me through, provided me comfort and given me a purpose and plan in life. Shortly after, I was able to reconnect with my Unit and military friends after Desert Storm conflict.

With my new purpose and peace, I was able to communicate with other soldiers about how their life can be different in Christ. Many times, I was able to counsel and comfort those who were hurting.

Matthew 11:29 promises us “take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls.”

How do you handle changes or detours in life? Your plans will need to be changed, adjusted and adapted to when storms and struggles in life comes your way.

The difference between a believer and a nonbeliever is WHO is with you when storms rage, and change comes into your life. Being a Christian does not mean you will be immune from life’s stressors or tragedies; it just means you will never be alone. Jesus said in John 14:18 “I will not leave you comfortless (desolate): I will come to you.” And when He comes to you, you will find peace.

My prayer for you is to stop trying to “figure things out” in life, trust God and do not lean to your own understanding, but trust God in everything – Proverbs 3:5-6.

Let me pray for you: Dear Lord, help the one who is reading this. Help them stop running away from Your call and purpose in life. Let them turn away from their sinful thoughts, actions and ways and help them experience Your peace.

Thank you, Lord, for coming into their life, for dying for their sins and giving them a new heart and home. Lord, when we find things not going our way, help us come to You and find rest for our weary soul.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Reach out to me… I would love to hear your military story and your decision to follow Christ, or just to talk about any questions you may have? Blessings. PastorStevens@aol.com.

Read more articles from VOM Magazine here: https://www.veteransoutreachministries.org/vom-magazine/

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The Birth of a Vision - Veteran's Outreach Ministries
03 Feb
0

The Birth of a Vision

An article by L. J. Nick Callazzo III, USMC

DWS is a global technology and Strategic Business Solutions company that has created an ecosystem that provides education and training in drone and virtual reality photogrammetry technology in its school, and solutions to corporations, businesses, organizations, and governments thorough its employment company. The Drone industry is projected to generate $100 Billion in annual revenues (article, “Reporting for Work”, Goldman Sachs study of drone industry).

DWS Drone School, Inc., founded in March 2020, is the global training and education school that teaches students how to pass the FAA Part 107 exam to be a commercial licensed drone operator and learn how to fly a drone, with its proprietary drone curriculum that was created by United States FAA commercial airline pilots who are also flight instructors and curriculum developers and commercial licensed drone pilots. We believe it is one of the best curricula in the drone industry. They also teach virtual reality photogrammetry and 3D modeling. dwsdroneschool.com

Drone Workforce Solutions, LLC, is the global drone staffing and employment agency which attempts to employ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 licensed commercial drone operators and VR operators. droneworkforcesolutions.com

The DWS Mission:

  1. Is to accelerate the growth of the drone industry, and its capacity to help to solve many of the world’s challenges by harnessing technology using drones and virtual reality and 3D modeling (VR) by providing education and training and workforce development opportunities through the DWS global technology school, DWS Drone School, and its global employment company, Drone Workforce Solutions.
  2. Is to create a Global drone and virtual reality network, (aka “The Universe”) which acts as a catalyst in bringing together and accelerating cross collaborations of drone and VR industry innovators, producers, programmers, software developers, robotics/drone manufacturers, FAA Part 107 certified, commercial drone pilots, global thought leaders, strategic partners, and futuristic solution providers, from a range of organizations including major corporations, start-ups, non-profits, universities and governmental entities.
    Theo Nix Jr., Esq., President/CEO wants to train and retrain a new generation of Americans with these technologies and create a middle class that thrives economically and makes a transformational difference in the world.

There is no better group to participate in this vision than our Veterans who have protected our country and the world. DWS and its global partners are privileged and honored to be facilitators and a conduit for them to exchange guns for drones and VR cameras.

DWS Drone School has created their “Veterans First” Initiative which aggressively seeks to provide drone and virtual reality education and training for our honorable men and women. DWS is the only school in the nation to be approved by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to teach veterans in these two technologies which allows vets to use their education benefits to take these classes and they are provided with the drones, batteries and VR cameras and goggles.

DWS Drone School has been approved to operate a technology school and its courses, with more courses to follow, by the Department of Education in the following:

  • Delaware- their corporate location
  • New Jersey
  • Georgia
  • Tennessee
  • Illinois
  • And a pending approval in Kenya, Africa

THE DWS COURSES:

Drone/sUAS Pilot Training Program

DWS Drone School offers a comprehensive training and education aeronautics curriculum on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) which purpose is designed to not only educate, but to enable and encourage students to learn the art and science of drone technology. Students will gain vast knowledge in how they can apply what they learn to obtain careers in this growing industry through classroom instruction, labs, workshops, and demonstration in the field with “hands-on” training.

This instruction and materials offer the strategies and information to provide each student the in-depth training designed to create successful and proficient drone pilots. Students will also learn the rules, regulations, and laws, and in particular “Part 107”, which is required by the Federal Aviation Administration for drone operations. Students must take the FAA Part 107 exam to obtain their commercial drone license.

Virtual Reality and 3D Virtualization Training Program

DWS Drone School 360 Technology offers a comprehensive training and education curriculum on virtual reality and 3D virtualization systems which purpose is designed to educate, empower, enable, and encourage students to learn the art and science of virtual reality photography workshops and in the field to obtain careers in this growing industry. We will provide expertise and strategies for our students to apply their skills to various lucrative industries such as marketing, photography, security, training, and documentation.

Our curriculum will include the technology behind virtual reality, market opportunity, the equipment available, how to create a virtual reality product for a client, etc. This best-in-class instruction and materials offers strategies and information that provides the breadth and depth of instruction to be successful and proficient in virtual reality and learn the best practices, regulations and laws to offer virtual reality and 3D virtualization services.

Agricultural and Forestry Drone Collected Imagery Training Program

DWS Drone School, in partnership with Agremo, a world-wide leader in plant counting, plant analyses, and remote sensing technology, provides a training course for using small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (s/UAS) in the Agricultural and Forestry industries. In this course, students will gain knowledge and skills on how to provide professional drone services and precise analytics to Agricultural producers in the areas of stand count, plant population, plant stress analysis, weed analysis, pest analysis, plant disease analysis, water stress analysis, flowering estimates, and Eagle eye.

Read more articles from VOM Magazine here: https://www.veteransoutreachministries.org/vom-magazine/

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Business of the Quarter - A Hero's Welcome - Veterans Outreach Ministries
27 Jan
0

Business of the Quarter – A Hero’s Welcome

Article Provided by Rosely Robinson with A Hero’s Welcome

We are an organization encouraging Americans to welcome home our brave military personnel from a service commitment or just returning home. We welcome them in a manner fitting of a hometown hero and American veteran.

We hope to promote increased community respect for our service members as well as increased morale for our returning military. We do this by meeting our heroes at the airports, train stations, bus depots and surprising them with a welcome. Quite often this involves a motorcade with a police escort from airport to home.

The Delaware chapter of A Hero’s Welcome (AHW) was founded in 2007 and Rosely Robinson has served as its Director since 2011. AHW’s mission is “Ensuring all service members get the proper welcome home”. During this period, she has taken an active role in many other veteran related initiatives, including organizing the first motorcade in 2013 for the Wounded Warriors who participated in “Operation SEAs the Day” in Bethany Beach, DE.

The motorcade honors these warriors on the last day of this week every September it is an annual event. A Hero’s Welcome was named the Delaware coordinator for the POW FLAG 50 STATE TOUR 2018 and did it again in 2019. During this tour, we coordinated 14 separate events in two days throughout the state. Each event was designed to spread awareness of our 81,000 members of our military who remain unaccounted for since WW II.

A Hero’s Welcome works closely with Major Stuart Adam Wolfer Institute (MSAWI), Star for Our Troops, and several other veteran organizations. As an advocate for the POW MIA Chair of Honor program and we are actively placing chairs installed through a dedication ceremony in many areas throughout the state including Bethany Beach Boardwalk, Cabela’s, our two veterans cemeteries and schools, senior center, Masonic Lodges and others.

We are very passionate about reaching out to all our citizens young and old and teaching them the meaning of the EMPTY CHAIR. So far we have been responsible for over 48 chairs being placed in Delaware alone.

AHW has spent the last 11 years doing whatever we can to make sure our Veterans are properly honored and our POWs/MIAs are never forgotten. We work tirelessly through many organizations as an advocate for all American Veterans. We love to serve in all of these voluntary roles as we believe veterans deserve to be remembered and honored for the sacrifice they have given for our country and our freedom. event and PAWS’ first visit back at the Medical Examiners Unit since Covid. There was a squeal of joy when the teams arrived! Even through masks, our teams could feel the smiles and see the tears in the staff member’s eyes.

Facebook: @AHerosWelcomeDelaware
Phone: (302) 530-4984

Read more articles from VOM Magazine here: https://www.veteransoutreachministries.org/vom-magazine/

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Hot Dogs & Sunsets - Veterans Outreach Ministries
20 Jan
0

Hot Dogs & Sunsets

Article by Carol Fisher,
Pastor New Covenant Presbyterian Church

I LOVE hotdogs! Some brands rise above others which won’t get me as a repeat customer. But, if it looks like a hotdog, chances are, I’m buying. A former parishioner told me once of visiting a hot dog plant – watching what went into the ballgame/campfire/convenience store menu staple that led him never to eat a hot dog again. Personally, I’ve never been, so I’m still enjoying a hot dog now and again.

I’m not denying that lots of cow and pig parts find a new home in my frankfurters. I’m not naïve enough to think my Oscar Mayer or Hebrew National or Ball Park is as pure as the ribeye steak I occasionally enjoy. But it doesn’t matter because I daresay I will always love my dogs.

It’s nice to know that God feels the same way about us. Lots of stuff that I’d rather not have show up on the “ingredient list” that goes into making my life. And I imagine that the same goes for your life.

Stupid mistakes that ruin relationships and dissolve families. Intentional self-serving decisions wrapped in an outer shell of “love” as if selfishness wasn’t the main ingredient. Secret parts of our lives that we hope no one discovers and seek to self-justify when they do.

God looks at us and knows about all the fillers and trashy parts in our lives. And yet, our heavenly Father ONLY SEES JESUS – his perfection – his obedient nature – his totally selfless demeanor – IN US.

I am reminded of the song by Bette Midler – From a Distance. Here are the printed words so you can reflect on their meaning for you…

From a distance, the world looks blue and green
And the snow-capped mountains white
From a distance, the ocean meets the stream
And the eagle takes to flight

From a distance, there is harmony
And it echoes through the land
It’s the voice of hope
It’s the voice of peace
It’s the voice of every man
From a distance, we all have enough
And no one is in need
And there are no guns, no bombs, and no disease
No hungry mouths to feed

From a distance, we are instruments
Marching in a common band
Playing songs of hope
Playing songs of peace
They’re the songs of every man

God is watching us
God is watching us
God is watching us
From a distance

From a distance, you look like my friend
Even though we are at war
From a distance, I just cannot comprehend
What all this fighting’s for

From a distance, there is harmony
And it echoes through the land
And it’s the hope of hopes
It’s the love of loves
It’s the heart of every man

It’s the hope of hopes
It’s the love of loves
This is the song for every man

And God is watching us
God is watching us
God is watching us
From a distance

As I reflect on the concept of God seeing and knowing EVERYTHING about us, it is hard to comprehend. How can God be that intimately involved with each and every one of his creations, and still love us? Amazing. And yet, dear friends, one of my church members sent me a picture of our church, taken as the sun was setting. She was in awe of how the sun shone through 2 columns on our breezeway, and it made her – and me – notice how it was as if God was watching us. Perhaps you may feel the same way as you look on the beauty God creates, and be in awe as you reflect on how much God loves you and is watching over you.

I believe that God is always watching over us but what a wonderful reminder of how much God cares, loves, and wants to be involved in our lives. May you take comfort, peace and serenity in that knowledge.

Read more articles from VOM Magazine here: https://www.veteransoutreachministries.org/vom-magazine/

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Easy Banana Bread Recipe - Veterans Outreach Ministries
13 Jan
0

Recipe – Easy Banana Bread

Recipe from Elise Bauer on SimplyRecipes.com

MAKES: 8-10 Servings
TOTAL TIME: 60 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

  •  2 to 3 medium (7″ to 7-7/8″ long) very ripe bananas, peeled
  • (1 1/2 cups mashed)
  • 1/3 cup butter, unsalted or salted, melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 3/4 cup (150g) sugar (1/2 cup if you would like it less sweet, 1 cup if more sweet)
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups (205g) all-purpose flour

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), and butter an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan.
  2. In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until completely smooth. Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas.
  3. Mix in the baking soda and salt. Stir in the sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. Mix in the flour.
  4. Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes at 350°F (175°C), or until a toothpick or wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. A few dry crumbs are okay; streaks of wet batter are not. If the outside of the loaf is browned but the center is still wet, loosely tent the loaf with foil and continue baking until the loaf is fully baked.
  5. Cool in the pan and then slice to serve.

Read more articles from VOM Magazine here: https://www.veteransoutreachministries.org/vom-magazine/

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Thyroid Awareness Month - Veteran's Outreach Ministries
06 Jan
0

January is Thyroid Awareness Month

By: Lishamarie Hunter

Ladies – Get yours checked!

Recent reports and research show that Thyroid disease is more prevalent in women who have served in the military. Two separate researches within the Military healthcare system show that between the years of 1990-2004 and another report 2008-2017 show that there was an increase in thyroid disease and thyroid cancer in the population that served in various branches. There is a prevalence of five separate disorders: goiter, thyrotoxicosis, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, and other thyroid disorders.

Hypothyroidism over the ten year period of research showed that close to 9,000 women were diagnosed with this disease, and well over 40,000 cases of thyroid disorder overall. Thyroid disease is treatable but can results in non-deployability. It takes about one year to stabilize the disease. The VA has decided that thyroid disease is a presumptive condition in the computation decision process.

Problems tend to develop slowly, often over a number of years.

At first, you may barely notice the symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as fatigue and weight gain. Or you may simply attribute them to getting older. But as your metabolism continues to slow, you may develop more-obvious problems.

Hypothyroidism Signs may include:

  • Fatigue
  • Constipation
  • Dry skin
  • Weight gain
  • Puffy face
  • Hoarseness
  • Muscle weakness
  • Elevated blood cholesterol level
  • Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness
  • Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints
  • Heavier than normal or irregular menstrual periods
  • Thinning hair
  • Slowed heart rate
  • Depression
  • Impaired memory
  • Enlarged thyroid gland (goiter)
  • Sensitive to cold temperatures

Hyperthyroidism Symptoms may include:

  • nervousness, anxiety and irritability
  • hyperactivity – you may find it hard to stay still and have a lot of nervous energy
  • mood swings
  • difficulty sleeping
  • feeling tired all the time
  • sensitivity to heat
  • muscle weakness
  • diarrhea
  • needing to urinate more often than usual
  • persistent thirst
  • itchiness of skin

The best way to diagnose any thyroid issue is to see your primary care provider and have a complete thyroid panel of blood work, not just TSH numbers. Complete thyroid bloodwork includes TSH, T3, T4, Free T, and Reserve T3. An endocrinologist is the specialist that specializes in your thyroid system.

Quite a few women have been told they are fair yet they feel ill. The best way to ensure you receive good quality healthcare is to be your own advocate. Even though women are more likely to have thyroid disease men can suffer from the disorder as well.

Explore more articles from VOM Magazine here: https://www.veteransoutreachministries.org/vom-magazine/

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Male Veteran of the Quarter - Tom Kimble - Veterans Outreach Ministries
30 Dec
0

Male Veteran of the Quarter – Tom Kimble

This article is written by and features Tom Kimble

The US Coast Guard Reserve was for 7 years, with 6 months of active duty, monthly reserve meeting and 2 weeks active duty each summer. My active duty was in 1963; 3 months of basic training at Cape May, NJ and 3 months of Radioman’s School at Groton, CN. This was followed by 6.5 years of monthly meetings at the naval yard in Philadelphia, PA.

The 2 week active duty alternated between 3 land and 3 sea orders. The land orders were for the USCG Radio Station in Hampton, NY and 2 orders for Leadership School in Virginia.

At the radio station, I was assigned to the radio room clean-up and errands. All of the radio messages I observed were by voice, although I was told a few code messages were occasionally done. I was not allowed to participate in any messages. The only messages I participated in were a few off-duty flashlight code messages at night to boaters in the bay out off gas (if they knew Morse code). The USCG lifeboat station that I was staying at had a marine band receiver. There was constant chatter from the boaters. Several accidents were reported. One was a boy without a life preserver that hit is head and drowned because he was unconscious. This is a lesson that I tell my children that can swim and feel that they do not need a life preserver; “Can you swim unconscious?”

The Leadership School was military, but I do not know which branch (NAVY?). The main objective was to build team leadership usually by physical interaction like transporting logs and people across a creek without leaving any logs or people behind. Each member would take turn being the leader. Another was rival teams would attempt to place their flag by stealth behind the other teams line. With construction in the area the team I was on “surveyed” their way behind their line. With hard hats and surveying tools we kept measuring transit lines until we were behind their line. Besides the “games” there was classwork on general military topics like the Uniform Code of Military Justice. After all these years the “games” were more memorable than the classwork.

The sea orders were for a USN destroyer cruise to Halifax, a USN destroyer cruise mid-Atlantic and a USCG cutter cruise to Miami. I do not remember the names of the ships. The ships left and returned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The USN destroyer on the Halifax cruise was an older ship and was cramped. Moving and living in very confining quarters and sleeping in stacked beds was a big part of the training. We were assigned a “general quarters” station when boarding and there were regular drills. These stations were in passages, stairs or outside. At these stations we could easily abandon ship or fight fires. I received fire fighting in basic training. Although the destroyer was armed, we were not assigned “battle stations”. I was again assigned to the radio room for clean-up and errands. All messages were by voice not code. I was told that the Navy no longer used code. The Navy used encrypted teletype for fleet broadcast. I was assigned the task of removing these TTY broadcast from the teletype for distribution. This was only time I was involved with messages. At Halifax we were given a day shore leave.

The Pan-Canadian Games were being held in Halifax and there were sailors from other ships, some Canadian, in port. I attended the “Games” with some Canadian sailors and fellow navy and coast guard shipmates. Afterwards I discover 10% beer, something I never knew existed.

The USN destroyer on the mid-Atlantic cruise was also older and just as cramped as the first destroyer. We also were assigned “general quarters” stations. The radio room assignment was about the same. The Navy’s no code use message was repeated. I was again allowed to remove TTY fleet broadcast for distribution.

We did stop to resupply but there was no shore leave. The cruise was deep out to sea, we did not see any shore for most of the trip. There was a storm that lasted a day and produced swells higher that the ship. Waves were constantly breaking on the bow and stern washing the deck which drove everybody inside.

Although many people were seasick, for some reason I was not. There was no order to clear the deck. To seasoned Navy destroyer sailors this storm was not that bad. To date this is the worst storm at sea that I have experienced. I was in storms on Cruise Ships, but destroyers are much smaller. At the time I was more fascinated and excited than scared. Looking back I should have been at least very worried.

The USCG cutter was newer and larger than the USN destroyers. There was much more room and fewer stacked beds with more between spacing. Moving about was much easier. We were assigned a “general quarters” station, but I do not remember any drills. Although the cutter was armed, we were not assigned any “battle stations”. I was assigned to the radio room to clean-up and run errands. As in the shore radio station, I only observed voice messages. Again I was told that code messages were occasionally done.

The Coast Guard communicates with a greater variety of ships than the Navy, so still needs code. I did not see any teletype equipment. The Coast Guard does only two way communications, not one way broadcast. In general the Navy primarily communicates with itself. The Coast Guard must communicate with everybody.

While in the Caribbean we picked up a boat load of Haitian refugees. The rubber raft boat was very full. With any sea turbulence, they would have floundered and drowned. Fortunately the sea was very calm. They were not near any shore. About 12 male refugees were taken aboard and put on the bow deck under guard. The cutter then went to Miami where the refugees were turned over to immigration. The crew was given shore leave in Miami.

In 1970 I was promoted to Radioman 3rd Class, soon afterwards I was Honorably Discharged.

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