My husband went to Emergency by ambulance in October 2024. A Volunteer met me at the Emergency entrance desk and whisked me off to the closest waiting area, provided a drink and let the staff know I was there whenever the emergency treatment was past and they could bring me into his room.
This individual attention was kind and provided emotional relief at a stressful point.
The story before joining is important!
For 8 years myself and a friend along with my husband established and facilitated the Southwest Missouri Military Support Group. We meet at a bank in NIXA for one year and 7 others years at the NIXA Community Center and Sports complex. We were in need of help for ourselves and surely others. Why, because our only son joined the Marine Corp. He was attending Drury University to finish the semester on a deferred program. So he signed up before 9/11. That fateful day he came home from morning classes at Drury University. He was in his bedroom and I was folding clothes with the TV on. The TV show watched turned live to the first tower hit. I yelled “Jonathan come quick”!
He ran in and sat on the bed. I said, “this is happening now”. He watched. He said, “MOTHER, I AM GOING TO WAR!”
So we were faithful in going to church and valued our church’s prayers. Yet we needed more emotional support. So when school was out, boot camp at San Diego over and our son was headed to Iraq again we saw that we needed help from other families who had children, spouses or friends going to fight. That is how 8 years of the SouthWest Missouri military support Group came to be.
A mission statement was made and a free meeting place found. Next we advertised in Cox hospital and Saint Johns. (Mercy now) hospital community news sent to surrounding counties along with contacting other news worthy sources.
We began a life changing journey. We had guest speakers from those involved in military and other counseling, veteran affairs and other groups, VFW and established helps. We found a variety of willing people including who could supply helpful knowledge to those who loved our military.
The group was for meeting together helping ourselves and needs of families concerned and worried in what war brings to our minds, bodies, hearts, and souls. . We grew a tight knit core group, and shared knowledge and much needed warmth. We learned from going through saying good bye, when going to boot camp, and on to deployments and return needs of soldiers. We mailed packages brought us from folk from all walks of life to soldiers. We sent an entire platoons tropical head coverings not given military but accepted by top platoon officials as wanted and needed. We for years sent wheel chairs to an organization who made wheel chairs for Iraqi citizens wounded in war accidentally by Americans trying to save the good people, yet bombs and war maimed. These were folks of all ages in Iraq who’s lives were devastated by war accidentally hit by our guys.. We did welcome homes, collecting, knocking on business, presenting in churches, not our own, and gifting. We were support where needed at our invitation to our meetings, on the phone, in our meetings, even in their homes. We were actively involved by phone, and in person from the highs and lows of service for our country in life and death. At 8 years of facilitating we were, I was tired. We determined it was time for rest and thought we found someone to continue on what we began. Free service requiring fund raising and total giving of mind, and soul is hard to keep and find. The new loved and had heart but circumstances changed and The South West Missouri Military Support group on NIXA ended. Until.......
So after taking a break for several years except for answered phone calls listening, meeting with and or finding further support for, it was time to give back.
Kerry Miller saw my name in the Cox support group community paper and called me up. Kerry is great at following through and truly loving people. Their were several other circumstantial meets from groups we were both involved in but had not really met. So at one point he invited me to Wellness for Warriors going into its 4th year. It was a hit and the South west Missouri Millitary Support group melded into Something even bigger and further reaching through Kerry Miller under the Cox Hospital umbrella.
My hat goes off to those who invent. I am known as the Invention Lady as seen in the community and on a variety of TV shows and affiliates. Invention Fever is in the air! Military men and women see needs and invent.
My husband and myself established 14 years ago the SouthWest Missouri Inventors Network. We meet the first Sunday of every month at the Springfield Library center on South Campbell ave.
from 2:00-4:00 In Room B. It is free Invention help.
Please (because of covid -19 text or call and leave a message at 417-827-4498 before attending.) open to the public and all are welcome.
So knowing and having been a part in military needed inventions Wellness for Warriors was a good place to help military in an added positive way. I am honored to share Invention help in presenting, and contribute where and when needed that I can. Owning a prototype engineering and a design company for many years an asset to those attending! I am involved in the plight of the small inventor eaten alive by Major conglomerates in Washington DC again even as I write.
I love my country, I am a daughter of a World War II soldier. A daughter of the American Revolution, and a mother to an only son. A son who forever is a Marine. He forever now pays a terrible price from fighting for my and your American freedom.
So that is the long and short if it. The best part is the wonderful loving caring and giving people I have met at Wellness for Warriors. Interesting to me is that those who receive help, actually help others in sharing their need. I know I have.