"More than 50,000 of the nearly 2 million U.S. troops deployed in two wars have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a local expert on a condition once known as shell shock or combat fatigue. And the number of cases appears to be climbing.
"Imagine all the undiagnosed cases out there that are waiting to present themselves to us - not just the medical community, but to all of us," said Dr. Philip A. Mackowiak of Sherwood Forest, chief of medicine for the Baltimore VA Hospital."
The above headlines are somewhat startling, but thinking of what service men and women go through makes the statistics understanding. Along with all other types of mental illness that is being spoken and written about today, what is more worthy than seeing those who fought for their country are being treated adequately.
Soldiers not being able to cope after coming home form wars was though of as being shell shocked. That description applies today, but like so much other medical terminology, the labeling now is labeled differently. But the important part, no matter what it is called, is in recognition.
PS: The image is a fabric created plaque honoring all soldiers, especially those who gave their lives in the line of duty. It was created about three years ago as I sat in front of my sewing machine with a bag of scraps. Some news item had brought my attention to the ongoing battlefield and this was my way of honoring the war effort.
It is scrappy and unkempt, nothing at all worth framing, but it has captured my heart. It rests quite well among my other art treasures that are hidden away but for this reminder.
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