Welcome. I’m thrilled to bring you, for the first time, “The Guide,” online. This book was first written by 2 grad student nurse practitioners working clinical rotations at the Vet Center in Bangor, Maine. My Capstone partner and I wanted to create a portable tool to educate the veterans (or anyone) about post trauma. The veterans eagerly offered their input, feedback and writings about their experiences in conflicts from WWII through Desert Storm.

 

During my time at the Vet Center I learned enough about the signs and symptoms of post trauma to encourage my husband Sam, to have his father, a WWII Veteran, request an evaluation for PTSD in his home State of Virginia which led to his father eventually receiving long overdue benefits. It also began a very personal journey with this little book and about how post trauma in one person affects a family in so many ways. Both Sam and I had military fathers diagnosed with PTSD. We both wish our fathers had sought real help sooner. Our lives and the lives of our mothers, siblings and these men’s grandchildren could have been so much different.

 

During the early years of first editing and the re-editing this book for republications, Sam believed strongly that the book had a mission for veterans and families beyond a few years. He did the legal work pro bono and believed the book would “go on long after we’re gone from this world.” Following Sam’s death, his words seemed prophetic as people continued to send emails, and ask for copies for the book. Over the years I have given away all existing hard copies. Several have encouraged me, over the years, to make the book available online. Circumstances have now culminated to allow this to happen.

My life has changed significantly since the inception of this book many years ago. My beloved husband’s death from a savage cancer, moving back to my hometown, remarkable sons moving on with their lives through unspeakable shared grief that I once wrote about and now deeply feel and at last the re-edit of this book and launch onto the Internet. Living by God’s Grace and experiencing thankfulness amidst much turmoil with a personal chronic pain diagnosis has been challenging. Learning that Brennan Manning’s quote “nothing you can do will make God love you more and nothing you can do will make God love you less” is truth. Every day is a gift.

Stephanie Laite Lanham, NP