guestlog

Date:             20-04-2007

praise: to all forces,
 Thank you for keeping Canada safe

Looking for an old friend Pascal Lacoste
Gisela Kurtz
gisela_kurz@yahoo.co.uk 
Contact me
Date:             31-08-2006

Commentaries:

I am from Austria/Vienna. looking for Pascal Lacoste.  he is an old letter friend from me. the last letter dated from November 1998.

I have Google his name and now I come to this homepage. sorry my English is bad.
I have no email from Pascal and the last letter to his old address: 154 Bld St-Sacrement, St-Gabriel de valcartier,60A450 Quebec, Canada is coming return to me. why?
I hope you can help me to find some answer.

have a nice day

Gisela Kurtz

TypeMessage:      Testimonies
Sujet:                 support on your TOUR/OPS
NomUtilisateur:    Karen
Operation:           b/f's support OP Athena
mailto:                dago_girl@hotmail.com
                         Contact_me

Date: 31-07-2005

Commentaires:

Hi to all Members,

I give my absolute support to all of you serving for the rest of we Canadians.
I understood the terms of how things work on how, when you leave your families
and other loved ones. I just didn't necessarily expect things to go how they
were supposed to go, good or bad...

My b/f got a lucky girl in his hands, or he was lucky. The misfortunes of
getting his account emptied or leaving with all his belongings. This time, he
had all of his things, his $$$$ all saved up, not a cent used by me except for
his own bills. MAN, he was sooooo HAPPY !!! First time he got this LUCKY!!
It can be the case for some of you, unfortunately.

Don't lose hope, there are still some of us that are good towards providing
necessities!! Still things are pretty good between us. Trust was an issue over
his bad experiences of his past tours.

Get an accountant or direct deposit, internet accounts to verify that everything
is "smooth sailing" or in order, for occasional verifications. It's being SMART
not totally ignorant of the fact, its brings yourself to some kind of "security
of your interests." :)

I don't know when he's leaving again but I know I will be here to keep things in
order...LOL, "Mme FINANCE," is what he calls me...:))

I've noticed that in his sleep, he has these small seizures. Of course when I
mention it to him, he knows nothing about it. A denial of a problem doesn't fix
it! ANy other g/f, mothers, sisters or wives or any other family members, or
friends notice odd things about their "little soldier(s)" to let them know, then
help them through it.

WIsh all of you the best and when your back from a tour to talk to a
professional and to your family. The conversations will help both sides to
understand eachother and to prevent any downfalls to come in the future...Health
isn't just physical but mental too!

A total supporter of the Canadian Forces,
From generation to generation to b/f,

Karen

Testimonial

08 Nov 2004

Derick M. Noonan Cpl. (Ret.)

Airborne / QOR of C / PPCLI

Somalia 92-93 / Unprofor 94

I want to thank you for the time and effort you have put into this site and the help you provide to us. It has made my life better in so many ways.

I am no longer alone, which means a lot.

I also was able to get the proper information to get help and support.

Plus I found out about government program I was not aware of.

Just this is a major improvement in quality of life. You see like most of us with *OSI, I was in denial.

Having problems with anger, nightmares and flash back.

I felt completely alone, forgotten by all. Including the government, the army and veterans affairs.

I had withdrawn from the world unable to function in it.

As time went on, I believed that it would go away, that it was just temporary.

Was I ever wrong !!!

It just got worst and worst.

I became suicidal and the doctor put me on pills and more pills.

I became very angry with Veterans Affairs who where giving me the run around.

Nobody cared it seems.

If I died it would have been a long time before anybody would found my body.

Then one sleepless night I came across this site.

I don’t know how but it peek my interest.

I started to read just to change the darkness in my mind.

So that I could relax and go back to sleep.

The more I read, the more I came to realise that.

I was not alone with this problem.

It took me a few month to get the courage to send you an e-mail.

Which was answered promptly without any judgemental question.

I did not have explain anything , you knew exactly where I was coming from.

It felt good to talk with someone who understood what I was going threw.

No need for explanations or justification .

It was like talking to a brother, more then that a BROTHER IN ARMS.

Someone who’s been there, done that and got the t-shirt.

With your support I slowly got the courage to go to a meeting.

The first three time I was unable to go,

due to high anxiety and the nervousness to be in a group.

He encouraged me that it was ok.

No one would judge me.

That were all in the same boat.

It's not like you have to tell your story in front of everyone,

sitting in a circle applauding each other.

But rather having a coffee with brothers in arms.

So the fourth time, I went to the meeting.

My arrival was stressful but as soon as I was there,

I felt at home.

It was a relief, no question just understanding.

Which is a good thing, that was much needed.

My mom says that “I got the sparkle back in my eyes”.

And that feels good.

I was able to find an old battle buddies on the brother in arms page.

A friend that I did not think I would see again.

Who was going threw the same kind of *OSI as me.

That confirmed that it is not only me with these problems.

That more of us suffer in silence, believing that it would pass.

That seeking medical help for *OSI is a sign of weakness.

That your a sissy faker to complain about such things.

That is not true at all!!!

And no one should make us feel that way.

We served when called, we step forward where other dared not to.

We are unsung heroes, who deserve to live in peace since we survived the wars.

Derick M.Noonan

aka: “Nanoo”

"EX COELIS"

*OSI = Operational Stress Injuries