journal 112014

Vol. 26 No. 47 www.cnic.navy.mil/bethesda/ November 20, 2014

By Doug MillerNSAB Public Affairs

staff writer

“It seems like it was eitheryesterday or a lifetime ago,” LeeAnn Doerflinger said, recallingthe day uniformed men arrivedat her door.

It was 2004. On Nov. 11 —Veterans Day — of that year,her son, Army Spc. Thomas Do-erflinger, was killed in Mosul,Iraq.

Lee Ann Doerflinger joinedfellow Gold Star Family mem-bers Nicole Bunting and sonsConnor , 7, and Cooper, 5, andCarol Feria and her daughter,Andrea Leathers, 10, at the Na-val Support Activity Bethesda(NSAB) Navy Exchange (NEX)for its second annual tree light-ing, Nov. 13.

Doerflinger, who is presidentof the Maryland Chapter ofthe American Gold Star Moth-ers, said the holiday season canmake missing loved ones lostin the line of duty all the morepainful.

“He loved the holidays,” shesaid of her son. “He loved Christ-mas. He loved Halloween.”

“The holidays are definitelybittersweet,” said Carol Feria.Her fiancé, Petty Officer FirstClass Matt Leathers, was killedin a training accident in Hawaiiin 2013.

Army Capt. Brian Buntingdied in February 2009.

Patsy Jackson is coordinatorfor NSAB’s Gold Star program,which began Oct. 1 and servesa dozen counties each in Mary-land and Virginia, as well as theDistrict of Columbia. “We try tohelp families through the griev-ing process, and to deal withthe milestones,” Jackson said,including the anniversary of theservice member’s death, birth-days and holidays.

Andrea Leathers and the Bun-ting brothers helped Command-ing Officer Capt. David Bitontithrow the ceremonial switch toturn on the lights of the Christ-mas tree and officially launch theholiday season at the NEX.

Children enjoyed assemblingornaments for their own trees ata couple of tables near the main

entrance, and the Public HealthService Choral Ensemble sangChristmas carols.

NEX Tree Lighting Kicks off Holiday Season

Gold Star Family members Andrea Leathers, 10, andCooper, 5, and Connor Bunting, 7, help Capt. David Bi-tonti throw the ceremonial switch as the NEX Christmastree lit up for the first time this holiday season.

Photos by Doug Miller

Capt. David Bitonti, NSA Bethesda commanding officer, welcomed Gold Star Family members at NSAB’sNEX tree-lighting festivities Nov. 13. From left are Bitonti, Nicole Bunting, Cooper Bunting, Lee Ann Doer-flinger, Connor Bunting, Andrea Leathers, Carol Feria and Gold Star Coordinator Patsy Jackson.

2 Thursday, November 20, 2014 The Journal

Published by offset every Thurs-day by Comprint Military Publi-cations, 9030 Comprint Court,Gaithersburg, Md. 20877, aprivate firm in no way con-nected with the U.S. Navy,under exclusive written con-tract with Naval Support ActivityBethesda, Md. This commercialenterprise newspaper is an autho-rized publication for members of themilitary services. Contents of The Journalare not necessarily the official views of, norendorsed by, the U.S. Government, theDepartment of Defense, or the Departmentof Navy. The appearance of advertising inthis publication, including inserts or supple-ments, does not constitute endorsement bythe Department of Defense or Comprint,Inc., of the products or services advertised.Everything advertised in this publicationshall be made available for purchase, useor patronage without regard to race, color,

religion, sex, national origin,age, marital status, physicalhandicap, political affiliationor any other non-merit fac-tor of the purchaser, user,or patron. Editorial contentis edited, prepared and pro-vided by the Public AffairsOffice, Naval Support Activ-

ity Bethesda, Md. News copyshould be submitted to the Pub-

lic Affairs Office, Building 17, first floor,across from PSD, by noon one week pre-ceding the desired publication date. Newsitems are welcomed from all installationsources. Inquiries about news copy will beanswered by calling 301-295-1803. Com-mercial advertising should be placed withthe publisher by calling 301-921-2800.Publisher’s advertising offices are locatedat 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md.20877. Classified ads can be placed bycalling 301-670-1700.

Naval Support Activity (NSA) BethesdaCommanding Officer: Capt. David A. BitontiPublic Affairs Officer: Ron InmanPublic Affairs Office: 301-295-1803

Journal StaffStaff Writers MC2Ashante Hammons

MC2 Christopher KruckeSarah MarshallKatrina SkinnerSharon Renee Taylor

Managing Editor MC2BrandonWilliams-ChurchWRNMMC Editor Bernard Little

NSABethesdaFleet And Family Support Center 301-319-4087

Walter Reed National Military Medical CenterOffice of Media Relations 301-295-5727

NSAB OmbudsmanMichelle Herrera 240-370-5421

NSAB Chaplain’s Office 301-319-4443/4706

Sexual Assault ResponseCoordinator Hotline 301-442-2053

Visit us on Facebook:Naval Support Activity Bethesda page:https://www.facebook.com/NSABethesda

Walter Reed National Medical Center page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Walter-Reed-National-Military-Medical-Center/295857217111107

Uniformed Services University of the HealthSciences page:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Uniformed-Services-University-of-the-Health-Sciences/96338890888?fref=ts

Native American Indian EventTheWalter Reed BethesdaMulti-Cultural

Committee will host a Native AmericanIndian event in observance of NativeAmerican Indian Heritage Month, Tuesdayat 11:30 a.m. in the America Building, firstfloor lobby, piano area. For more informa-tion, call Hospital Corpsman 2nd ClassAbeyratne at 301-295-4265.

Blood Drive ChallengeA blood drive is scheduled for Tuesday

from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Building 9 mezza-nine level as part of the Army-Navy BloodDonor Challenge. To make an appointmentto donate, visit http://www.militaryblood.dod.mil/.

TEAMSTEPPS trainingATEAMSTEPPS(TeamStrategies&Tools

to Enhance Performance & Patient Safety)fundamentals course, offered by HospitalEducation and Training is Monday from7:30 to 11:30 a.m., (sign in and welcome at7 a.m.), in Building 5, 4th floor, Room 4027.For more information, contact Staff Sgt.Angela Stevenson at [email protected] or enroll at [email protected].

Birth Month TrainingBirth month training for Army, Navy and

civilian personnel at Walter Reed Bethesdais held every second and fourth Thursday ofeach month in Clark Auditorium beginningat 8 a.m. Training sessions include personalfinance and stress management; EO andgrievance procedures, hazing policy andprevention, fraternization awareness andprevention; sexual harassment and griev-ance procedures; suicide awareness and pre-vention; threat awareness and counterin-telligence; and drug and alcohol preventioneducation. For more information, contactHMC Stephen Pierle at [email protected], or HM1 Scott Kuniyuki [email protected].

Bethesda Notebook

As the holiday season rap-idly approaches, the frenzyof commercials, shopping,traffic, lines at the storeand Black (Navy Blue) Fri-day deals may sweep us upin the happy, but sometimesfrantic pace, that is the mod-ern-day holiday season.Thanksgiving is the be-

ginning of the holiday sea-son, and whether you andyour family and friends cel-ebrate Christmas, Hanuk-kah, Kwanzaa or any otherholiday or tradition, the uni-fying element in all of theseobservances is the same. It’s the special na-ture of the people with whom we celebrate.There’s no escaping the pace of modern

life. However, I think it’s important for eachof us, at some point during the holidays, totake some time, even just a moment, to stopand think about what this and the spirit ofthe season really means.If you are alive and have the love and

support of your family and friends, yournext meal, health, and a roof over yourhead, you have a lot to for which to bethankful. There are many around theworld, and in our own country, which don’thave these things, or are in jeopardy of los-ing them every day.In this light, I think it’s extremely im-

portant to take care of and reach out to oneanother this holiday season. Watch out foreach other. Be social, but don’t let those youcare about engage in potentially danger-ous behavior such as drinking and driving,drinking in excess or riding with those whodo. We all work too hard, so don’t jeopardizethe future by over-indulging. There are a

myriad of programsavailable for use inorder to have fun andcelebrate, but to do itsafely. Take advantageof those programs.If you plan to travel,

please do it safely. Getplenty of rest beforebeginning travels andplan ahead for yourtrip. Please don’t waituntil the last minuteand take unnecessaryrisks. Make sure yourvehicle is in good andsafe working order if

you plan to drive.Remember that the true spirit of the

holidays is about people and being togeth-er. The time we spend with those we loveand care for is special. Material things canbe replaced, but the love, friendship, andcamaraderie we share with those aroundus is one of the most precious gifts thatwe can give or receive during this holidayseason and throughout the year. Be gener-ous! Please keep our fellow deployed ser-vice members and their families in yourthoughts and remembrances.From me and my family, and on behalf of

the entire Naval Support Activity Bethesdateam, I want to wish you and your familiesand friends a wonderful, safe, and happyThanksgiving.

All Ahead Flank,David A. Bitonti, Capt., DC, USNCommanding OfficerNaval Support Activity Bethesda

Pausing to Reflect on our Blessingson Thanksgiving and Beyond

The Journal Thursday, November 20, 2014 3

By Bernard S. LittleWRNMMC Public Affairs

staff writer

The 2014 Combined FederalCampaign (CFC) kicked off atWalter Reed Bethesda duringa ceremony Nov. 10 on NavalSupport Activity Bethesda(NSAB).

“This is the one time of yearthe federal government as awhole has the opportunity tomake contributions to benevo-lent organizations that we feelwarrant our support,” saidNavy Capt. David A. Bitonti,NSAB commanding officer. Heexplained CFC allows potentialdonors to give financial sup-port to a multitude of nonprofitorganizations that “do greatthings throughout the country.”

Bitonti encouraged thosewho are able financially, to con-sider donating to one or moreof the agencies under the CFCumbrella. “If everyone doestheir own little piece, that’swhat really makes all the dif-ference in the world,” he said.

The NSAB commanding of-ficer also thanked key workersfor their role in the campaign,

adding, “You’re where the rub-ber meets the road.” Key work-ers are responsible for edu-cating potential donors aboutCFC, and explaining how con-tributions can be made safelyonline through payroll deduc-tion.

Navy Capt. Phillip M. San-chez, commanding officer forthe Navy Medicine ProfessionalDevelopment Center on NSAB,said there are more than 20,000nonprofit organizations affili-ated with CFC this year, givingpotential contributors a large

number of possible agencies towhich they can make their do-nations.

“We are our brothers’ andsisters’ keepers,” added WalterReed National Military MedicalCenter Command Master ChiefTyrone Willis, also encouragingpeople to consider donating to aworthy cause through CFC.

“Just imagine the impact wecould make on people’s livesif everyone gave just a little,”Willis said. He stated many ofthe agencies within CFC assistand provide services to militarymembers, active duty and re-tired, as well as their families,helping them through challeng-ing times.

“This is our opportunity togive [back] to those groups,”Willis said.

The origins of the CombinedFederal Campaign can betraced back to 1961, when then- President John F. Kennedysigned Executive Order 10927,authorizing the United StatesCivil Service Commission to or-ganize nonprofit solicitations offederal government employees.Kennedy’s executive order waseventually replaced by then-

President Ronald Reagan’s1982 executive order 12353,“Charitable Fundraising,” thatcreated the modern CombinedFederal Campaign under theUnited States Office of Person-nel Management (OPM).

Last year, federal employeesin the Washington Metro areadonated more than $51 millionto a variety of charities underthe CFC umbrella, accordingto officials with the CFC of theNational Capital Area. Figuresfrom OPM indicate CFC cam-paign results for 2013 exceeded$209 million.

Since its inception in 1961,the CFC has raised more than$7 billion in donations for nu-merous charities, according toOPM.

For more information con-cerning the CFC campaign atWalter Reed Bethesda, contactInformation Systems Techni-cian 1st Class Justin M. Wiltonat 301-319-8976. To stay up todate with the regional CFC, fol-low @cfcnca on Twitter or www.facebook.com/cfcnca. On theinternet, CFCNCA informationis available at http://www.cf-cnca.org/.

Combined Federal Campaign Kicks Off on NSAB

Photos by Bernard S. Little

From left, Navy Medicine Professional DevelopmentCenter Commanding Officer Navy Capt. Phillip M.Sanchez, Naval Support Activity Bethesda Com-manding Officer Navy Capt. David A. Bitonti andWalter Reed Bethesda Director of Nursing ServicesArmy Col. Ray C. Antoine, cut the cake to kick off the2014 Combined Federal Campaign on base Nov. 10.

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NSA Bethesda: From the DeckplatesWhat Are You Thankful For?

“I am thankful formy job and my family.”

— Candace Thomas,NSA Bethesda Fleet and

Family Support CenterTransition and Employ-

ment Consultant

“I am thankful for mywife and son. I’m alsothankful for my ship-mates, who I’ve had theprivilege to serve withhere to make our mis-sions successful.”

— Master-at-Arms 1stClass Christopher Varga,

NSA Bethesda Security

“I am thankful forfamily and true friends.I am thankful for life. Ihad my second battlewith cancer last yearand now I am cancerfree. I am able to cel-ebrate life with family,friends, and cowork-ers.”

— Deana Kennedy,U.S. Army Chief Military

Personnel, Walter ReedNational Military Medi-

cal Center

“I am thankful forlife”

— Hospital Corpsman3rd Class William Farm-er, Operational Readiness

Deployment Manager,Walter Reed National

Military Medical Center

“I am grateful forlife because I am stillhere. I am grateful thatmy daughter and mygrandson are healthy.”

— Joyce Baldwin, U.S.Army Retirement Ser-

vices Office

“I am thankful formy health and thehealth of my family,work and opportunitiesthat come to me fromGod. Sometimes wetake for granted thingsthat come to us but weare truly blessed.”

— SSG Roberto Picas-somora, U.S. Army, NCO,

Radiology, Walter ReedNational Military Medi-

cal Center

10428501050035


NSAB Holds Command Service Dress Blues Inspection

Photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Brandon Williams-Church

Naval Support Activity Bethesda (NSAB) Sailors from the Security Department, Administration, HousingDepartment, Pastoral Care Department and Public Affairs department stand in ranks to hold the commanddress blues inspection Nov. 14 at the USO Warrior and Family Center. NSAB Commanding Officer Capt.David A. Bitonti, Senior Enlisted Leader Senior Chief Jason Rakowski and Security Department Leading ChiefPetty Officer Senior Chief Detrick Jones presided over the inspection.

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By Bernard S. LittleWRNMMC Public Affairs

staff writer

Leadership at Walter ReedBethesda (WRB) hosted townhall meetings on Nov. 13, dis-cussing a number of issues af-fecting the medical center, in-cluding its preparation for itsJoint Commission survey, pre-paredness to respond should apatient present himself withsuspected Ebola Virus Disease(EVD), and ongoing and up-coming construction projects.

Navy Capt. Sarah Martin,WRB chief of staff, said sur-veyors for The Joint Com-mission (TJC) will be at themedical center “no later thanMarch” for their review andevaluation of the hospital’squality of health care and ef-ficiency of administrativeprocedures. In March 2012,WRNMMC successfully com-pleted its first survey by TJCfollowing the integration ofthe former Walter Reed ArmyMedical Center and the Na-tional Naval Medical Center.

TJC is the main accreditingbody for the nation’s healthcare organizations, and thoseaccredited by the TJC are sub-ject to a three-year accredita-tion cycle. The unannounced

full survey is a key componentof TJC accreditation process,Martin explained, adding “un-announced” means the organi-zation does not receive an ad-vance notice of its survey date.

“We have been gettingready [for TJC],” Martin said.She encouraged staff to con-tinue to prepare for the surveyusing the All Hands SurveyReadiness e-Guide; Leaders’

Survey Readiness Checklist;Improving the Care Environ-ment Checklist; and Opera-tive and Invasive ProceduresTracer Tool. There is also aJoint Commission ReadinessGuide link on the WRNMMCintranet.

Anyone with questions re-garding the TJC should con-tact Eugene Monroe, depart-ment chief, JC at WRNMMCat [email protected].

Also during the town halls,Cmdr. Jeffrey McCoy, facili-ties management departmentchief, provided an update onfacilities construction affect-ing WRNMMC. He said thepatient parking garage, Bldg.55, has been under repairs formore than two years and is ex-pected to be completed in June2015, opening approximately400 patient parking spaces.

A project starting in spring2015 is the replacement of allwindows and metal exteriorpanels of Bldgs. 9 and 10, as

WRNMMC Leadership Hosts Town HallsJoint Commission, Construction Projects, Ebola Virus Preparedness Discussed During Meetings

An artist’s rendition shows how Walter Reed National Military Medical Center isslated to appear following the medical center’s addition and alteration project,scheduled to start in the spring of 2017 with a completion date set for 2020. Theproject is set to deliver 540,000 square feet of new and renovated space to themedical center.

See TOWN HALL page 10

By Mass CommunicationSpecialist 2nd Class

BrandonWilliams-Church

NSAB Public Affairsstaff writer

With blasts of cold tempera-tures from the winter seasonsneaking upon us, emergen-cy and safety personnel on-board Naval Support ActivityBethesda (NSAB) urge servicemembers and staff to be pre-pared for one of the coldestwinter’s the area is expectedto receive.

NSAB Emergency ManagerRon Kunz and NSAB SafetyManager Jim Ganz have in-valuable advice for makingsure that you and your lovedones are as safe and preparedas you can be during the win-ter months.

Living in the D.C. Metroarea and dealing with itsweather conditions can bechallenging to say the least.

“The D.C. Metro area his-torically seems to be in a lo-cale where the weather can beextremely variable even with-

in a band as small as 5 to 10miles east-to-west or north-to-south,” said Ganz. “Conditionscould be snowy on one side ofthe band, icy in the middle andrainy on the other side. It maybe snowing in Germantown,icy in Rockville and raining inBethesda. With that in mind,everyone should be preparedfor all these types of weather.”

Along with the varying con-

ditions throughout the area,emergency and safety organi-zations have beefed up theirwarning and information sys-tems to help people during in-clement weather.

“I implore people to pay at-tention to the weather warn-ings and advisories that areposted by the National Weath-er Service,” said Kunz. “Start-ing Dec. 3, they will begin to

share more focused predic-tions for the National CapitalRegion, especially Montgom-ery County. This in turn givesmore accurate information asto where the weather eventsare going to occur.”

Websites such as www.Capi-talert.gov and www.Ritis.orghave also been implementedto help people in the regionby sending them emergency

updates by county or allow-ing people to view live trafficreports through traffic cam-eras, respectively, according toKunz.

The major areas of concernGanz and Kunz emphasize aretravelling in extreme weather,vehicular maintenance andpreparedness, dressing for theweather and household pre-paredness.

Travelling in ExtremeWeather

“Make sure your car isready for the winter,” saidGanz. “Take it in to the shop(or do it yourself if you havethe ability). Make sure thatthe vehicle is tuned up for thecold weather, which includeschecking the tires and brakes;belts and hoses; battery andfluids (especially antifreezeand windshield fluid). You alsoneed to remember to drive forthe conditions around you.Usually this means to slowdown! Four-wheel drive will

Stay Ahead of the Cold Through Winter Preparedness

Courtesy photo

See SNOW page 9


By Sarah MarshallWRNMMC Public Affairs

staff writer

When retired Marine ser-geant Kim Hunter was diag-nosed with ovarian cancer lastyear, she said she felt hopeless,scared, and defeated – until shemet her nurse in the Hematol-ogy-Oncology Clinic at WalterReed Bethesda.

Hunter recently nominatedher nurse, Sarah Bernstein, fora DAISYAward, and on Nov. 13,Bernstein received the awardfor the month of September.The DAISY Award is presentedmonthly to a staff member whohas exhibitted extraordinarynursing care, and they may benominated by other personnelor patients. Each month, theDAISY winner receives a cer-tificate, pin and a unique, handcarved sculpture called the“Healer’s Touch,” carved fromSerpentine stone. Since Wal-ter Reed Bethesda began pre-senting the award in February2012, almost 800 nursing teammembers have been nominated.

The former Marine said,like many women diagnosedwith ovarian cancer, she first

thought her symptoms wererelated to pre-menopause orgastroenterology issues, as sheendured constant bloating, con-stipation, and heavier menstru-al cycles – but she knew some-thing was not right. Hunterunderwent further testing andon Feb. 28, 2013, learned shehad Stage 3C ovarian cancer,which meant it was at a highergrade and had started spread-ing to her lymph nodes. Sheunderwent massive surgery toisolate and remove multiple tu-mors. About three weeks later,she began chemotherapy atWalter Reed Bethesda and Ber-nstein began treating her – andlifting her spirits, she said.

Hunter explained the nurse’senergy and honesty has helpedher through this difficult jour-ney. With about 27 years of ex-perience in nursing, Bernsteinalso helped the patient under-stand her treatment, and whatto expect.

“She’s wonderful,” Huntersaid. “She doesn’t give me falsepromises, but she is alwayshelpful, and she says, ‘We’ll getthrough this.’”

Knowing Hunter likes orga-nization, the nurse gave her a

calendar, noting the dates ofher appointments. She also or-ganized her lab slips, and cre-ated a binder for the patientto keep track of the copiousamounts of information she re-ceived about ovarian cancer.

Hunter added Bernstein waspart of a team of caring nurses,and wanted to show her appre-ciation for their support. Shedid so by nominating Bernsteinfor the DAISY Award. In hersubmission, she wrote she willnever forget the moment shemet her nurse, how she maneu-vered into the room “all smilesand sunshine.”

“From the moment this nurs-ing team member entered intomy ‘Post-Cancer’ existence, Ihave never felt alone. Thisnurse has always returned myphone calls, even in the eveningand on the weekends,” Hunterwrote. “This nurse makes thecare of patients a passion. Thisnursing team member is thekind of nurse who consistent-ly goes out of the way to givea little extra to each patientand family … This nurse’s out-standing commitment to pa-

Hematology-Oncology Nurse Lifts Patient’s Spirits, Wins DAISY Award

Photo by Sarah E. Marshall

Retired Marine sergeant Kim Hunter, left, nominat-ed her nurse, Sarah Bernstein (right) for the DAISYAward. Bernstein won the September DAISY Award.“This nurse makes the care of patients a passion,”stated Hunter in her nomination of Bernstein for theaward.See DAISY page 8

By Mass CommunicationSpecialist 2nd Class

BrandonWilliams-Church

NSAB Public Affairsstaff writer

When you think of the term‘wounded warrior,’ what is thefirst image that comes to yourmind? A service member return-ing from the frontlines who losta limb, or the service memberreceiving treatment for a non-combat related traumatic braininjury (TBI)? For the majority ofAmericans, the first image is theone we would associate with theterm.

To help change thismisconcep-tion of what a wounded warrioris, the Navy Wounded Warrior- Safe Harbor program onboardNaval Support Activity Bethesda(NSAB) along with the supportof Walter Reed National MilitaryMedical Center (WRNMMC),Na-val District Washington (NDW)and other organizations on baserecently held the first familysymposium onboard NSAB to de-fine what wounded warrior reallymeans in today’s military.

“A lot of the population haschanged, in regard to having Sail-ors with Post Traumatic StressDisorder (PTSD) from differentfactors other than combat,” said

Cmdr. Dante Terronez, regionaldirector for Navy Wounded War-rior - Safe Harbor. “The [purposeof the] symposium was to help usdefine what a wounded warrioris. We had experts on PTSD, TBIand oncology, and they are deal-ing with people that typically, youcan’t see what is going on withthem. You can’t see that they area wounded warrior.One of the ex-perts likes to use the term invis-ible warrior. A lot of times whenyou see a wounded warrior youthink of the iconicWoundedWar-rior Project insignia, but what weare trying to say is ‘yes, it is that,but also it’s the service membersitting there with stage four can-cer.’ Is he any less of a woundedwarrior?

“These are the people we areserving,” Terronez emphasized.“They all deserve consideration.What’s the connotation to it?You’re thinking of the guy who’scome back from battle missinga limb, but you can also think ofthe guy coming off a fast attacksub with stage four cancer rav-aging his body. The point of thesymposium was to highlight thewounded, ill and injured, get in-formation from them and to pro-vide a venue where they feel com-fortable providing feedback. It’salso about bringing their familiesin to get their perspective.”

Highlighting the event wereguest speakers, specialists intheir respective fields of psychia-try, neuropsychology, TBIs andoncology. Also highlighting thesymposium were two panels ofNavy and Coast Guard woundedwarriors and their families. Deal-ing with different injuries, thesewounded warriors shared theirexperience in the service, howthey came to be a wounded war-rior, as well as the challenges ofbeing a wounded warrior and thehelp that they have received fromSafe Harbor.

“The symposium was notjust for people who are cur-rently wounded, ill and injuredbut for all service members, toknow that for whatever reasonyou are now ill or injured, be itfrom mountain climbing, rid-ing a bike or getting hit walk-ing across the street, to cominghome from combat or that youhave cancer, there is a programhere for you,” said Master ChiefAnthony Edwards, non-medicalcare manager for Navy Wound-edWarrior Safe Harbor (NDW).“Just the assurance of knowingthat there is a program outthere to provide non-medicalassistance will go a long way.Even as you grow in leader-ship, you can reach out to Navywounded warrior programs

that will assist. We are makinggreat progress.”

Breaking the stigma of being awounded warrior and asking forhelp was a thread that tied to-gether every panel member, andthat Safe Harbor is emphaticallytrying to reinforce.

“There was a Coast Guards-manwith a heart condition whichis driving him out the service,and when he talks about get-ting helped for being a woundedwarrior there is that stigma thatsince ‘you haven’t lost a limb,whyare you a wounded warrior?’ saidTerronez. “Having to deal withimmense challenges physicallyand their families dealing withchallenges too is something thatwe at Safe Harbor are working toalleviate,” Terronez continued.

“These people joined the ser-vice because they wanted to be apart of something bigger or theysaw something special in servingtheir country and were willingto put on that uniform and risktheir lives if they have to,” he con-tinued. “But, at the same time,the service that they are willingto dedicate so much of their livesto should be looking to help themas well and giving back to them.”

Safe Harbor intends to hold asymposium annually duringWar-rior Care Month with the prem-ise of being a part of warrior care

and to take advantage of the goalof the month: to increase aware-ness of the resources available towounded, ill and injured servicemembers, as well as their familymembers and caretakers. Withthe other activities being heldduring the month, it’s the Navywounded warrior’s aim to have asymposium and provide some ofthe latest information with thesupport of NSAB andWRNMMCand under the authority of NDW,said Terronez.

“The mission is not going togo away,” Terronez concluded.“There will always be ships atsea and you will continue to havepeople fall down a ladder well orget hit on the head with a hatchand get symptoms of a TBI. Thenon the other spectrum, you havepeople with serious illnesses,so with the wounded warriors,whether they be from the Army,Air Force, Navy, Marines or theCoast Guard, wounded warriorprograms are important for allthe services. Safe Harbor is ours.At the end of the day we’re justtrying to help out our shipmate,we’re just trying to help out ourfriend. The other side to the coinis that it could easily be us oneday. All we want to do is helppeople.”

Family Symposium Aims to Change Perception of Wounded Warriors


tients and families, as well as dedication to makingthe Walter Reed National Military Medical Center abetter place is present in every action. This nurse isthe very type of nurse the DAISY Award was createdto celebrate and acknowledge. No matter how busyit is, this nurse never forgets that I am a person withhopes, fears and desires.”

Hunter continues battling cancer, and says she con-tinues to keep a positive outlook.

“All of us have numbered days, and each day is ablessing. You should take each day and make it fulfill-

ing. I need to live those days to the fullest. One of theways [I’m doing that] is by making sure I acknowl-edge those people I care about,” Hunter said.

Upon receiving the award, Bernstein said she wassurprised. She appreciated the recognition, and hav-ing such an impact on a patient.

“It’s very humbling,” Bernstein said. “It’s been along road, and it isn’t over,” she said of Hunter’s jour-ney.

In addition to working in Hematology-Oncology,Bernstein also trains nurses to be port certified, al-lowing them to use implantable ports, placed underthe skin and used to administer chemotherapy. It alsokeeps the veins from collapsing, as they might oftendo during chemotherapy. Previously, she worked atboth the former National Naval Medical Center andformer Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Bernstein said she always seeks to educate herpatients about what they’re going through, ensuringthey understand their disease and treatment. Sheexplained ovarian cancer is often called a “silent kill-er” because it is often mistaken for menopause. Eachyear, approximately 20,000 women in the U.S. willdevelop ovarian cancer, according to the Centers forDisease Control and Prevention (CDC). All women areat risk, but about 90 percent of women who developovarian cancer are older than 40, with the greatestnumber of ovarian cancers occurring in women over60. It’s the eighth most common cancer and fifth lead-ing cause of cancer death in the US, the CDC reports.

Hunter continues to undergo chemotherapy at Wal-ter Reed Bethesda, but says she maintains a positiveoutlook thanks to her nurse. “She has really changedmy life,” she said.

DAISYContinued from pg. 7

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not do anything for you when theroads are icy and never pass a snowplow or salt spreader unless it is ab-solutely necessary. Give yourself extratime to get from point A to B and in-crease your following distance whileyou are driving.”

Along with taking these precaution-ary measures, knowing your surround-ing area’s traffic patterns, having al-ternate routes planned and keeping upon advisories is crucial when it comesto travelling in the snow, said Kunz.

“The region is pushing for people tobe 100 percent prepared for this win-ter,” said Kunz. “The key phrase to re-member is S.N.O.W. Stay off the roads,Not Out in the Weather.”

For those who take public transpor-tation, Kunz shares some sound tips.

“The Metro systems advised thatdelays will start on the rails and busroutes if we receive two to four inch-es of snow. If we receive four to eightinches, expect 15-to-30 minute delayson the rails and buses. If eight or moreinches fall, the above-ground railwayswill stop service and buses will be onemergency routes only.”

Vehicular Maintenance andPreparedness

Having your vehicle winterized

and prepared for the worst weatheris a potentially life-saving measurethat both managers highlight. Mak-ing sure your car has an emergencykit complete with blankets, a shovel,sand or kitty litter for traction, jumpercables, flashlights, extra vehicle fluids,ice scrapers, road flares, first aid kit,extra clothes and food supplies is es-sential for the extreme weather.

“Have some basic tools availableincluding pliers, a wrench (adjustabletype), screwdrivers (get one that hasinterchangeable flat and Phillips-headshafts), a funnel, duct tape, a pocketknife and some good rope,” said Ganz.“Make sure your car is cleared of snowand ice before you drive. Don’t neglectto clean the roof of your vehicle whenclearing it of snow and ice. Snow blow-ing off the roof of your car (or peelingoff in chunks or sheets) poses a haz-ard to anyone driving behind you. Ad-ditionally, people also forget to ensurethat their head lights, tail lights andbrake lights are cleared of snow andice before they drive away. Clear most(if not all) of the windows – front andrear windshields as well as side win-dows. Don’t compromise your safety orthe safety of those around you by cut-ting corners here.”

Dressing for the WeatherDressing properly for cold weather

should go without saying, but it is bet-ter to be prepared with knowledgethan to be left out in the cold duringthe extreme weather (pun intended).

Kunz advises wearing several lay-ers of loose-fitting, lightweight andwarm clothing, rather than one layerof heavy clothing. The outer garmentshould be tightly woven and water re-pellant. Wearing protective hand cov-ering, a cap and a scarf to cover yourmouth to protect your lungs is alsohelpful to keep you warm.

“Dress appropriately in layers andas you feel warm peel back a layer, soyou aren’t sweating in the cold to staydry,” said Kunz. “Stay well hydratedand watch out for hypothermia.”

“Some other things that people tendto forget or ignore include makingsure that the body is acclimatized tothe colder weather,” said Ganz. “Thisincludes taking part in winter activi-ties such as skiing, snowboarding orsledding. The first snow day of theyear often brings people out for theseactivities. If they don’t dress proper-ly or if they forget to wear gloves orthe proper footwear for the condition,they can run the risk of getting a coldweather injury or frostbite.”

Household Preparedness“Try to mitigate the chaos before the

snow comes and pre-treat your side-walks and nearby roads,” said Kunz.“As far the house, if you have oil heat,make sure you fill the tank up beforethe season; if you have a fireplacemake sure you have enough fire wood.It’s always good at the beginning ofthe season to check your spaces for airleaks and maybe do some insulating or

put the storm windows in.”Ganz further advises having flash-

lights, lanterns, working smoke de-tectors, extra batteries and candles(though never leaving any flame unat-tended).

“Find a good, old-fashioned phonethat just uses the phone jack and keepit for those times when the power goesout,” said Ganz. “At least you will stillhave the ability to communicate. Youshould have one anyway, but especial-ly at this time of the year, get a fireextinguisher and store it where it isreadily available if needed. If you havegas heating in your house, or if youhave a fireplace that you use often, ora wood burning/pellet burning stove/heater, get a carbon monoxide detec-tor. Have a fire evacuation plan andmeeting place outside of the house.Practice it. Become familiar with yourhome’s electrical panel and know howto locate and operate the main break-er in the dark. Keep some emergencycash on hand in a secure place as well.”

Being prepared for the winter canmake all the difference in survivingthe cold. Ganz and Kunz recommendall families stay ahead of the curvewhen it comes to dealing with the ex-treme weather. Making sure you havethe proper supplies, knowing the bestemergency informative options andbeing pro-active are all ways to ensurethat you and your family will havesafe and happy holidays this year.

SNOWContinued from pg. 6

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well as repair of cracks, water and airintrusion issues, and caulking, which isexpected to last until 2018, McCoy said.

Construction plans also include acovered walkway from Bldg. 62 (Tran-quility Hall) to Bldg. 19, in addition to anumber of other landscape improvementthroughout the base, McCoy continued.

He added renovation work contin-ues on Solace Hall (Bldg. 61) and isexpected to be completed in 2015.

Another planned construction proj-ect affecting many WRNMMC staffmembers and others on Naval Sup-port Activity Bethesda is the MD 355Metro crossing, a Montgomery Countyproject. The work includes a pedestri-an underpass beneath Rockville Pike(MD 355). Work will also include a sec-ond tunnel off of the mezzanine levelof the medical center metro which willgo under MD 355 and

bring passengers up on the Navyside of the highway. This project is ex-pected to begin next summer and lastapproximately two-and-a-half years,McCoy explained.

On base, construction of a new650-space parking garage is expectedto being next spring, with completionscheduled in 2016, McCoy continued.

McCoy added a Medical Center Ad-

dition and Alteration project, expectedto begin in 2017 and last until 2020,delivers 540,000 square feet of newand renovated space, primarily im-pacting Bldgs. 2, 4, 6, 7 and 8.

Following McCoy’s brief, Dr. Mar-gan Zajdowicz, incident commanderfor Ebola Preparedness at WRNMMC,discussed the medical center’s plan-ning and preparedness for EVD.The retired Navy captain explainedWRNMMC has had ongoing trainingand medical readiness exercises con-cerning EVD since August. She addedthere has been continuous educationof staff concerning EVD, most impor-tantly stressing to staff members:

• EVD can only be transmitted fromdirect contact with blood and otherbodily fluids;

• If the patient is asymptomatic,they can’t transmit the virus;

• There are no current EVD casesin U.S.; and the two cases of EVD ac-quired in the U.S. resulted in 100 per-cent survival.

“It’s becoming somewhat apparentthat if you can be cared for with thisdisease in a developed country, yoursurvivability is probably significantlybetter than in a country that unfortu-nately has diminished infrastructurefrom both the clinical care and publichealth point of view,” Zajdowicz said.

The next WRNMMC town hall meet-ings are scheduled for Dec. 9 at 7 a.m.,noon and 3:30 p.m. in Memorial Audito-rium.

TOWN HALLContinued from pg. 6

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