Veteran’s Voice — Donor Outreach for Veterans (DOVE) Organ Donations

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  • Veteran's Voice — Oct. 27, 2022
    Veteran's Voice — Oct. 27, 2022
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I recently came across this organization, which facilitates kidney donations for veterans from living donors. Listed on the site were 30-plus veterans in need of kidney transplant. It is estimated that in any given year, 1,500-2,000 veterans are in need of a new kidney, and the waiting list averages from three to five years. The idea behind the organization’s mission is potential kidney donors might be more motivated to donate if they know the recipient is a military veteran. Veterans and their family have also donated kidneys to veterans through the program as well. The program works closely with Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals, where a good percentage of the veterans are under care. Currently there are sixteen VA Transplant Centers in the U.S., none in Florida. For more information on DOVE, go to https://www. dovetransplant.org/.

Additional PACT Act Toxic Exposure Information

The PACT Act, signed into law Aug. 10, 2022, expanded Veterans Affairs (VA) health care and benefits for Vietnam era Veterans. Those who served in these countries during the specific time periods below are now eligible to enroll in VA health care as of Aug. 10:

Republic of Vietnam: Jan. 9, 1962 to May 7, 1975;
Thailand (Any U.S. or Royal Thai base)- Jan.9, 1962 to June 30, 1976;
Guam or American Samoa (or in their territorial waters): Jan. 9, 1962 to July 31, 1980;
Cambodia at (Mimot or Krek, Kampong Cham Province): Jan. 1, 1972 to Sept. 30, 1977;
Laos: Dec. 1, 1965 to Sept. 30, 1969;
Johnston Atoll (or on a ship that called there): April 16-30, 1969.

More information can be found at bit.ly/3TwrGfw.

Active-Duty Military Suicides

A report recently released by the Department of Defense falls into the good news/bad news category. Military active-duty suicides were down for all branches of the military, except for the U.S. Army, in 2021. Suicides have been on an upward trend since 2011, both in the military and society in general. Approximately 200 family members commit suicide, the majority spouses. Active-duty military and families often have the resources and the close contact within military units and communities in order to combat suicide. Veteran suicide continues at crisis levels, and are often undercounted as well, a previously reported in this column. Veterans Day is to celebrate and thank living veterans, and will be observed on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022.

I always want to hear from veterans and others concerned with veterans issues, events and activities. Email me at osceolavets@ gmail.com.