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I got medically retired from the
marine corps because of
the Crohn's disease and during
that process it was a several
months
long process and it is scary
because you need to know that
you're going to be medically
taken care of. I'm really proud
that I served and that I earned
these benefits,
especially using health care at
Bay Pines
I actually chose to live in the
Tampa Bay area because of
the quality of the Bay Pines
Healthcare System. It was one of
the biggest deciding factors in
choosing a region to live.
I could have chosen anywhere in
the country,
but I chose the
Saint Petersburg area because
of Bay Pines. I'm passionate
about science, especially
anything to do with the ocean
so even though I have
a disability, I decided that I
wanted to pursue
that and pursue a career path in
marine science.
Crohn's disease, when it's
managed, has minimal impact
on my life,
but when I'm having a flare up
it can really
decrease the amount that I'm
available to work. It makes it
so that I can't do travel it
makes it so that any field work
that I can do is limited because
I have to have
access to a restroom.
I might need to be
closer to doctors to go to
appointments more frequently.
I have to be in the area to get
my infusions.
So those are some of the things
that have
Crohn's can impact as far as
getting a career.
But I'm still passionate about
science and I still love the
ocean.
And getting treatment for
Crohn's disease is the only way
to get it under control and to
make sure that you can live
your best quality of life. I've
had great success at Bay Pines
with coordinating
between multiple different
providers, multiple different
offices, the surgery clinic,
the GI clinic, the infusion
clinic,
hematology, all making sure that
I get the treatment that I need.
Once I check into the infusion
clinic, a nurse comes and gets
me and bring me back.
They set me up in a chair. They
make sure that I'm comfortable.
They put an IV in
and get my medication ready.
Some of things they do to make
sure that I'm comfortable
include; getting me a blanket if
it's cold in here,
they bring me drinks, they'll
bring snacks,
they basically make sure your
taken care of and comfortable
because sometimes you're sitting
for three to four hours
in the chair getting an
infusion.
So COVID-19 is really
taken away a lot from Veterans
as well as other people,
but it kind of took away
celebrating things that are
important to them.
so when Ms. Bales came in for
her infusion,
we got to talking about the lack
of graduation ceremony
that would take place
so we came up with the idea of
hosting one when she came back
for her next visit and she was
all for it.
When I talk to the nurses in
the fusion clinic, they always
ask questions about my life so
they found out that I was
graduating and they asked
questions about
my commencement ceremony. They
knew from their own experiences
and their own children that many
people weren't graduating
in 2020. We weren't able to
take the stage and get our
diplomas.
so they decided that they were
gonna throw me a commencement.
When they told me I
didn't know if,
I didn't know how big a deal
they were going to make of it.
They said bring my cap and gown
and they said they
were gonna watch a video of
a commencement speech
but they really made it special.
Ms Bales, she's been
a patient here at Bay Pines
for quite awhile and
so we've tried to get close
with our patients. We
find out, you know, a little bit
about them and talk with them
when they're here for their
infusions and so we found out
she was graduating
and she told us that
she wasn't going to be
able to have a ceremony.
So we all got together and we
just we thought well this just
have one for her.
So we knew when she was going to
be here next
and we asked her if she would
bring her cap and gown.
and we said, you know, we'd just
like to do something for you.
[Bales] They met me when I
checked in
in the lobby and they walked me
down the hallway playing
the commencement music.
We got into the infusion clinic.
They were able to
read a ceremony for me.
They had, one of the
nurses wore a gown and cap
So she was our dean
we also had
cupcakes. They gave
me a mock up diploma since
I wasn't able to get my real
one.
[background] Congratulations!
[background] We're very proud of
you!
The staff have been great here.
They really care about me. I
really encourage people to come
get the care that they need and
they're gonna get high quality
of care at Bay Pines.
I like to say that I'm really
proud to have graduated from
the University of Tampa. I feel
like the marine science program
is of really high quality
program
and I'm proud to have worked
with the people that I worked
with. I'm proud to have
met the staff and the faculty
and been able to
complete my degree program
there.
With my degree from the
University of Tampa,
I would love to work with
wetlands and wetland management
in Florida, especially in the
Tampa Bay area.
The areas had a great success
with some programs and
rehabilitation and I'd love to
be a part of that.
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