Hallowed Ground and Its Healing Nature

This Sunday at St. Margaret’s Church, Annapolis, Dr. Fred Foote, the gentle but dynamic man whose brain child is the Green Road Project at the new Walter Reed National Medical Center in Bethesda, will talk about what’s planned and recite some of his award-winning poetry. Be there if you can.  Starts at 10:15 am.

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This blog has as one of its major points of departure the topic of man overpowering nature, and what means may be taken to turn the tide toward an honest understanding and renewed commitment to environmental stewardship.

Today’s post is about saving a beautiful plot of ground–now hallowed ground–where human healing will take place at the new Walter Reed medical center.  Added is a commitment to establishing scientifically recognized metrics in support of the integrative effects of nature in healing wounded and troubled warriors, and many others.

As is commonly known, the military’s recent war experiences have taught the critical lesson of immediate evacuation to nearby battlefield hospital triage, and the increasing use of multiple tourniquets at the wounding point. This knowledge saves the lives of seriously, complexly wounded service members.

So, war fighters can survive with greater injury than before. A number of these Wounded Warriors with multiple physical injuries have even worse conditions: traumatic brain injury and PTSD. A large number of them are treated at the new Walter Reed medical center.

As a result of a two-part Washington Post expose of the old Walter Reed back in February, 2007 that embarrassed national government leaders–who could no longer run from the “suck it up” post-its for deplorable building conditions (cockroaches and black mold) and highly inefficient healthcare (too many forms and dysfunctional delivery) for wounded active duty military and vets–the base was closed.

The new Walter Reed, relocated from DC to Bethesda is a turn-around at numerous levels. For one, many of the Warriors now live in well designed, healthy buildings with spacious apartment-like units including room for a loved one to comfortably live-in. Two of the larger of these are located at either end of the Project, and will be linked by a 7′-wide, 2,000′ long wheel-chair-friendly asphalt path through the Green Road.

A small but tenacious group of individuals and non-profit organizations have coalesced to protect, restore and enhance 2 acres of wooded, natural ravine-like land alongside Stone Creek amidst the overall 243 acres of hospital complex.

The Green Road Project will annually serve as a point of integrative healthcare delivery to over 1,000 patients, including the largest population of military amputees, residing in 400 long-term units in residential facilities on-campus or in out-patient rehab.

The Green Road will be a place of connection, as described by its nonprofit sponsor, the Baltimore-based Institute for Integrative Health (the Institute). As it points out, fallen trees will remain as symbols of lost comrades; and nature’s new beginnings. Wounded Warriors will gather to gain greater resiliency by being and communing with one another as surviving brothers and sisters and with other loved ones in a place of natural beauty and rhythms.

The Institute and its research and funding partners, including the Consortium for Health and Military Performance (CHAMP), The Benson-Henry Institute and Nature Sacred (TKF Foundation), will study the healing effects of Warriors spending time in the natural environment of the Green Road.

One initial investigation, according to the Institute will focus on the effects of longer visits in the Green Road and to its Commemorative Pavilion. Biomarkers worn by volunteers will be be analyzed for quantitative results showing a natural setting’s impact on human healing of the most challenging sort.

Goal is for proved integrative treatment modalities for treating traumatic brain injury and PTSD to routinely complement conventional medical organ-by-organ approaches.

Here’s a concept of what the Green Road Project may look like when completed. Small-scale commemorative and communal pavilions will be appropriately added to the land at a couple of places. There will also be a council ring for story-sharing. And, restoration of the adjacent stream-bed. There will be walking paths, simple arbors and permanent benches to promote meditation, reflection and quiet tribute. More notable even may be the amount of land left in its natural state–hallowed ground for more complete healing.

More on Dr. Foote’s Medic Against Bomb: A Doctor’s Poetry of War can be found here.