Vietnam vet offers support to others in pain
MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR ~ 7/28/2010

Jerry Abraham has suffered from chronic pain for most of the past 30 years.
The Vietnam Veteran, who lives in Desert Hills, leads an American Chronic Pain Association group which meets twice a month at Azools Bar and Grill, located at 3134 W. Carefree Highway.
Meetings, which take place from 6 – 7:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of every month, offer an outlet for support to members, as well a way to teach skills to help those with chronic pain cope with day-to-day situations.
“When you’re constantly dealing with pain it takes a toll,” he said. “But with this group it takes you out of always focusing inwardly. If you’re talking to other people that are struggling too, maybe offering some advice that can help them makes it so you don’t have time to feel sorry for yourself.”
While Abraham started the group with the thought of appealing to fellow veterans the free meetings are open to anybody that is a sufferer of chronic pain or is a care giver, or loved one of a sufferer.
“I’m the facilitator,” he said. “We let people start off by telling why they’ve come and we share experiences. We keep it moving so not any one person monopolizes the entire night. We want to get everybody involved.”
Abraham’s military career started when he was drafted in the Army in 1967.
“I was from Boston,” he said. “I got drafted on Friday the 13th,” he said. “That was the year the Red Sox lost in the World Series. All the way around I was not a very happy man that year.”
After going to basic training in South Carolina and advanced infantry training in California Abraham was set to be deployed to Vietnam.
Instead he was sent to Korea at the last minute, spending time in the demilitarized zone.
After serving a 14-month tour in which he was involved in sporadic combat Abraham was sent home, already dealing with some of the symptoms of the disease, Reiters Syndrome.
The symptoms can affect many different parts of the body, but most typically affect the urogenital tract, the joints, and the eyes. Less common symptoms are mouth ulcers, skin rashes, and heart-valve problems. They usually come and go over a period of several weeks to several months, but Abraham is among a small percentage of the population for which the disease because a life-long problem.
“I had chronic conjunctivitis and now I deal with macular degeneration,” he said. “I also have had bad arthritis since I was in my late 20s. I was finally diagnosed with Reiters Syndrome when I was about 32.”
Despite his diagnosis Abraham didn’t receive much in the way of assistance from the U.S. government. The Army veteran said he had to fight for 30 years before the military recognized his condition.
Abraham, who is 90 percent disabled, said one of the pushes of the American Chronic Pain Association is to encourage members to find coping methods to their condition other than an increased reliance on pain medication.
“That’s something they stress,” he said. “Yes, doctors probably can give you something to alleviate your pain, but you eventually build an immunity to it and then it requires a larger dosage to keep you pain free. Eventually you’re so heavily medicated that you can’t function. Simple things like swimming or walking can strengthen the body. Some people do yoga. If you can do some of those things to improve your strength, increase your mobility that can help you try and live as normal as a life as possible.”
Despite his ailments, which require medication twice a day and a shot once a week, Abraham said he doesn’t regret his military service.
“I’ll be honest, I was scared when I was drafted,” Abraham said. “I remember sitting in the kitchen with my best buddy and he was trying to talk me into letting him
drive me to Canada.”
A long tradition of military service in his family though kept Abraham from considering that option.
“My dad served, two of his brothers served, both of my mother’s brothers served,” he said. “I wouldn’t have been able to look any of them in the eyes if I had done that.”
Having followed in the footsteps of his father and uncles, one of which was a World War II prisoner of war, Abraham said he’ll be honored to be in the ring of honor at the Anthem Veterans Memorial when it’s completed.
“When I heard about the memorial I decided I wanted to buy a paver for my dad and both of his brothers and then one for myself,” he said. “It was only then that I found out that my wife had already bought me one, as a gift for my birthday.”
The Desert Hills resident said he plans on being in Anthem on Nov. 11, 2011 for the dedication of the memorial.
“I’m planning on bringing a handkerchief, I know that much,” he said when asked about how he might feel that day. “I’m not envious of people that didn’t serve. I know some people that didn’t go felt guilty, but if you had a deferment more power to you. It was a scary time for everybody. I can only say that anybody that ever put on a uniform is a hero in my book. You don’t know where they’re going to send you or what you might be asked to do, but I considered serving in our military an honor and a duty.”
For information about the American Chronic Pain Association meetings e-mail acpa@abrahamson.us or call 602-741-8992. For information on the Anthem Veterans Memorial go to onlineatanthem.com/anthem-veterans-memorial-donate-here.