Transitions

A COLLECTION OF LIFE-CHANGING EVENTS

EXPENSIVE UNITED STATES HURRICANES WAR OF THE MIND

By KADYN WESTON

A Vietnam veteran’s account of living after the war with PTSD

EXTRAORDINARY LIFE

By KENDRICK LAM The story of a young Vietnamese woman who left her country at age 14 due to the war

CANCEL CANCER

By CAROLINA GOKINGCO

Learn how the burden of cancer affected three different families

Graphic by Kadyn Weston

“

THE PROCESS OF CHANGING FROM ONE STATE TO ANOTHER.

“

5MOST

THE STORM OF THE DECADE

By RYAN RUSSO

The narrative of a family in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Katrina

A MOTHER’S JOURNEY

By TAYO EZEKOYE

A young Nigerian’s journey to America with her family

TABLE of

contents

08 EXTRAORDINARY 16LIFE CANCEL CANCER 22THE STORM OF A 30DECADE A MOTHER’S 36

WAR OF THE MIND The effect of the Vietnam War on two soldiers

A woman’s journey from Vietnam to the US.

The toll cancer takes on three different victims.

A story about a family affected

by Hurricane Katrina in 2005

JOURNEY

A Nigerian woman’s dream of a better future.

TRANSITIONS

Photo courtesy of Patrick Tomasso

6

FROM THE EDITORS D

ear readers,

It happens to everyone. Thrust into a new school, a new job, general shocking bombardments of the brain that leaves it whimpering “I want to go back to the way things were.” But this newness, these changes, are humankind’s very way of life.

This concept is one our team is all too familiar with. We each had very different ideas on what this magazine would be about, and it seemed that there was no way to make our creation cohesive. But we were able to adapt to adversity and change our ideas to create a successful magazine: one that documents how change can contain charm in its struggles.

We at Transitions Magazine created this magazine with the knowledge that the world is forever changing. It fluctuates between beauty and sadness, but both are always occurring. As observers of this, we realize that both are important parts of life and we wanted to show this to the world. From our magazine, a small window into the torrents of change is opened.

It is our hope that the stories of change will let our readers better appreciate the little alterations within their own life as it has with ours.

Sincerely, The Editors

CONTRIBUTORS Kadyn is a participant in the LASA German Club and a player on the LBJ Girl’s Freshman Basketball Team. In the rare occasions she has free time, Kadyn enjoys drawing, reading and playing with her younger siblings.

Ryan Russo plays the trumpet for the LBJ marching band. He also participates in the LASA Latin Club and Quiz Bowl Club.

When he is not doing homework or staying after school for band, he enjoys sleeping, playing video games, and playing outside.

Carolina Gokingco is a staff writer on the school paper, The Liberator. She has a younger sister and older brother. She plays the piano and guitar.

In her free time, she likes to watch movies and play board games with her family and friends, from which she derived inspiration for the feature she wrote.

Tayo Ezekoye a freshman at LASA. He plays on the LBJ basketball team. He enjoys hanging out with his friends and spending time with his family.

He has one younger brother and an older sister who also attends LASA. His grandmother immigrated from Nigeria to the United States. He wanted to understand her dream of a better future so he decided to write about her story.

Kendrick Lam is a freshman at LASA. In his free time, he likes to hang out with friends and family, play video games, travel, and learning about his family’s past. His aunt escaped Vietnam at the age of fourteen to ensure a brighter future for the coming generations. Her story made him grateful for what he has today, and his eagerness to learn about his family made him the perfect writer for one of the articles in this magazine.

7

Photo by Jacob Valerio

WAR MIND of the

BY KADYN WESTON

8

The effect of the Vietnam War on two American Soldiers.

T

he Vietnam War started in 1965 when the United States first entered the country of Vietnam. 58,220 US soldiers died in the Vietnam war. That’s 58,220 graves, 58,220 families broken, and millions of tears shed. Even those who survived were changed forever.

This war was more than just statistics. Soldiers Ron L. Weston and Robert E. Dingeman participated in the Vietnam War. It was tragic on all fronts. Massive both emotionally and physically, and the war’s effects lingered longer than its end.

Ron Weston led quite the interesting life in the brief time between his services in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

“My reason for reenlisting was to get out of Arizona where the district attorney told me he was going to try and send me to the state prison at Florence, Arizona,” Weston said.

He had been put in jail, along with his friends, for fighting with

people who insulted them, mostly in racist comments towards his friends of Yaqui Indian descent.

Even with the unorthodox conditions of his rejoining the army, Weston took his job seriously. He had to take 20 draft dodgers on a train to Fort Lewis Washington State, and he didn’t budge on any terms.

“The conductor wanted to mix those dirty draft dodgers in with the other passengers, and I told him these guys would all be put in on the same coach with no other passengers allowed, and if he didn’t comply the army would take over the train,” Weston said.

Draft dodgers were people eligible for the draft but shirked their duty and illegally avoided the draft. It turns out the army was a good thing for at least one of the former dodgers; he came to thank Ron for his new life with clean sheets and running water.

“I never expected one of them to say that,” Weston said.

After first joining the army or reenlistment following a long leave of absence, one must go through training of high caliber.

Sadly, one of Weston’s friends was terribly injured during his retraining procedure. The exercise was for him to crawl under concertina wire while live machine guns fired over him.

A scorpion startled the trainee,

causing him to stand during the exercise, which resulted in both of his legs being damaged beyond repair.

“I visited him in the hospital...I calmed him down but had to leave before I started bawling too,” Weston said.

Weston didn’t stay in one place very long though; he was transferred to Fort Hood after promotion to Corporal, and was put in a unit of the 1st Armored Division.

“The Major really straightened out the unit I was in. The unit I was in was the worst, but getting better thanks to this Major, but not fast enough because the Commanding General kept us constantly in the field and mud.” Weston said.

After weeks of crawling in the dirt, he decided he wanted to put his skills to use in the war.

After arrival in Vietnam he was appointed to the position of Radio Teletype Operator, a very dangerous position because enemies would try to shoot at them in order to cut off the squad’s communication with their leader, using their iconic antennalike wires to target them.

“Our average life expectancy is three minutes. A marine who lives next door asked me how I stayed alive so long, and I told him I just fastened longer antennas on 9

WAR OF THE MIND everyone else’s backs,” Weston said.

Weston was stationed. Along with manning the communications, Weston was a reconnaissance unit just below the demilitarized zone (DMZ) before his promotion.

The DMZ is a combat-free area

“War consists of brief periods of boredom with longer periods of pure hell,” said Weston, “At first we had a few brief periods of boredom but it soon changed to almost constant combat.”

One battle looked as bleak as his life expectancy, but Weston’s positive attitude helped him through once more. He had been The combat was promoted to brutal in every sergeant at regard. One major this time. The battle was the Big Major told Tet Offensive of them they were 1968. The North completely Vietnamese and surrounded by the US arranged a 5 over-strength truce agreement for divisions the observation of of North the lunar new year.

Vietnamese However, the North Troops (about Vietnamese Army 75,000 men launched a major total). The attack on every good news was front available that there were to them and about 2,400 devastated the US Army and and South Vietnam Marine troops armies instead available. of honoring the The situation truce. In Weston’s looked Ron Weston(right) as a Radio Teletype Operator in combat. He relays important messages to his squadron. case, the NVA desolate to most Photo courtesy of USMC/Combat Helicopter and Tiltrotor Association secretly took over everyone. between two armies in most a checkpoint that a truck which “My new platoon leader didn’t cases, but the North Vietnamese many of his platoon members have the good sense to keep his Army created a path to distribute were in was supposed to arrive at. voice down and it was irritating supplies and troops to the Viet The NVA unit opened fire, tearing the others,” Weston said. “When Cong in the south, the Viet apart the truck driver’s legs and he asked, ‘What’s he trying to Cong being the rebel group that a radio operator was shot with a tell us,’ I blurted out that he was supported the North during round through the head. telling us how lucky we were. Then “He had just gotten a picture of his he asked, ‘What do you mean?’ I “Our average life wife holding two twin girls that shouted real loud, ‘We have more expectancy is three he had never seen,” Weston said, targets than they do.’ Everybody “When I heard what happened, I laughed and the Major said, ‘Sgt. minutes.” couldn’t help but cry.”

Weston you sure have a way with the war. The US and South words.’”

Vietnamese armies combatted this The truck driver survived by by setting up bases throughout crawling into the nearby bunker, The war wasn’t all fun and games the DMZ zone.

There were many but he couldn’t save the South due to the imminent danger intense conflicts there.

Vietnamese civilians who were surrounding the base at which Cpl 10

KADYN WESTON | TRANSITIONS 2015 shot by the NVA then buried in a mass grave; some of which were still alive and suffocated under the earth.

all that smell?’ Someone told him, ‘You’ll get used to it after a while,’ but he was too busy throwing up. They finally changed our position.”

overhead, but he made it in safely.

Weston found his platoon leader kneeling on the ground, tremors racking his body and tears streaming down his face.

There were many casualties for both “War consists of brief periods of boredom “He told the Weston’s platoon and Commanding Officer with longer periods of pure hell.” for the US army as a and Major, ‘I can’t take whole. Casualties and this. Please get me out of The discomfort was more than dead count were so high the Navy here; Sgt Weston can handle the a physical ailment.

Sgt Weston’s A-med (field hospital) had to stack platoon.’ They turned to the 1st platoon leader had been missing their overflow dead outside.

Sergeant for confirmation: ‘He has since the attack on the truck.

“After a while in that hot sun, the been all along,’ he said.”

When he gave this information bodies would bloat and the smell Even though the platoon leader along with the status report, blew right through our position,” was replaced, Weston’s troubles he was ordered to come to the Weston said, “We had a new were far from over. command post. The path to the replacement come in and it was Not a week later he was thrown chow time and we were all eating. post was under constant enemy, about 30-35 feet by a 122mm rockets and mortars burned He asked, ‘How can you eat with

This is the Navy A-Med hospital near where Weston was stationed. They saved many lives here. Photo courtesy of USMC/Combat Helicopter and Tiltrotor Association

11

WAR OF THE MIND rocket. Luckily, it hit in loose, sandy soil so the shrapnel went up and didn’t hit him, and his landing was somewhat cushioned. Even more fortunately there was a Navy Corpsman (medic) near him. But when they got to the bunker Weston couldn’t hear a thing. The medic checked his ears and wrote a note that said Weston’s ears had reacted fast, so he was perfectly healthy.

“I believed him for many years,” Weston said.

But the true extent of his injuries became known in the period of January 1990 to August 1990 after he’d returned home.

Weston awoke one morning and couldn’t stand. Pain racked his body while he struggled into some pants. After waiting until doctor offices would be open, he crawled to his car and barely managed to sit in the driver’s seat.

inside. He then took several x-rays home, as there was nothing the of my back and finally came out chiropractor could do. Luckily, and real loudly asked, ‘How in Weston suffered no more pain. hell have you even been walking?” Sgt Weston, along with many Weston said. other soldiers, finally returned home for good in 1972, when the US army started pulling out its troops in defeat, but the return wasn’t anything close to a warm welcome. The war inspired widespread dissent from those against violence, those against the draft, and those who saw the media’s display of the war.

“People would spit at us, throw trash at us, cuss us, and all that. They even called us baby killers.”

The term ‘baby killers’ the troops liked to befriend the children by giving them chewing gum. The Viet Cong took Ron and Suk Weston at their new house inArlginton advantage of that and 16 years after the end of the war. Courtesy photo would take a Vietnamese family that had children, and when some Weston had split his vertebra troops came in sight they’d put vertically from the fall caused by explosives on the children and the rocket more than 20 years “I had to get it in neutral and let tell them to go and ask for some prior.

This injury incapacitates it coast down the street; it would gum, and when they did, to pull have hurt too much to start a cord. They also told them the engine and have to shift “People would spit at us, throw if they didn’t pull the cord and brake,” he said. d shoot their parents. The trash at us. They even called us they’ G. I.’s caught on fast, so when He stopped at the first doctor baby killers.” a kid came running toward office he rolled to, which them they had no choice but happened to be a chiropractor, the typical individual. It seemed to shoot them. The media only climbed out, and started crawling. impossible that the effects of his documented the shooting of the rough landing would only come “One of [the chiropractor’s] children, framing the army for to light now. Weston received assistants spotted me and they got murder. Eventually a reporter electrical treatment and was sent me on a stretcher and carried me decided to investigate and show 12

KADYN WESTON | TRANSITIONS 2015 the whole story, but the treatment of the soldiers in the past still lingers.

for a while. But we were more happy he was home,” said Gaye Dingeman, his wife.

“I am very disturbed at the lack of support and understanding of the dedicated service of the Vietnam Veterans that still goes on,” says Col. Robert E. Dingeman, who served as such in the Vietnam War. “They did so in spite of negative publicity.

Frankly I wore my uniform and all my decorations proudly.”

Reflexes aside, Dingeman suffered

war.

“His coming home was difficult for our children; it was worrying

It didn’t take the psychiatrist long to record his diagnosis. Weston told him of other harrowing

events, each prompting a stronger reaction than the last. After telling the psychiatrist about a rocket killing many of his friends, the member of his platoon losing both his legs, and the necessary killing of exploited children, he knelt on the floor and shook with sobs.

It seemed impossible for experiences of this grievous nature to just be forgotten.

All was not hopeless though.

Both went on to happy lives.

Weston and Dingeman both readjusted to civilian life; Dingeman, being a colonel, Weston moved to Texas after was very high up on the marrying his wife, and they chain of command, making had a child. Weston is now many major decisions. a grandfather and maintains “I was politically criticized his positive outlook on life Bob and Gaye Dingeman enjoying retirement 35 years after his by some for expanding the despite his past. Dingeman decomission. Photo coutresy Olan Mills. war and not helping to win built up his community and the war, when I made the no long term mental ailments. aided it in any way he could, executive decision to wipe out the Weston, however, was not so eventually earning the title of Mr. NVA major combat supply base. lucky. The pain and loss of friends Scripps Ranch, Scripps Ranch I stopped being promoted and we was a great emotional burden for being his neighborhood, and lost the war.” him, and still is today. He was had an elementary school named after him. The children embody Political leaders made uninformed diagnosed with PTSD after his discharge. the pride and joy of America that decisions like this in history their namesake soldier didn’t get as well. Dingeman, along with “When I told the psychiatrist to experience in his homecoming thousands of other soldiers, was about the young radio operator from Vietnam. sent into the Korean war with I couldn’t help it and began to minimal training.

“To see 900 kids stand up and cry,” Weston said. “I told him wave the flags they made... it about my efforts to find his wife “The politicians and lousy generals really touched this old soldier,” or his daughters, all of which made it difficult for us soldiers.

Dingeman said. failed. It was as if they had totally We were sent in short handed.” disappeared. The psychiatrist said, Dingeman said.

As awful as the Vietnam War was, ‘It seems you did everything you The return home for both men both the soldiers and the country could so just let it go. ’ That made was difficult. Dingeman’s children were able to grow and find joy had to be careful when awakening me angry and I actually yelled at once more. him, ‘Damn it, how can I when it him so they wouldn’t trigger was my fault for letting him go.’” violent reactions taught by the

13

VIETNAM WA

“War of the Mind� gave an in-depth lo on the world. By the Numbers display

9,087,000 milit 3,403,100 serv 7484 Approximately helicopters

12,000

helicopterssaw action in Vietnam

women served in Vietnam

58,220

US soldiers died

10,786 were non hostile

20 million

gallons of herbicide was sprayed over

6 million acres of South Vietnam by the US

Graphics by Kadyn Weston

$770 billion was the total cost of

the war after inflation

AR BY THE NUMBERS

ook into the life of a soldier, and now it’s time to zoom out and look at the Vietnam War’s effect ys a statistical overview of the Vietnam War Era

By Kadyn Weston

tary personsel were on active duty ved in Southeast Asia 2/3 of the men who served were volunteers

7.5 million tons of bombs and other ordnance were dropped on North and South Vietnam

91% of Vietnam Veterans say they are glad they served

500,000

677,000 Tons of rice were lost to Vietnam because of the bombs and herbicide.

children were born in South Vietnam with dioxin-related deformities

EXTRAORDINARY LIFE

EXTRAORDINARY life

BY KENDRICK LAM

A woman’s journey from Vietnam to the US.

T

he Vietnam War started on Nov. 1, 1955, and “When I first found out there were plans in the work ended on April 30, 1975. When the North for me to be ‘smuggled’ out, I was excited as I was took over Saigon, citizens of Vietnam pangoing to somewhere else,” My Ha said, who was 14 icked, in rush to try to escape the country before it when she was forced to leave her home. would be implemented under complete control of Her parents took her to a port in Saigon and were the North government. Those who could not escape sad to let her go on a trip that wasn’t with them. in time were left in despair, under communist conShe was going to live without her parents for who trol. knows how “If I ever see my family again, I will be more Most wanted to long. They escape Vietnam understanding, more forgiving, and more selfless.” wouldn’t have after the war. the slightest of Family members were constantly sent out to attempt clues whether their daughter was alive or not. to reach Malaysia. Imagine if you had to leave your On the boat, along with her aunt and uncle, there family, friends, and home to go on a boat, relying on were also strangers with the same purpose as them. a small chance you reach shore of another country or There was no such thing as personal space. Food and get picked up by a shipping boat? water was scarce, because of the large numbers of

This is a picture of My Ha and her brothers and sisters during their childhood in Vietnam (Pictured 3rd from left). Photo courtesy: Kendrick Lam.

16

KENDRICK LAM | TRANSITIONS 2015 people.

“There were about 10 different families under one roof. Our beds [were]about waist high. The posts [were]made of big tree branches we cut. Then we tied smaller branches and lay on top, then a plywood over it. One long bed was shared by about 15 people,” she said.

The North Vietnamese Government was communist, making life in Vietnam after the war incredibly difficulty. Communism involves two different social groups. The “working class,” and the “capitalist class.”

The working class was mostly made up of citizens who sided with the South, and the capitalist was entirely the North. This caused a widespread of poverty in Vietnam. People were going days without meals, and only one pair of clothing for years for those in the working class of Vietnam.

The North Government slowly took everything from them. The government sent those who posed as a threat, i.e. people who knew too much, to brainwashing camps.

Victims stayed in the camp for approximately three years to 10 years, sucking out the youth out of the currently educated generation. The communist government caused many deaths, solely because they wanted to ensure that they were the only ones with power in their hands. - This prompted many citizens to flee the country on boats. My Ha’s family was forced into the working class of Vietnam. Dinh Lam, sister of My Ha was living in Vietnam until the mid 90’s.

“Living condition(s) in Vietnam

Map of Southeast Asia . Photo courtesy: CIA World Factbook.

were so bad for everyone for about a decade; everything was totally controlled by the government; there was no freedom at all, even though banners everywhere [stated,]‘Nothing is valuable as freedom,’” Dinh Lam said.

With all the terrible conditions in Vietnam, there was still an even greater risk in trying to escape by boat. There were pirates traveling the seas, harsh storms, and death by health issues like dehydration and exhaustion.

“I could die like many. One of our cousins did not make it, or I could be stuck in some refugee camp or get caught and put [in a] labor camp,” My Ha said. Exhaustion, fierce storms, or being caught by the government could cause death. “While we were at sea heading to Hong Kong, there

was a big storm so we had to turn around. We [could]either head back to shore or head to another direction, Malaysia, but we [knew] we [would]run out of fuel. Decision [made by the captain and some adults decided [that] we should chance it and head to Malaysia. We did run out of fuel and floated at sea until a Holland merchant ship found us and pulled us to Malaysia,” she said.

There were two major refugee camps in helping Vietnamese escapees. One in Malaysia called Bidong Island, and another in Indonesia called Galang. In 1979, Bidong Island held over 40,000 citizens who came by boat from Vietnam. When the numbers grew too large, resources became divided into small portions. Due to the large number of people 17

EXTRAORDINARY LIFE escaping, the Geneva Convention was held on July 1979, to stop the large flow of citizens leaving Vietnam by boat. Soon, previous U.S. President Jimmy Carter, allowed refugees to come over to the United States, which lead to other countries to follow in similar footsteps in helping the citizens.

This lowered the population on Bidong Island greatly.

My Ha was extremely lucky.

Around 70 percent of people who traveled by boat from Vietnam died. Upon reaching the boat, she was sent to Malaysia. She stayed there for about ten months at a refugee camp, until an Austin Church member had sponsored her to come over to the United States. Coming to the United States was challenging, as My Ha had no understanding of English, making it hard for her to communicate. If she needed help, she couldn’t get it and had to learn to be independent in order to prosperous.

Being sent out from the refugee camps was a gift from God, but it sent family members, and friends across the world. Some refugees were sent to European countries such as Switzerland and France, and others to the United States and Australia. By 1995, 480,000 refugees came to the United States.

“This was a big adjustment. Some days, it was very tough, from learning to live with my aunt and uncle and cousin for the first time, to going to school in the U.S., learning new way of life. There were many memorable events that 18

My Ha and other immigrants had to board a boat similar to this one. Photo by: VRROOM.

happened. Some were good, some were bad, and some were plain silly because of the different cultures, but all of which made me the person I am today,” she said.

Upon reaching the United States, My Ha and immigrants like her had to wait a certain amount of time in order to bring her direct family (mom, dad, brothers and sisters) from Vietnam to the United States.

Luckily, she had a great host fam-

ily to help get her through college. Not letting her be alone on holidays, getting her through high school and college. They helped get her into a safe status, so that her family could come with some kind of a base to start their future.

If she didn’t have them, it would have been a crowded family with hardly any income. It would be like living in Vietnam without the communist government.

After 13 years of living by herself, her family was going to be re-

KENDRICK LAM | TRANSITIONS 2015 had to put time in study language.

I spent time to learn about traffic law to get my driver’s license. I read newspaper ads to find a job.

There were so many basic things that I had to learn to integrate myself into this great society,” Kelvin Lam said.

My Ha with her friends and family in 2007 (farthest right). Photo courtesy: Kendrick Lam.

united. Her family was allowed to come over from Vietnam. Strong feelings of happiness and relief were exposed after not being a whole for more than a decade.

his family. They also studied hard at school and worked a side-job.

“My daily schedule was pretty full; it started from 6:00 in the morning, getting up to go to school all the way [until] 2:00 in the afternoon. I then went to work from 3:00 PM to 11:30

Their hard work paid off. My Ha, Kelvin and Dinh Lam were successful in getting an education and a job. All three became engineers and produced enough income to give their children futures that would have seemed nearly impossible to have in the first place, without all of the struggles and hard times.

“They (were) all are ambitious The road down life was difficult to and quickly got on their own feet, deal with for people living in Vietgot a job, started back at school. nam. They had to endure things Over time, we that most reestablished “I never spent a holiday by myself. They always invited ordinary our bonds as me to their houses or grandparents’ houses for holidays. person a family,” said would I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Ha. “Actunormally ally I was so not do. My happy when I met my sister at Ha understood what was needed PM. That schedule went on the airport. When we got to her in order to create a better life for for 7 years from 1992 till 1999 house, it was after 9PM and we her family and committed to what when I finally got l my B.S dekept talking until past midnight, it gree in Electrical Engineering at some couldn’t even bear to think seemed like nobody was tired after about doing. Escaping her home UT Austin,” said Kelvin Lam. the long trip from Thailand to the and not getting caught was a U.S,” said Lam. Immigrants who came from challenge itself, but living without Vietnam were not even close to The family was extremely happy, her family and trying to build a having an enjoyable time when but also poor. The need for a job successful life in the United States they first came to the United was high. All members enrolled was much more difficult. But the States. They all had a plan and into Austin Community College price to pay was underwhelming a goal to be successful enough and took small jobs to temporarcompared to the reward. to ensure prosperity for generaily pay for essentials.They later “If it had not happened, we all tions to come. Members were attended the University of Texas to will probably still be in Vietnam. motivated by their dreams of get their degrees, so they could get We would not have the families having a family and being suca job that paid well to help supwe have today. Everything would cessful. port the family. They weren’t the [have] turned out different[ly],” only family either with the same “I didn’t have much time to Ha said. purpose. Kelvin Lam, who came enjoy just first years but first 10 to the United States in 1992 with years when I arrived in US. I

19

EXTRAORDINARY Vietnam War Begins November 1, 1955

My Ha is picked up by boat after a storm and is taken to Bidong Island 6 months after leaving Vietnam.

My Ha is sponsored by a family in the U.S. and leaves Bidong Island 10 months after being rescued.

My Ha’s family is finally allowed to come over to the United States.

1991

My Ha graduates from the University of Texas December 1998

TIMELINE Americans begin to move troops out 1973-1975

Vietnam War Ends April 30, 1975

My Ha escapes Vietnam with hopes of a better future.

1978

My Ha graduates from highschool.

1984

My Ha and her family.

November 2015

Information Courtesy: http://thevietnamwar.info/when-did-the-vietnamwar-start/ http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixondeclares-vietnam-war-is-ending

PHOTO COURTESY OF Виталий Смолыгин

CAN CEL

BY CAROLINA GOKINGCO

CANCER

The toll cancer takes on three different families.

E

veryone knows about cancer, whether they know about someone who has dealt with it, read a book or an article, watched a movie, seen it on social media, or learned about it in school. Since everyone can relate to cancer in some way, shape or form, it’s no surprise the very topic of cancer itself is sensitive, widely-discussed, and has caused massive amounts of tears of sorrow and joy. Every day, scientists continually look for cures; doctors continually treat patients; and people continually

suffer from this horrific disease.

Although there are hundreds of thousands of cases of cancer in the world, no story is identical, and all are consistently inspiring.

According to the National Cancer Institute, in 2015 alone, there’s an estimate of 133,000 new colon cancer cases this year and an estimated 50,000 deaths, which ranks colon as the fourth most common cancer type. Susan Duhon, for instance, was diagnosed with colon cancer on Nov. 22, 2013, at St. David’s

Medical Center in Austin, Texas, after receiving a colonoscopy.

“I had no symptoms that I was aware of, but I'm not very knowledgeable medically,” Duhon said. “I really did not know what to look for. I was very tired all that time, so I went to my doctor and found out that I was extremely anemic and was bleeding internally.”

The doctors recommended a colonoscopy, which is a test that allows doctors to find anomalies in the intestines. A small video

CANCEL CANCER

The doctors at St. David’s Medical Center suspected cancer after Duhon showed up very tired and anemic.“Emergency Sign at Hospital” photo by Paul Brennan

camera enables them to look at the inner lining of the large intestines.

To prepare for a colonoscopy, the patient has to clean out their colon, called “colon preparation,” which can take up to two days. On the 11th of November, the doctors discovered a cancerous tumor, and the next day, Duhon had surgery at Texas Oncology to remove the tumor and additional lymph nodes to check for cancer. “They removed 22 [lymph nodes],” Duhon said. “The bad news [was] one was cancerous, the good news [was] only one was cancerous.”

Although they had gotten all the cancer, the surgeon recommended chemotherapy, which is the treatment of cancer with the use of medicines, chemicals and drugs to keep the cancer from coming back. Starting from Jan. 2014, Duhon went through six months 24

of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy comes with many side effects, the most common being fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, stomach pain, and even permanent nerve damage.

“Having cancer made me more aware of my body and watch for signs of anything wrong,” she said.

“I started [to] keep in touch with my doctors if I felt something was wrong. I learned that you really “While I was on chemo, I was a little tired, especially the days I took should listen when your body is the [medicine],” she said. “Also, [I] trying to tell you something.” couldn't touch or eat anything cold As much of a negative thing because it would cause a burning cancer is, its lasting effects on sensation. I would get my chemo Duhon turned out to be and the type I had to take also in- surprisingly positive. For instance, cluded a take-home pump.” dealing with cancer enabled Duhon to focus more on herself, The doctors connected a portable pump to Duhon that she’d have to emotionally, physically and spiritually. She relied on religion take home with her for 36 hours.

The pump was small, worn on the and cherished family and friends more than ever before. hip, and had a tube that pumped chemo through a port in her chest.

After those two years, the doctors told her to get bloodwork done every three months to check for cancer.

“Big C (cancer) actually strengthened my faith in God and made me depend on Him more,” Duhon said. “It made me appreciate my family [and

CAROLINA GOKINGCO | TRANSITIONS 2015 friends], and I realized even more how very much I love all of them, [how thankful I am of them,] and how very important they are to me. I treasure every day I have with them.”

Although she went through a terrifying experience, Duhon luckily hasn’t had any limitations on her activities due to cancer.

Removing the cancerous part of

deadliest diseases, and even today, scientists struggle trying to find one, simple answer to get rid of it completely.

Stephanie Gokingco, just recently lost a loved one to cancer earlier Family, faith, friends, and a “Laughter is important and of this year. Her uncle, Wilkie Sia, passed away from lung cancer sense of humor kept her course, the tears. ” at age 65, June 2015. At the going, especially through time, he had been living in Vanthe hardest parts of the illness. her colon, luckily, didn’t affect her couver. “[Without] my sons, Damien abilities to do certain things. In “He had a wife, three children and and William, their wives and my fact, she said that she hadn’t even one daughter-in-law. He had four grandchildren, there would have noticed it missing at all! On July grandkids, and I’m sure they were been no reason to fight this in9, 2015, two years after her last all devastated,” Gokingco said. sidious disease!” Duhon said. “My chemo, her oncologist declared friends, especially Mary [helped her cancer-free.

Lung cancer is the 2nd most me get through this difficult time.] common cancers, and it’s “My first response was, ‘Thank Also lots of prayers from family primarily linked to smoking, you, God,’” Susan Duhon said. and friends and my church friends which is why Sia’s case was Not everyone is as lucky. Cancer sending prayers up for me. It unexpected. He was not a smoker, is the cause of 7.6 million deaths really does help to also have a but after being in remission for every year worldwide. The amount positive attitude; laughter is two years, it came back and spread important and of course, the tears. of grief caused throughout the to his liver. Although it had been I feel tears cleanse the soul. It may “My first response was, almost 20 years since Gokingco seem strange that I listed laughter, was in contact with her uncle, the ‘Thank you, God,’” but you really have to keep your news was still equally shocking sense of humor or it (cancer) wins, and saddening to hear. world have given cancer the name even if you are fortunate enough Like Gokingco, Angela Howell of one of the most common, to survive it.” also lost someone important and close to cancer. In October 2003, Howell, who was 28 at the time, went to Houston for the weekend to visit her parents with her family since her father had been complaining about unexplained, health-related complications.

Duhon relied on religion to help her get through the hardest parts of the illness, Photo by Stephan Kunze.

“It was during that weekend that he told me the doctors were having trouble figuring out what was wrong with him and suspected cancer. He had not been feeling well since the prior year,” she said.

“I remember during Thanksgiving in 2002, he had to walk after eating because he would feel pain.”

25

CANCEL CANCER

Angela Howell, Susan Duhon and Stephanie Gokingco all live in Austin, Texas. “Skyline” photo by Bobby Mikul.

For the following months, the unknown primary. This means was already too late,” she said. “My pain had continued. It was almost that the doctors couldn’t find father even told me that his doctor a year later, when Howell received where the cancer had started, apologized to him for overlooking the news she dreaded. She which is key in deciding what it.” remembers being in the house she treatment is best suited for that Howell was disappointed that the grew up in and even in the same patient. In addition, those doctors didn’t catch it sooner, and bedroom. Her father delivered diagnosed with CUP most likely the next few months proved to be the news just after he’d finished face psychological challenges in challenging. Unfortunately, Howchanging the diaper of his father passed away, “By the time the doctors found the ell’s one-year-old grandson. seven months later, on May

cancer, it was already too late,” 18, 2004. 11 days before “Anyway, when he told me, he was holding Nathaniel, [my her 29th birthday. son,] and he had such a frightened not knowing what specifically “My mother was heartbroken and went wrong. Despite the extra look on his face,” she said. “It was stayed by my dad’s side until the hurdle, Howell’s father had a very difficult evening.” very end,” Howell said. “She still remained hopeful since MD By the time the doctors had talks about him [to this day] and Anderson, located in Houston, discovered the cancer, it had misses him dearly. She told me the was named one of the leading already metastasized; therefore, treatment facilities in the country last thing he said to her was, ‘Be they were unable to determine the at the time. happy,’” origin. The doctors had diagnosed Since then, everything from her “By the time the doctors found the cancer as a CUP, cancer of life at that moment change. She the cancer, almost a year later, it 26

CAROLINA GOKINGCO | TRANSITIONS 2015 and her mom are still coping.

“Everything changed when my dad passed away,” Howell said.

“Family dinners, holidays, daily routines all changed. There was a void and everything we did, we were reminded of our loss. It was the little things that were hard. For example, going to Hallmark to buy greeting cards for Christmas or whatever the occasion may be -- I had to buy one less and that was hard.”

he wouldn’t be there [for me to talk to],” Howell said. Life after the loss was difficult, and proved to be devastating, especially for her mother. “My mom felt the same,” Howell said. “I’m sure it was worse on her living in the home they had shared together for 30 years. She had to go through all his stuff and clear out the house. Honestly we were all a little sadder and still are.”

exhausting and to this day we are still coping. I find myself looking at pictures or just thinking about him. I still miss him so much.

Spending time with my children helped my mom and me considerably. Just to see that life goes on and the circle of life in general is a bit of a comfort.”

In this highly-developed, technological world we live in, scientists still search for a cure for 11 years later, the Howell family cancer. There are people every day In addition to the little fighting the battle that “There was a void, and everything we did, things, the very fact is cancer, and unforthat he wouldn’t be tunately, not everywe were reminded of our loss.” there anymore was one wins. In the end, still seeks closure, despite hard enough on the entire family. those who have lost will always be making considerable progress. They remembered; those dealing with Imagining losing a loved one is already painful, but imagining the had lived through a hard time, and a loss grow into a stronger perjust began to accept fully and live future moments lost is enough to son emotionally; and those lucky make someone cling onto and ap- through suffering a terrible loss. enough to beat the disease can preciate the memories more than “We coped by praying and leaning live with an entirely new mindset, ever before. on one another. We would go to appreciating life and its surprises church, share stories, and just cry. and cherishing what they’ve been “Him not being there to talk to was really hard. I would think, ‘Oh That’s really the only way to cope… given. just feel and cry,” she said. “It was I want to tell my dad [this],’ but

John Fredrick Howell, 65, passed away on May 18, 2004. He was buried at Earthman Hunters Creek in Houston, Texas. Photo by Elly Milho

27

STAGES OF CANCER

Graphics by : Carolina Gokingco

WHY DOCTORS STAGE CANCER - Helps doctor plan appropriate treatment - Used in estimating person’s prognosis, which is the likely outcome of a disease and the chance of recovery or recurrence.

- Important in identifying clinical trials that may be a suitable treatment option for a patient.

- Helps health care providers and researchers exchange information about patients - Gives them a common terminology for evaluating the results of clinical trials and comparing the results of different trials.

‘in situ’ .......

stage 0

“In Situ” means “in place.”

Abnormal cells are present only in the layer of cells in which they developed.

This stage is often highly curable, usually by removing the entire tumor with surgery.

Cancer is limited to the organ in which it began, without evidence of spread.

It’s often called early-stage cancer.

localised ....... stage 1

distant spread ....... stage 4

on courtes rmati yo o f fC In an c

e NSW titut Ins er nc

Cancer has spread beyond the primary site to nearby lymph nodes or tissues and organs

Cancer In stit tional a N ute t, e ,C N . a er

regional ....... stage 2 & 3

Cancer has spread from the primary site to distant tissues or organs or to distant lymph nodes This is also called advanced or metastatic cancer.

HOW DOCTORS STAGE CANCER Most use the TNM system, which is based on the size or reach of the primary tumor, the amount of spread to nearby lymph nodes and the presence of metastasis.

T N M

(tumor) plus a number (0-4) describes the size and location of the tumor, including how much the tumor has grown into nearby tissues. For some types of cancer, lowercase letters are added to the “T� stage category to provide more detail.

(regional lymph nodes) plus a number (0-3) describes whether cancer has been found in the lymph nodes, which are tiny, bean-shaped organs that help fight infection. Regional lymph nodes are located closest to where the cancer began; distant lymph nodes (metasis) indicates whether the cancer has metastasized, or spread, to other parts of the body. If the cancer has not spread, it is labeled M0. If the cancer has spread, it is considered M1.

THE STORM OF THE DECADE

THE

STORM DECADE

BY RYAN RUSSO

OF THE

A story about a family in Louisiana that was affected by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005.

F

or large communities of Louisiana, school was canceled the last week of August in 2005. The children should have been out playing in the streets rejoicing, but just the opposite occurred.

lived in Baton Rouge, La., a city about a 90-minute drive from New Orleans. Blount knew people who had to wade through water just to retrieve their valuables after the storm.

Around one and half million people evacuated cities in Louisiana, fleeing to other states or cities farther away from the storm.

Blount, who owned an RV Park in Livingston, LA, could not get there for several days because of the traffic. She was concerned about people fleeing from the storm not having a place to stay

The storm brought panic to LouiIn fact, most people were nowhere siana, causing lots of people to flee near their homes, having fled to to safer places. escape impending danger.

Hurricane Katrina struck South- “Katrina’s storm surges “We really needed to get there beern Louisiana and brought peril reached a height of 27.8 feet.” cause once New Orleans flooded and fear to almost everyone many people were displaced and in its path. Hurricane Katrina had nowhere to go.” displaced many people from their “Friends stayed with us during homes and inconvenienced and Katrina’s winds reached a maxithis time because there [were] affected even more. mum sustained speed of 170 mph, simply no hotel rooms to be had,” giving it the classification of a During this time, Jackie Blount Blount said.

Category 5 ranking on the SaffirSimpson Scale (the scale that ranks the severity of hurricanes).

The storm eventually made landfall as a Category 3 storm in the early hours of Aug. 29 2005.

The storm hit New Orleans and other surrounding cities, bringing anywhere from eight to ten inches of rain; however most of the subsequent flooding that occurred was caused by the breaking of the levees along the banks of the Mississippi River.

A house along the Louisiana Coast remains in taters after Hurricane Katrina. The storm left many houses in a similar state. Photo by: Dave Gately

30

Even with the large amounts of rain and strong winds the storm brought, most of the damage that occurred came from the storm surges. Katrina’s storm surges

RYAN RUSSO | TRANSITIONS 2015

Flooded areas of the I-10/I-610/West End highway interchange in Metarie, Louisiana. Photo by: United States Coast Guard

“The mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, issued the first ever mandatory evactuation of the city.” reached a height of 27.8 feet, one of the highest storm surges ever recorded. The storm surges were able to break the levees that surrounded New Orleans.

The levees were placed around the city to keep the Mississippi River from flooding. Construction on the levees began in 1965 and still was not finished when Katrina struck. Investigations into the

status of the levees after Katrina showed that they were anywhere from 60 to 90 percent completed.

The whole country was watching, waiting to see what the storm would bring. The mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, issued the first ever mandatory evacuation of the city.

“We will take care of you.” said Nagin to the citizens who chose to

stay in the city.

“At first when I heard about the storm, I didn’t think it would be a big deal,” said Tu Russo, who followed the storm from her home in Austin.

In fact, nobody thought it would have the impact that it did, yet that didn’t stop Jackie Blount from preparing her family from the in31

THE STORM OF THE DECADE coming danger. She bought water, food, candles, batteries and other essential items to prepare for the storm.

“We did expect to lose electricity so we had a generator ready.

We did experience a hurricane in or around 1992. We honestly did not expect to be affected much by this storm since we are somewhat protected. It wasn’t expected to hit us but made a sudden turn and we were totally caught off guard and

not prepared.”

The Blounts were able to remain safe during the storm, but knew a couple by the name of Larry and Sandy Taffaro who lost nearly everything.

“They bought the house across the street from us several months after the storm and relayed all the details of their loss. All they had left was what was packed in their suitcases as they evacuated the New Orleans area.”

The storm left around 800,000 people homeless in and around the New Orleans area. Although most people weren’t able to sympathize with the exact emotions many victims were feeling, Tu Russo was able to sympathize with the emotions they were feelings.

“I was at sea for five days and four nights, so I could identify with hopelessness that most people felt while waiting for help.” Russo said.

According the United States Coast

A satellite view of Hurricane Katrina onAugust 28th, 2005 as it approached the Louisiana Coast. At this point the storm was listed as a Category 3 Hurricane. Photo by: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).

32

RYAN RUSSO | TRANSITIONS 2015 Guard Historical Index, over 60 thousand victims needed rescuing after the storm. The Coast Guard was able to rescue around 33 thousand of those victims.

to get back on their feet.

“At one point, we had so many people trying to get in we considered putting two campers per one spot where possible. In addition

had occurred in the past couple of weeks, the state of Louisiana came together as a whole to recover from that terrible storm.

“In the weeks after the storm, it was all about getting supplies to people who had lost everything,” Blount said.“We donated school uniforms and whatever we could to help out. We opened a Pavilion

Everyone was trying to help someone in need. The best in humanity was in display.”

Unfortunately, stories of families having to what take belongings they could became a common theme after Katrina. to traffic, groceries, supplies and Although 80 to 90% of the popula- gas were hard to come by.” Blount tion in New Orleans evacuated the said.

Many houses in the New Orleans area and surrounding cities experienced water levels as high as these. Photo courtesy of FEMA.

city, the 150 thousand remained and many had stories similar to that of the Taffaro’s. They also suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), according to Blount.

After the storm, the whole atmosphere of the city changed. The RV Park that Blount’s owned became overrun with people looking for temporary homes while they tried

It is estimated that Katrina caused anywhere from $81 to $96 billion of damage according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA. Hurricane Katrina still ranks at the top of the list of most expensive Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded, and will most likely stay that way for a long time.

at the RV Park where people and churches could donate whatever was needed, clothes, shoes, bedding, etc. Everyone was trying to help someone in need. The best in humanity was on display.”

Even with all the tragedies that 33

TOP 5

MOST EXPENSIVE*

United States

HURRICANES *cost refers to damage done to property

5

By Ryan Russo

HURRICANE WILMA (2005)

$21 BILLION 173 mph CATEGORY 3

64.3 INCHES OF RAIN

North Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West, FL is flooded with nearly 6 feet of water. Photo courtesy of NOAA.

4 HURRICANE ANDREW (1992)

$26.5 BILLION CATEGORY 5 13.98 INCHES OF RAIN 175 mph A house lies in ruins after Hurricane Andrew. Photo courtesy of ready.gov.

34

All facts courtesy of The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and The National Hurricane Center

3 HURRICANE IKE (2008) $29.5 BILLION 145 mph CATEGORY 2

15 INCHES OF RAIN

These tents were makeshifts houses for first responders to Hurricane Ike in Beaumont, TX. Photo courtesy of FEMA.

2 HURRICANE SANDY (2013) $71.4 BILLION CATEGORY 1 115 mph

7 INCHES OF RAIN A carnival along the New Jersey coast lies in ruins after Hurricane Sandy.

Photo courtesy of whitehouse.gov

1 HURRICANE KATRINA (2005) $108 BILLION CATEGORY 3 175 mph

15 INCHES OF RAIN The Mississippi home of Marcia and Chevis Stewman is destroyed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Photo courtesy of National Park Services.

35

A MOTHER’S JOURNEY

36

Ewedemi Family photobook. (Photo by Tayo Ezekoye).

TAYO EZEKOYE | TRANSITIONS 2015

A Mother’s Journey

By TAYO EZEKOYE

I

mmigrants from all around the world say America is the country of life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. They say America is the land of opportunities, the place where prosperity and success can be achieved through hard work and dedication, in a society with few obstacles and a wealth of possibilities. This is the American Dream. Jumoke Ewedemi knows more about this dream than you would think. She grew up in British Nigeria, dreaming of the day she could come to the U.S. Nigeria has over 170 million people, making it the 7th most populated country on Earth and the most populated country in Africa. Unfortunately, a whopping 60 percent of these people are impoverished. One of the many people living in Nigeria at the time was Jumoke Ewedemi.

She grew up with her mother, father and five siblings in Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria. Her father, Solomon Kehinde worked as the station master of the Nigerian Railway Corporation and her mother, Esther Kehinde worked as a trader, both providing in-

A young Nigerian’s journey to America with her family.

come for their six children. But ever since she was a little girl, she dreamed of America.

“The United States was like paradise to me, and many third world nations such as Nigeria have a preconceived notion about the U.S,” Jumoke said. To reach her dream, or “paradise” in her words, she worked hard in her classes, and received high grades throughout high school.

“Our goal was to leave our home country for better life in the States,” she said. Along the way she had started a family with two kids, Funke and Seye. She had believed that the United States would be the best place for them to live due to the large amount of universities and great higher education, so in 1975, she and her husband left their life in Nigeria for the States.

“I brought all my educational certificates, some money and a few traditional formal Nigerian attire.” she says, “I saw numerous opportunities including pursuing my educational goal, getting a good job and providing a better

life for my children. At the time, Nigeria did not have many universities to meet the growing demand of those who wanted to reach their educational goal.”

When she arrived to the States she discovered that the culture in the United States, especially the way that the families operated, was much different than it is in Nigeria.

“The most significant difference

“I was very homesick.” that I noticed was extended family structure in the Nigerian culture, children are nurtured and raised by the entire family. In the US, the breakdown of family structure was on the rise in the 1970s.”

Jumoke said. Her daughter, Funke Ezekoye added some insight on Nigerian family culture.

“I remember a little. Mostly about the extended family and always having “cousins” around even if we were not related by blood.

Children grew up together and all the adults were responsible for all the children. It was not unusual to have extended family living together and calling multiple 37

A MOTHER’S JOURNEY adults ’mummy’ or ‘daddy,’” says Funke Ezekoye on her childhood in Nigeria.

Unfortunately the beginning of her trip to the United States was not as perfect as she imagined.

“I lived in Syracuse, New York.

The bitter, winter cold weather was horrendous. I used to cry in the winter.” she also talked about her first job.

thought. Fortunately she worked hard until she had enough money to bring her kids to the States with her.

“We were very excited and also very nervous at the same time. I was 8 and my brother was 6 and we were traveling by ourselves for the first time. We had not been on a plane before so having our 1st flight be an international flight

ment, which left the country in lots of turmoil, especially for black people. The Ewedemi’s were not just black, but they were immigrants, making them subject to much discrimination. Strangely the discrimination was much different from the kids to the parents.

“Yes, I was treated differently. I experienced discrimination from both black and white people.” said

“We didn’t know what to expect.”

“I got my first job was working for an employment agency called ‘Gal Friday’. The agency was not responsible for any benefits for their employees. You got paid for the number of hours you worked. No health insurance, no sick leave, no nothing.” Her “American Dream” wasn’t working out like she had

38

was exciting. Also we were going to see our parents for the first time in 2 years. We didn’t know what to expect.” said Funke.

Jumoke about her experiences with discrimination. Funke said her discrimination was much different.

Unfortunately the weather wasn’t the only thing that wasn’t turning out like they wanted. The family had moved to the United States right after the Civil Rights Move-

“My father was a graduate student at Penn so we were living around other graduate students/ immigrant families. We were not so different from the other people

TAYO EZEKOYE | TRANSITIONS 2015 !st page: Soga and Jumoke with their children. 2nd page left photo: Funke Ewedemi and family friend. 2nd page right photo: Jumoke and Funke (Photos by Jumoke Ewedemi)

“Our goal was to leave our home country for a better life in the States,”

who lived in our neighborhood so we were treated well in that environment. Once we started school, we realized how different we sounded from most kids our age. The teachers assumed that we were behind and put us in remedial classes until we tested into the advanced classes. The other kids made fun of our accents and we learned to sound “more American.” Unfortunately we did not continue to speak our native language at home and so we lost some of our culture.” The

culture was definitely lost with the children, a small tragedy received from moving to the States.

Fortunately, the Ewedemi family worked hard in school and in their jobs, even with moving all over the United States. The family reached many triumphs.

“I did not obtain a Masters in English, but thank God, my two children did very well academically. My daughter went to Yale University and obtained her medical degree at the University

of Pittsburgh. My son graduated from Stanford University and now works for a very popular computer company in the Silicon Valley, San Jose, CA.” said Jumoke, of the greatest things to happen to her in her move to the United States.

Jumoke Ewedemi and her family learned that hard work and dedication can accomplish anything in the United States, and they hope to pass down those ideals for generations so her family can be successful for as long as possible.

39

Map by freebiesgallery.com

Population during 1975: House hold earnings of one year during 1975:

$25,854

216 million Unemployment rate during 1975:

8.10%

Jumoke Ewedemi had to travel 5,400 miles to get from Lagos, Nigeria to Syracuse, New York. Flights like that nowadays cost upwards of 1000 dollars and sometimes take up to 14 hours.

These are some of the reasons she left.

40

From Nigeria to New York

Unemployment rate during 1975:

+30%

House hold earnings of one year during 1975:

$437

Population during 1975:

63 million

41

Cover photo courtesy of Anthony Delanoix Back cover photo courtesy of Annie Spratt