Whole Health and Recreation Therapy Guide Healing for One Veteran

For Army and Marine Corps Veteran, Kevin Lail of Honolulu, healing from back surgery required a variety of treatments from aqua walking to acupuncture. He credits his primary care team for recommending the Whole Health program to him, and credits the staff in VAPIHCS Whole Health and Recreation Therapy programs for making this possible

“I got a referral to see Leticia from Whole Health,” Lail said. “She suggested other avenues of treatment, and I went from there to trying recreation therapy programs. It’s all been beneficial. Building up muscle to help support my spine has taken some of the pressure off the damaged area.” 

Lail has been doing the Big Tire Boot Camp in Ewa Beach, which is an adaptive fitness program to build strength. He says that after being in the Marines, the competitive nature of it appeals to him and helps him feel motivated. In addition, Lail was able to get acupuncture treatments which have helped manage pain. Aqua walking has also been useful. The walking, stretching, and moving in the water have improved his ability to be more mobile and strengthen muscles and bones without causing the pain that exercise on land caused him. 

“I tried Tai Chi first, but it wasn’t for me,” Lail said. “With aqua walking, I am weightless in the water, so I don’t have the pressure on my spine. That reduces the pain in my legs and makes it easier to get out and move.” 

Every Veteran has different health challenges and health goals. VAPIHCS staff work diligently to ensure they are Veteran centered and find the best options that will benefit the Veterans health goals. rather than following a standard treatment with a one-size-fits-all approach. The Whole Health model of care is centered on Veteran-led and Veteran-centered care. Staff support this by asking the Veteran at the start, “what matters most to you, what brings you joy” and work from there to help them identify achievable health goals. This guides our clinicians to determine the best individual course of treatment for them. 

“In ’85 I had a craniotomy which was supposed to help with the headaches that I had,” Lail said. “They found dark spots on the pre-op X-rays and thought it might be cancer. My mom was so scared, and I told her not to come because whatever happens happens, you know? I didn’t want her to have to go through it either way, if the outcome was good or if it was bad.” 

Lail was lucky, because the dark spots turned out to be bruising rather than cancer. However, it was just one of the many serious health struggles he has faced that caused him to feel frustrated with the health care system and how hard it is to get consistent, reliable help with medical problems. When he started health coaching with Health and Wellness Coach Leticia Rodriguez, he began to see that health is more than x-rays and surgeries. It’s also exercise, healthier food and drink, and complementary treatments like acupuncture that help with overall wellness.  

"Kevin went from isolation and assisted walking to making friends and walking independently,” Rodriguez said. “Welcoming holistic wellness into his life, not only made his body and mind stronger, but now it has become his lifestyle. I am honored to have this opportunity to empower and equip Veterans to move forward independently. "

For Lail, he may face another surgery in the future. Exercise, good diet, overall wellness, and complementary treatments can take a Veteran a long way, but medications and surgeries are also needed sometimes. He is optimistic that if he does get the surgery, he can rely on the programs he has discovered through whole health to help him recover and rebuild his strength. His journey has not always been easy, but his strength and determination have eventually brought him to a good place. Whole Health and Recreation Therapy have been important parts of that journey.