[applause] good morning. My name is erica smith, and at 17 i became a soldier. In my career as a blackhawk crew chief i worked with many phenomenal people and was deployed to iraq in 2019. On the flights overseas we were constantly watching for threats, we did not know about the silent threats we saw on a regular basis. Oil lead on fire, waste being burned, and the fuel and chemicals used on the aircraft. In 2022 during a scan for a separate injury and mass was discovered on my right kidney. I was just 23, with no Family History of cancer. I8 right, i worked out, and never smoked. Nevertheless, it was cancer. And it was growing fast. Shortly after a friend from deployment let me know he had cancer in his kidney as well. I filed a claim with the v. A. Immediately. Thankfully the pact act reduced my paperwork burden and covered my illness. By the town i have my kidney removed in october 20 202i had already begun receiving increased benefits. Benefits that help me by my first house. I am
[applause] good morning. My name is erica smith, and at 17 i became a soldier. In my career as a blackhawk crew chief i worked with many phenomenal people and was deployed to iraq in 2019. On the flights overseas we were constantly watching for threats, we did not know about the silent threats we saw on a regular basis. Oil lead on fire, waste being burned, and the fuel and chemicals used on the aircraft. In 2022 during a scan for a separate injury and mass was discovered on my right kidney. I was just 23, with no Family History of cancer. I8 right, i worked out, and never smoked. Nevertheless, it was cancer. And it was growing fast. Shortly after a friend from deployment let me know he had cancer in his kidney as well. I filed a claim with the v. A. Immediately. Thankfully the pact act reduced my paperwork burden and covered my illness. By the town i have my kidney removed in october 20 202i had already begun receiving increased benefits. Benefits that help me by my first house. I am
Vermont National Guard members deploy for medical readiness exercise in Senegal vermontbiz.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from vermontbiz.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.