Romance with a dash of action is the spice of life. It adds layers of meaning to the story and characters. This story—even as it weaves in real-life aspects of military life—is a creation of my mind and meant to spark the imagination and entertain. I took liberties with some of action and adventure elements, though I’ve been told by military friends that many aspects are extremely plausible.
The Marine Mammal Program is an innovative part of the Navy, and in my opinion, worth researching and supporting. My husband was a part of the program when he was a Navy SEAL. At that time, the program was located in Hawaii, and when it moved to the San Diego area, it was developed further with the assistance of the Marine Mammal Foundation. Their reach into preservation and protection is far-reaching.
The experts—vets, trainers, staff, techs, researchers, and volunteers—associated with this program are dedicated souls whose commitment to excellence for our marine mammals is a tribute to their roles, their education, their families, and humanity as a whole. They have saved many lives, including those of wounded, beached, abandoned, and sick marine mammals. Many of these experts deploy and are put in harm’s way, and we honor their sacrifice. To those that have passed, we salute you and we thank you. Always know how dearly you are missed.
Please note that many wild dolphins are affected by morbillivirus, a type of virus that also affects porpoises and whales. Scientists, researchers, and vets are still working to combat its spread and aid in the wellness and/or recovery from this devastating virus. There is no known cure to date. There are several articles in the reference section about the virus, if you’d like to learn more.
Also, the research that the Marine Mammal Program and the Foundation are doing on kidney issues in bottlenose dolphins is significant and important to the field of nephrology. This is only a small part of how the Program and Foundation are working to protect our marine mammal friends and the ecosystems we share. For more information, please check out the links following this note.
Also, the drug carfentanil is an elephant tranquilizer and has been in the news often, as it’s being used to cut heroin. The mortality rate associated with this drug is high and even an extremely small amount can be fatal. Do not touch it, inhale it, or get close to it. If you suspect that this drug is on, in, or near you, call 911 immediately or go to the hospital. Report any and all incidents to stop the use of this killer.
Lastly, but most importantly, suicide has reached an epidemic level for our military. If you suspect someone is tormented or in pain, the VA offers help and there’s a veterans crisis hotline. Several cities are taking great lengths to protect our warriors by retrofitting bridges and buildings with suicide barriers, and we are grateful to see this. We hope our veterans know how much we love them and thank them for their service.
Many thanks to the fans who wrote me and wanted to read Leaper’s story. It’s a beautiful way to end the West Coast Navy SEAL series. I hope you enjoyed the ride, and thank you for taking so many wonderful journeys with me. This has been a precious experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Hooyah and hugs!
Anne Elizabeth