Walter Reed shut down this week and that also brings back a lot of memories. I remember trying to find Ward 57 by myself as I prepared to see Bryan for the first time after he was injured. I was so scared of what I would see when I opened the door to his room. I remember the smells, the faces laying in the hospital beds and the long wait through each of his 15 surgeries. I remember how hard it was to manage the red tape, the appointments, the medicines, and the wound dressings, when I was overly tired and Bryan was in extreme pain. I will never forget how dirty the hospital was. I remember heating water from the sink in the microwave in a large puke bucket and carrying it up and down the hall so I could bathe him. I remember the first time I cried. I hoped to forget the cafeteria food, but that hasn’t happened yet.
It has been an emotional week flooded with memories and some sadness. While things have not been all bad since he was hurt, we haven’t had a normal marriage either. I feel he has prevailed through the worst of it and has finally accepted who he is now. We did get some good news on his toxic embedded shrapnel test-- he isn’t filled with abnormal levels of toxins or uranium. I am still fighting the payment for hyperbaric oxygen therapy and I am hoping this will be resolved soon. There are screws poking out of his heel which we are hoping don’t need to be taken out soon. These kinds of things will always be a part of our life, but that is alright. He is alive and he is here with me. Our marriage has survived and I look forward to more long term plans instead of seeing only the near future. We are blessed.
If you want to read about the day I got the phone call that changed our lives click here.
7 comments:
What a heart-moving story. I can't imagine what that experience must have been like. Thank you so much for sharing it, so the rest of us could know.
Walter Reed is shut down? How come?
I have a bunch of other questions, too. Why would they allow a hospital like that to be so dirty? Why weren't there more care givers? Why are you having to pay for your husbands health care as a result of his injuries on behalf of his country? Everyone in America needs to know these things are going on.
On a more personal level, how do you keep from just hating the whole system and so many of the people in it? I'm angry at them and I'm not even personally involved.
Hope you don't mind the questions. And you don't have to feel compelled to answer them, but they do come to my mind.
Thanks,
wb
Walter Reed has been in the process of shutting down I think since 05. It's old and outdated. I also was told it was leased property and the lease was up. Their moving some to Bethesda and some to Belvoir.
Google Walter Reed scandal and you can see what happened. We complained about how my husbands room wasn't clean, how they didn't mop once while he was inpatient 34 days, how there was other soldiers blood on the toliet and walls, etc. They told my husband to clean it himself (he couldn't walk for 4 months). I cleaned the walls, lysoled the bed, cleaned the toliet so I could use it, etc. Then later the media got the story.
With the 40k HBOT bill, Medicare denied it thevwrong way because they felt the treatment wasn't medically necessary. Even though tricare is to pick up as primary if Medicare denies it if they deny it this way they can't. I've asked them to change their denial to non covered service so tricare can pay like they said but they haven't. We have a conference call with Medicare and tricare today. The bills are about to go to collections. I'm sick over it as we have perfect credit.
Hi my friend,
I can't tell you enough how blessed I am to have you in my life. It is because of people like you and Brian we too are able to see it is better to pick up and move on with life. We will always be identified as a "wounded family" however I don't want it to be who we are for the rest of our lives.
We are trying so hard to be healthy. What does that mean? Who knows but we are going to try like hell and fight to stay together. There are days that really suck and I don't even know how I am going to get out of bed but then I remember God is in control and my husband is alive and here with me.
I love you tons and I am inspired by your dedication and love. Thank you for being such a great friend.
those red tape bean counters piss me off. is there anyone I can write to, that might be able to assist in your dilemma? Be well. Be blessed and continue to be a blessing.
Cheryl,
Next month will be five years for us, as well. It will be the first and last time we celebrate his Alive Day with a party involving other people. Much for the same reasons.... it's hard to truly be present in moving on with your new normal... when you keep a part of the past so current and alive. It will always be there, and it definitely shaped our marriages and who we are... but we feel that it's time for us to truly look into the future and stop looking back. Man now I'm gonna cry. It brings up all the same stuff for me too... like it just happened all over again.
Cheryl, I'm reading a very moving and disturbing book now called "The War Comes Home" by Aaron Glantz. It is about all dilemmas and even mistreatment soldiers receive upon returning home. You buys probably don't need to read the book b/c you are living some if it. Still thinking of and praying for you guys, and all of our wounded warriors and their families.
After reading your response to warren I realize that we did have a a lot of problems with Tricare. We do still haev a few mix ups but, Having the 2 insurances they sure did fight each other on who was primary medicare or Tricare. My husband Does not have an "alive day" he has spinal injuries I don't know the date the last one happened over there so we don't do any kind of celebrating. Sometimes reading yours and other www I feel like maybe I should not be complaining. Then I see how much aside from the medical more of the trials of care giving, reintegrating and such after injury we do have in common with other families like yours. I feel like there is hope for some of the things we are going through as you and your husband are making it and It gives me hope that we will make it through. Thank you for everything you do for WWW!
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