Marine Likely to Go Off Life Support (WI)

Madison.com ^ | July 15, 2005 | Steven Elbow

[Diana in Wisconsin]

A Monona (WI) woman is likely to remove the feeding tube of her Marine husband, who is in hospice care with a severe brain injury.

Staff Sgt. Chad Simon, 32, was wounded by a roadside bomb Nov. 8 near Fallujah, Iraq.

Simon's wife, Regina, had his feeding tube removed last Friday. It was reinserted Monday, but friends say the family plans to honor Simon's living will, which specifically states he does not want to be kept alive in a vegetative state.

"He listed very explicit instructions concerning his care," said the family's attorney, Jack Schuster.

Schuster said he couldn't divulge medical information about Simon, but said, "I don't think it's any secret that it's a very substantial brain injury."

He didn't specifically say whether Regina Simon will remove the feeding tube, but the Wisconsin State Journal reported Wednesday that Simon announced she would do so, and that was confirmed today by family friend Matt Meyers.

Asked if Simon's current condition falls within his living will instructions for discontinuing life support, Schuster said, "I certainly think that's a possibility, but I think that's what my client is evaluating at this time."

WISC-TV Channel 3 Wednesday reported that a friend of Simon, who did not identify himself, claims that Simon retains some cognitive abilities and spoke against the decision to take him off life support.

"I've seen him pick the correct object when asked to, pick the correct color, eat ice cream, ice chips, nod yes, and know when asked questions," the station quoted the friend as saying.

Meyers told The Capital Times that he knows of no such cognitive ability with Simon, and that he's shown no medical progress since his return from Iraq.

"The things he said are absolutely untrue," he said, adding that the report has caused the family unnecessary anguish.

Schuster called the report "unfortunate."

He stressed that Regina Simon, as the administrator of Chad Simon's living will, should be left the decision without the interference of any third party.

"It's a very delicate situation for my client, and one that would call for the highest degree of privacy," he said.

The Rev. Jeff Mannel, who is providing spiritual support for the family, said Regina Simon is at peace with the actions she has to take.

"I can tell you she has a pretty clear conscience about the decisions that have been made," he said.

Chad and Regina Simon have a 5-year-old son, Dylan.

Simon was wounded in a roadside bomb explosion that killed three Marines and wounded several others with the Madison-based Golf Company of the 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, 1st Marine Division.

Lance Cpl. Shane K. O'Donnell, 24, of DeForest, Cpl. Robert P. Warns, 23, of Waukesha, and Lance Cpl. Branden Ramey, 22, of Belvidere, Ill., died in the explosion.

[justche]

*

[angelsonmyside]

Prayers for this Soldier and his family.

[Prime Choice]

This is why I have a living will and have made it plain to all who know me that they have no alternative but to honor it.

The date that my condition degrades to the point in which I can no longer interact with this world and have no reasonable hope for recovery is the day that God, by virtue of His Divine creation of the Natural Order, has called me home.

This Marine and his family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

[chadwimc]

But..but... Its Jeb Bush attacking another human being. Now the ghoul is moving out of Florida...(*HEAVY* sarcasm for those Shiavo fanatics)

[combat_boots]

"Lance Cpl. Shane K. O'Donnell, 24, of DeForest, Cpl. Robert P. Warns, 23, of Waukesha, and Lance Cpl. Branden Ramey, 22, of Belvidere, Ill., died in the explosion."

God save the USMC, and bless those He can't in all His Glory, showering them with Grace and the power of Heaven. And God bless this Marine.

[Prime Choice]

But..but... Its Jeb Bush attacking another human being. Now the ghoul is moving out of Florida...(*HEAVY* sarcasm for those Shiavo fanatics)

1. Terri Schiavo didn't have a living will.
2. Schiavo's "adoring husband" (who was shacked up with another woman and cranking out illegitimate kids) told a jury he would only spend the judgment award on his dear, dear wife.
3. ...but after he got the money, he "suddenly remembered" that Terri wanted to die all along.

So don't even try to compare this case to the Schiavo travesty, sport.

[TheDon]

It is sad that people think it is okay to starve someone to death because they were given permission by the person, imho. But we've beaten that one to death during Terri's killing, eh?

[packer1]

I have just now found your website and am looking at the posting with disbelief. I spent 4-5 days a week with Chad Simon up to 5 hours a day and his wife wasNEVER there. He was progressing and doing very well in therepy-which she did not attend-and what she did is leagalized murder for the HUGE payment she will receive. People do not know the truth and it is a shame. The so called Rev. jeff Mannel has never had any seminary training and the "church" she belongs to is thought by most to be a cult. They believe it is okay to lie if the ends justify the means. She also bought a new house, redecorated it, bought a cruise for her and her friend, and treatedhis own mother and the rest of his side of the family worse then any human being deserves to be treated.
I would be in jail if I did this to my pet!

[Hooah]

Is this the same gutless dimwit who went on a local TV station anonymously to tell the same lies? You SHOULD fear 3rd party retribution. It'll come, I promise you.

[livius]

Sounds a lot like the Schiavo case, to me. Is there any hope of getting other people involved (such as a disabled persons' organization like Not Dead Yet?).

[Wisco]

What a load. Rev. Mannel's congregation is the Madison Church of Christ. No one thinks it's a cult. It's listed with the National Directory of Churches of Christ.

Stop lying...

[Kryptonite]

This is the sort of post that could get FR sued.

[packer1]

your responses do not deserve a comment.

[packer1]

try researching them. I have. Being listed in a directory does not make them exempt from being a cult

[superfries]

What website are you talking about?

[basicdab]

Of all the people who spent time with him at the VA and at hospice, sleeping on concrete floors and hospital furniture... I can't believe you would write something like this here! If you are the "anonomys" whistle blower even more shame on you. Anyone close to this situation knows how involved Regina was is his care. As for her NEVER being there, she was ALWAYS there when I visited with him - and I know I'm not lying...

To cast careless insults at the church and Jeff (note to the mod, defamation is a forgivable offense and FR should have no need to worry), who have done nothing but support Regina and their son, let alone her decision to move to a smaller home, only shows you to be a liar and a pitiful excuse for a friend. We all loved Chad, none more than Regina.

If you fear retribution it only shows that you don't know Chad or the people he chose to associate with that well - we're the forgiving types (with you being an obvious exception).

I hope you can at some point come clean if you're close to the family - she's a good woman and loved him and misses him dearly. If you had two bits of sense about it you'd bend over, grab your ears, and pull! Then maybe you'd talk some sense.