Urgent Prayer and Help Request for MistyCA's Hospitalized Vietnam Veteran Brother

MistyCA

[Jim Robinson]

Here is the request from MistyCA:

I need help. My brother is in the hospital in Santa Barbara. He is dying. He has 10% heart capacity left after having (since Vietnam) three surgeries to replace infected valves and a resection to remove diseased tissue. The most recent surgery was done in Palo Alto by Dr. Burdin two years ago. He has chronic infections and needed a transplant but the VA denied the transplant.

Now he is sitting in the hospital in Santa Barbara waiting for the VA to get off their butt and get him in a VA facitility so he can get the care he needs. Here is his story in his own words.... dang...I can't remember how to make a link.. http://members.cox.net/jkk/vet.htm

This vet needs some freeper noise and help. Is there anything anyone can do here to get someone to move the VA to help him? Please. :( Can someone help me do a thread for my brother?

[The Mayor]

Bump for good news and Prayers

[MistyCA]

LOL....I just get too excited and type to fast! :) By all means! Stay on top of our Congressmen to make sure that my brother and every other veteran are given top-notch care they deserve! This fiasco could have easily killed my brother unnecessarily! There are so many people at the VA who truly care and provide such special care. I worry every single day about my brother, but I worry just as much about all of those vets who simply don't have the ability and know how to make sure their care is appropriate and available to them. Ultimately I would like every person in Congress to read my brother's website so that they have a sense of what it is like to be a sick vet. I am posting a picture here taken two years ago. It is my brother's daughter at my daughter's wedding. She was one of the little angels who covered the aisle with rose buds. This little girl and every other child of every vet deserves to know that their country stands behind the promise to take care of their dad or mom who served in the military and suffered illness or injury because of it. That has GOT to be our priority and the priority of our federal government. Its what this country stands for and can't be forgotten!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Please use your ping lists to let everyone know this turn of events. I am forever indebted to your kindness and compassion."

Please see Post 235 for a good news PING for a Viet Nam Vet.

MistyCA Thanks for the good news.

Please tell your Brother I said
"Welcome Home Brother"

[eyespysomething]

Great great wonderful happy news.

I am glad you're brother is home. There's really is no place like home!

[OldFriend]

Prayers for all in need of some extra blessings

[JustAmy]

Thanks for keeping us posted, Misty.

And this is definitely good news! Your brother and his family will continue to be in my prayers.
God Bless him and God Bless and Protect all Veterans.

[Auntbee]

So happy to hear about your brother. You all will still be in my prayers.

[Alamo-Girl]

Praise God!!! Thank you for the update! I continue to pray for healing and blessing!

[manna]

Good news! Best wishes for you and your brother.

[dandelion]

Tell him we are praying for him - and tell him we are seeking a solution, somehow...

[Mr. Silverback]

Awesome news Misty! Will keep praying!

[Dubya]

I am praying for him and her.

Wish I could help with VA. VA could care less about us Vets.
I tryed to get Vet benifets the VA will not let me turn in my request because I have a job and own property. I just learned this yesterday.

Misty I am going the VFW today and see if they are aware of the new Bush rules for Vets.

I sure feel sorry for your brother if the VA is the only help he can get.

My wife Eve and I will keep your brother in our prayers. Please keep us updated.

Thanks for posting this request Jim.
And thanks for heading up FR.

[MissAmericanPie]

I am so happy to hear the news, may God guide the will of the Doctors.

When my husband had cancer, his doctor kept giving him nexium for acid indigestion, and telling him he had a hernia. Being a man, my husband would just accept it and not make waves while getting worse and worse.

I insisted on going with him to his next appointment, after some straight talk with the Doctor and focusing his attention, my husband was in the hospital that afternoon. I don't know if the V.A. allows family in the exam room, but often times it helps to have a family member relate to the Doctor.

Your brother continues in my prayers, I know what a great guy he is just by having read his essay, and learning this good news is going to make my step lighter today.

May God bless you both, stay in touch.

[MistyCA]

I am sharing positive energy with you in your struggle with the VA. The fact you own property is of no consequence, or shouldn't be. My brother owns property but he is not allowed to generate any income from working if he gets VA disability payments. That ruling is not right, imo. Our vets should be allowed to maintain as much dignity as possible and being useful and functioning at their level of ability is essential to that. My brother spends whatever energy he has fighting for Veteran issues through Veteran's organization, particularly Vietnam Veteran's Association.

The only help he was able to get cutting through the benefits redtape was through Disabled Veteran's of America. I think it depends what state you are in which organization gives the best assistance. There is some useful information about cutting the redtape at my brother's website. It is listed in the beginning of this thread. I hope you find it helpful.

[JohnHuang2]

Wonderful news! MEGA PING comin' up ;-)

[JohnHuang2]

Thanks again for the ping, Tonkin

[MistyCA]

Thanks. That is generally very good advice. Most patients need an advocate! My brother has been has best advocate for years now. He is very knowledgeable about his condition and even when he can barely talk I have seen him stop to a nurse from administering something to him that he is allergic to. He was the one who brought up the fact that he was being dehydrated too much this time too. But I think he is the exception to the rule. Most people simply trust the docs to do the right thing. They often don't. Patient advocates who are knowledgeable are essential with today's society and medical situation. Not just in the VA, but everywhere! Actually, I am one of those who believes that whatever you are asking someone to do for you, you had better learn as much as there is to know about it because more often then not, they are going to screw up! It's just a reality. Unfortunately.

[snippy_about_it]

Good News MistyCA. Glad to hear of progress and prayers answered.

Thanks for the ping JH2!

[JohnHuang2]

My pleasure -- and G'morning to ya :-)