Monte Cassino vet eats and talks properly again, shrapnel he has carried since 1944 drops out

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 26th May 2009 | David Wilkes

[PotatoHeadMick]

For 65 years, Alfred Mann didn't talk much about his war-time experiences. Not that he didn't want to.

He had just given up trying thanks to a combination of old war injuries that made it difficult to speak clearly.

But now the 87-year-old veteran is relishing a new lease of life - after finding a half-inch piece of shrapnel on his pillow one morning. The metal shard is thought to have suddenly dislodged from his jaw and fallen from his mouth while he slept.

Mr Mann had no idea he had been carrying the shrapnel or that it was behind his speech problems.

He has also had great trouble eating for many years.

'It's fantastic,' he said yesterday. 'I can move my mouth properly and I have been able to eat steak and lamb cutlets which I couldn't eat before.'

[randomhero97]

I take it he never took advantage of that most awesome free healthcare to have his jaw checked out.

[pray4liberty]

What a miracle for him. God bless him for his service.

[Roccus]

He told how his mouth had begun to swell up a few weeks before he discovered the shrapnel. 'I went to the doctor and I was referred on to the dentist who said I had an ulcer,' he said. 'Then I woke up one morning and felt something move in my mouth. I discovered a piece of shrapnel lying there.'

Was he on the waiting list for an x-ray?

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Another ringing endorsement of the NIH.

[joesjane]

yay for him! Now just wait for PETA to make nasty comercials about him eating all the fury little critters.

[GSP.FAN]

Socalised healthcare at it's best.

[az_gila]

I take it he never took advantage of that most awesome free healthcare to have his jaw checked out.

---

He probably did, but it was decided that a X-Ray cost too much...

[dennisw]

LOL.... But good for the old guy! He must have had awful medical care

[muawiyah]

This is UK. They all have terrible teeth.

[HamiltonJay]

A piece of shrapnel in your jaw for 65 years and doctors didn’t catch it.. yep, socialized medicine I want me some of that.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

'He seems happier - but the food bills are more expensive.' Ha ha ha, good for you Mr Mann on your happy outcome. Its just a shame no professional doctor or dentist spotted the problem earlier. - Mike Jones, Hampshire, 26/5/2009 16:43

Well, another doctor and dentist covered themselves in glory with their diagnosis!! - Dave Pollard, Manchester, 26/5/2009 16:28

What a lovely story! I loved his wife's comment about the food bills. That generation are so stoical. It is a shame that he suffered for so many years, had there been the technology there is today it probably would have been spotted and sorted out, giving him years of eating steaks, lamb cutlets and talking more!! - Alison, Sandhurst, UK, 26/5/2009 15:54

Has this man's dentist never x-rayed him? Seems rather odd all these years and he has never once had a routine dental exam with an x-ray. Surely this would have been discovered earlier? - Delancey, Omaha, NE, 26/5/2009 15:49

The above comements are taken from the UK Newspaper comments. It takes a Yank to point out the obvious about Xrays. God help us if Obamaniacs have their way with healthcare.

[Blood of Tyrants]

He probably did and they told him that there was nothing they could find.

[Right Wing Assault]

I take it he never took advantage of that most awesome free healthcare to have his jaw checked out.

Or he did and they told him x-rays were too expensive and that he should just live with it.

[Right Wing Assault]

I take it he never took advantage of that most awesome free healthcare to have his jaw checked out.

Or he did and they told him x-rays were too expensive and that he should just live with it. I feel sorry for this guy.

[Right Wing Assault]

My post #15 missed your #8. Sorry.

[LiveFreeOrDieUSA]

AH! the wonders of free healthcare!!!

/S

[FlyVet]

Wow. Kinda like a wood sliver. It's hard to believe such a tiny thing can be such an annoyance but eventually it works its way out. A minor thing, but you're glad to get rid of that little annoyance. But, shrapnel that took over half a century to work itself out? Wow.

I hope this gives the ol' guy a little bit of extra peace and satisfaction in his last days. Very cool.

[Jack Hammer]

This is the sort of news it’s a pleasure to read.

[FlyVet]

Nah. X-rays aren't that expensive. I think a lot of these old veterans don't think anyone gives a damn, due to depression, their experiences, whatever, so they give up trying to get help.

It seems that if the shrapnel was able to work itself out, it could have been surgically removed, but who knows. Maybe the docs tried to help him, but thought that they would do more damage trying to remove it than it was worth.