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02/17/11--13:58: Comment on by LOU COLO'N (chan 1558371)

WHEN I RETURNED FROM MY 3RD TRIP TO AFGHANISTAN FEB. 2009 I WAS RELEASED FROM WOMAC AT FT. BRAGG, N.C. AFTER A SERIES OF APPT. FOR MY RIGHT KNEE I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A RIGHT KNEE REPLACEMENT "BUT" I WAS TO YOUNG AND TO ACTIVE (58 YRS OLD) SO I HAS TOLD TO GO AND DEAL WITH THE V.A. IN NEW JERSEY THAT IS WHEN MY NIGHTMARE BEGAN THEY TRIED EVERYTHING TO DISCOURAGE ME FROM GETTING IT DONE THRU THEM BY THE TIME I GOT DONE DEALING WITH THE V.A. AT EAST ORANGE, N.J. AFTER THE FIRST PHASE OF MANY VISITS TO THEIR ORTHOPEDIC GROUP AND DEALING WITH PA'S I HAD BEEN GIVEN 5 KNEE BRACES TO TRY FOR 3 WEEKS AT A TIME TO SEE HOW THYE WOULD WORK OUT, THEY NEVER ACCEPTED MY PAPERWORK FROM FT. BRAGG WHICH INDICATED THAT I NEEDED A KNEE REPLACEMENT SO I HAD TO GO THRU THERE PROCEDURES WELL AFTER THE 3RD KNEE BRACE I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO GET SOME OUTSIDE OPINIONS AT COST TO ME AND GOT 2 FROM DIFFERENT CIVILIAN ORTHOPEDICS GROUP AND BOTH CAME BACK POSITIVE THAT I NEEDED A KNEE REPLACEMENT I AGAIN TOOK THIS PAPERWORK TO THE V.A. TO SHOW THEM AND AGAIN I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD TO GO THRU THEIR PROCEDURES AND WOULD NOT ACCEPT THEM SO I WAS HANDED ANOTHER KNEE BRACE AGAIN FOR 3 WEEKS BY THIS TIME I WAS BEING TOLD ALSO BY MY PROVIDER AT THE V.A. TO SEE A PSYCH. TO BE EVALUATED DUE TO MY DEPRESSION AND PTSD AND OTHER SYMPTOMS WHICH HAD BEEN BROUGHT UPON BY THE V.A. IN THE FIRST PLACE NOW THEY WANTED ME TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF BY THEM WHAT A COINCEDENCE LET'S GIVE HIM DRUGS AND THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THAT. ONCE THE NEW YEAR CAME IN I TRIED TO SEE IF I WERGOING TO GET A LOCKED IN DATE FRO MY SURGERY AND AGAIN THE "TOP HAT AND CANE" CAME OUT SO I FINALLY WENT TO MY CONGRESSMAN AND WITH IN 3 WEEKS I GET A CALL FROM A COORDINATOR AT THE V.A. STATING THAT SHE HAD RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY CONGRESSMAN AND WAS GOING TO SEE WHERE THE CLICHE WAS AT IN THE SYSTEM I EXPLAINED TO HER HOW LONG IT HAD BEEN AND THE OTHER THING WAS THAT I WAS OUT OF WORK AND MY WIFE ALSO AT LESS SHE HAD BEEN ABLE TO COLLECT I HAD TAKEN A RETIREMENT PACKAGE FROM VERIZON SO THE INCENTIVE THAT THEY GAVE WAS GOOD FOR AWHILE CAUSE I THOUGHT I WOULD HAD HEVE THE OPERATION DONE LAST YR. HE IT IS A YEAR LATER AND FINALLY GOT A DATE OF APRIL 2011 SO IT WILL BE ABOUT 1 1/2 YRS. FOR THEM TO LOCK IN A DATE BUT THE THING IS NOW I HAVE OUR HOME AND CAR UP FOR SALE SINCE OUR NEST EGG MIGHT MAKE IT TO SUSTAIN US UNTIL APRIL WHEN THE OPERATION WILL BE, BUT THE DAMAGE IS DONE NOW EVERYTHING IS IN MOTION AND THE V.A. IS LIKE SORRY FOR SOMETHING THEY CAUSED TO HAPPEN WHEN THEY COULD HAVE DONE IT LAST YR. AND I COULD HAVE BEEN RECUPERATED DURING THE SUMMER OF 2010 AND PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN WORKING AT LEASE TO HAVE SOME INCOME COMING IN TO SUPPORT US. SO FOR ALL OF THOSE WHO GET DEPLOYED AND DEMOB MAKE SURE TO HAVE ANYHTING WRONG WITH YOU PAST OR PRESENT ON PAPER AND DO NOT DEMOB FOR ANY REASON OR RANK THAT TELLS YOU TO BECAUSE ONCE YOU PROCESS OUT THEY HAVE WASHED THEIR HANDS OF AND NOW YOU HAVE TO EITHER DEAL WITH TI ON YOUR OWN OR THE V.A. I DO NOT WISH THIS UPON ANYONE WHAT I HAVE GONE THRU BECAUSE VERY FEW CARE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR PROBLEMS BUT IF ARE TOLD TO DEMOB BY WHOEVER STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS AND GET OTHER HELP SO YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PROCESS OUT UPON YOUR RETURN DO NOT LET RANK INTIMIDATE YOU IT'S YOUR RIGHT AND AGAIN REMEBER ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU FEEL ON PAPERWORK SO THAT YOU GET IT TAKEN CARE BEFORE YOU DEMOB IF IT MEANS YOU HAVE TO BE PUT ON MEDICAL HOLD SO BE IT AT LEASE YOU ARE THERE AND HOPEFULYY IT WILL BE TAKEN CARE OF RIGHT THERE. BUT AS FOR MYSELF THIS APRIL 2011 I HOPE TO HAVE A NEW KNEE AND KEEP MY HOME I WILL BE PUT ON MILITARY ORDERS AGAIN FOR THAT PERIOD SO I'LL HAVE SOME INCOME COMING IN TO SUPPORT US, CAUSE THE I'AM SORRY FROM THE V.A. IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE MORTGAGE COMPANY. I HOPE THIS HELPS OTHER BROTHER AND SISTERS OUT THERE.


02/17/11--19:32: Comment on by Ashley Sullivan (chan 1558371)

Lou- Thanks so much for sharing your story! Let us know if there is anything we can do for you or anyone in your family in the upcomming months.Good luck with your knee replacement! I think it is soo important to let people know how you hero's are being treated after risking your life for our freedom and safety. Hopefully you sharing your story and advice will help people and soliders in the future!Thank you for everything you have done for our country & Good Luck with your procedure!


02/21/11--18:06: Comment on by Liz Sullivan (chan 1558371)

Lou its hard to express the gratitude for yours service and the embarrassment for the betrayal I feel our country and the milatry has played on your and other soldiers. Knowing a little about you I know when you get the new knee you will be off and running. Only the strongest are willing and able to fight the hard battle trying to get the basic of what was promised you for your service. What is our military doing? Good luck. Liz


02/25/11--14:27: Comment on by Craig (chan 1558371)

Thanks so much for all you have done for our Country Lou! I wish you a speedy recovery when you FINALLY get your surgery.