NBC News: 68% of IED soldier victims who survive have brain injuries

[Faygo Kid]

Ten percent end up in nursing homes. Permanently. Just reported tonight. How do Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld et al sleep at night? For what are the deaths, disfigurement and permanent impairment for? I guess we know. I cannot understand the support that is retained for Bush, about one of three. Frightening. *heavy sigh*

[Ilsa]

1. They should all be put to work giving those poor soldiers bed baths,

changing their sheets, bandaging their bed sores, and flushing their excrement from their Depends or bedpan or emptying their Foley catheters.

[Faygo Kid]

6. I'm with you, Ilsa. That's what I thought, too.

They will do that like they enlisted for Vietnam, or even exposed themselves to the draft - never. Would like to see them do it for even a day. But realistically, it's too late for them. Their evil is total. Maybe 30 years ago there was hope; maybe not.

[madokie]

17. I would settle on them being bubbas cell mates

and I am not talking BC here either

[Horse with no Name]

15. Not a good idea

I would rather these tasks be delegated to those who cared for human life and suffering and had an ounce of compassion in their souls.
These guys don't qualify.

[Faygo Kid]

16. Your point is well taken. Perhaps patrolling the streets of Fallujah?

That indeed is a more appropriate place for this crew. And Bush can wear a uniform! That should make him happy. Cheney could be a minesweeper. Yes, that is better than having them care for people that need compassion.

[Horse with no Name]

20. Great idea!

However--I think they should be PLAINLY marked as President Bush and Vice-President Cheney and let the games begin.:evilgrin:

[Faygo Kid]

21. Maybe a "Mission Accomplished" banner on their backs?

We can dream, can't we?

[Ilsa]

32. So true, so true. They wouldn't make even passable caregivers, and

I would probably have to fire them if they were caring for my loved ones.

[knitter4democracy]

2. Wow.

:cry: That's unbelievably awful. How terrible for them, their families, and their communities. You're right: how can they sleep at night?

[gratuitous]

3. The cost of this little foray just keeps mounting, doesn't it?

Reason number 842 why no country should go to war on a whim, and why all war is sin.

[marmar]

4. Even more to thank *, Dick and Rumsfailed for...

More victims of their bullshit war, whose medical and living assistance benefits I'm sure they'll slash. Only sociopaths could be that cavalier with other people's lives.
:grr:

[Faygo Kid]

8. Looking forward to visiting Crossroads Village. Again. Soon.

Haven't been there in about five years, but it's one of my favorite - and most underrated - places in Michigan (yes, I'm here). Got to go on, but I am so sorry for these young people. Maybe they could have a day for wounded soldiers or something that wouldn't turn into a pro-Bush lovefest. Anyway, great place, and Michael Moore and I are Flint fans. Go Tigers. Please.

[marmar]

25. You know, even though I live close to it...

I've only ever been to Crossroads Village once. (The train is neat)....
And maybe you'll get your wish with the Tigers this year. THey're not bad.

[Faygo Kid]

29. Go back, my friend. The train is now a minimal attraction.

They have expanded it, and your neighbors are reenactors from the turn of the century (early 19th century, of course). Make a leisurely full summer day of it, ride the carousel and have an old fashioned ice cream for me. You won't regret it, right in your backyard. Then, come back and tell me if you enjoyed it. I hope to see you there; I am moving to DC, with all its amazing historical sites and Civil War places to visit in Virginia and Maryland, and I have been to many, but I like the honesty and warmth and things to see and people to talk to at Crossroads Village as well as any place. I will return.

[0007]

28. Al was one of the three "Ks" in those days......Nice to see his

name again.

[Faygo Kid]

33. Killebrew and Koufax

Just guessing here, my friend, but since I can name the starting lineup of the 1961 Detroit Tigers off the top of my head, it's an educated guess, anyway. Are you old enough to remember when nobody played "soccer" and everyone played baseball, and we collected baseball cards? For reminding me, whether right or wrong, here is a site you need to see and argue with. This is cool. If you don't think this is great fun, I give up. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share.

http://www.bravesbeat.com/article_665.shtml

[0007]

41. No way. I'll let you work it out. I know you can.

Killebrew and Koufax never played in the American League let alone Detroit.

[Faygo Kid]

47. Where did you say it had to be American League????

And Killebrew was damned well certain the American League. What is going on here?

[Ilsa]

5. Here's a link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12482733/

[VOX]

36. Thanks for this, Ilsa. n/t

[rodeodance]

7. sad, oh so sad for them and their families/friends.

[KamaAina]

9. Meanwhile they're cutting programs that serve people with disabilities

Medicaid for one. :grr:

And as for that ten percent going to nursing homes, that should be illegal: under a Supreme Court decision called Olmstead vs. L.C., it is a civil right to live in the community rather than being forced to live in a congregate setting such as a nursing home or state institution.

[Faygo Kid]

11. I'm with you: Home and community-based care is the way to go.

It even saves Medicaid money. Maybe that's 10 percent in nursing homes, and even more in other caregiving situations. Whatever the percentages, this madness must end.

[ismnotwasm]

30. I agree

I'm out of the field now, but it's a very interesting song and dance how they get around that. Patients have to be evaluated, and a "lesser care" facility found for them. Sometimes it's not easy, depending on the level of care. Community care, Adult family homes are a better option, but ALSO come in to evaluate patients, and will not always accept them. Sometimes the "evaluation" will just show that a long-term facility is best. Home health care obscenely underfunded--how many families would love to take care of their loved ones at home, and find they don't qualify, or have less benefit than is needed? It makes me sick.

On the flip side, many nursing homes will no longer accept certain types of patients, because of certain state standards. When I left LTC, we no longer accepted any trach care, quadraplegics, Huntingtons Chorea Patients, pt's with any documented behavioral problems, for example. We tried not to take young(er) patients because the state (surveyer) immediately will focus on them because they KNOW nursing homes are not appropriatly placement. I'm sure some of these Vets with brain damage would fall under the category of "Not accepted"

What also happens, if one of these young men or women needed to go to the hospital for some reason, as is likely, if the nursing home or adult family home can provide proof that they can no longer provide the level of care the patient needs they don't have to "take them back" which will lead to what many be in many cases, a traumatic move.
The whole thing is ugly and wrong, and breaks my heart.

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Al Franken mentioned this on his show the other day. He said it would

cost about $1 million to treat each soldier. This does not even take into consideration the emotional impact on the families. These are not injuries that will be healing like a normal "wound".

He commented that the retiring Exxon's package could take care of 400 soldiers.

It is horrifying and disgusting and heartbreaking.
These statistics do not hit the Mainstream media.

[ismnotwasm]

12. Nursing homes.

Which are again on the end of the budget cutting axe. As is the VA.
Every single one of those asswipe repuke flag wavers needs to contact the VFW today, and find out where these Vets are, and do some volunteering.

It won't happen. I worked in nursing homes for eleven years. Long term care is my first love in nursing. I've seen the most incredible acts of devotion to the most callous acts of stop and drop 'em. Brain damaged patients are often difficult to care for. Sometimes families can't stand to see it and have a very difficult time coming in.

I know a couple of Veterans advocates, I may contact them and see If I can put my money where my mouth is. I hate to think of those men and women lost and forgotten. Just like I hate to think of all the dead and injured from this war.

Goddam bush.

[w8liftinglady]

22. Me,too-i work with the "lost cause "patients.

patients who are taking too long to wean from the ventillator,not responding to therapy...they come to us.I am proud tosay that I have made a difference in these folks' livews,by treating them like people,instead of diseases.this will mark my 20th year doing this.

[peacebird]

24. thank you for caring w8liftinglady! I imagine you have made a huge

difference in the lives of those you treat.

:hug:

[w8liftinglady]

26. they have made a bigger difference in my life.I love them all.

[ninkasi]

31. You have my deepest admiration

Your job must be incredibly draining, although you obviously get satisfaction from helping others. I don't know how much you make, but consider that the ones who plan for war, who cause wars, even though they have never been in harm's way, those people also profit from war. This is obscene. Then fortunately, there are angels like you, who see the results of other people's decisions, and try to take care of them.

It's ironic that the ones who salivate at the thought of starting wars for profit earn huge financial gains, an those like you, care for the ones who were scarified in those wars, do so for no other reason than a desire to help others. You, as a person, are worth a billion Bushes, or Cheneys.

[w8liftinglady]

35. that was such a kind,touching thing to say-tears in my eyes

thank you:hug:

[ismnotwasm]

46. Bless you!

I know how difficult it is, and I know "those" moments of caring that no one else every sees or even knows about. You do indeed make a difference. I still think that it's one of the greatests acts of love for humanity doing to work you do in part because of those moments, in part because of the difficulty of the task, and in part because of what you said---treating human beings that happen to have a condition or disease as human beings.

[Ilsa]

13. And how much ya wanna bet they try to "Andrea Clarke" them?

Okay, not today, but eventually, I bet some of these soldiers get their quality of life reviewed by some govt bioethicist who says we are spending too much on them in keeping them hydrated and fed and cleaned up, and they try to toss them out or remove care to let them starve/rot to death.

"Have I mentioned today how much I hate these people?"

[Horse with no Name]

14. And let us not forget that this bunch of assholes cut the VA budget

Every chance they get.
Soooo....these poor soldiers who are in a Nursing Home NOW may face being evicted at some point in the future if that particular funding is cut.:mad:

[w8liftinglady]

18. as 'constipated bastard"-my nemesis on the op-ed page-said-

they all volunteered-besides,weren't people getting hurt in Iraq before the war?
my reply
"3. “Why is it that those who want to emphasize the total numbers of casualties always use round numbers? And can all those casualties caused by illness and non-combat related injuries really be attributed to the war?” When I stated the deaths, injuries and wounded, I low-balled the numbers — even though every single one of those soldiers is a valuable American. My son developed PTSD after his second war-zone deployment. He started therapy 18 months ago, and yet was deployed again to Iraq. I know he has seen his friends’ heads blown off. I know he has killed people. I know that citizens like Mr. King, who have nothing to lose, and who have sacrificed nothing, are very casual with their approach to this war. Do some research, Mr. King. Look up depleted uranium, white phosphorus and the antimalarial drugs they are shooting these soldiers up with. How dare you accuse me of compromising my son’s welfare. What have you done for him, other than criticize me? Show me how well this war is going, Mr. King, and what sacrifice you and your family have paid for this noble cause.
http://thedailylight.com/articles/2006/04/20/dailylight/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/03%20letters.txt

[jsamuel]

19. That's why casualties is more accurate than "number dead"

war doesn't just affect the dead

[w8liftinglady]

23. we need at least one more rec for this story

[w8liftinglady]

27. vote this up on msnbc,too

[Mr_Spock]

34. That better not be true

That's simply awful :(

[w8liftinglady]

37. I heard something like 8000 soldiers

[Mr_Spock]

39. That's an awfully large number!

I love that Gandhi saying BTW.

[w8liftinglady]

40. this is a good link

http://www.birf.info/home/library/vet/vet-penta.html
(this is an old article)

Pentagon is underreporting the number of American soldier casualties in Iraq

By Mark Benjamin

A group of seven House Democrats wrote President Bush this week, accusing the Pentagon of underreporting casualties in Iraq.

It's a shocking charge. The letter writers argue that Pentagon casualty reports show only a sliver of the injuries, mostly physical ones from bombs or bullets. But war doesn't work like that, the Democrats declare, adding that the reports skip a horrible panoply of accidents, illness, disease and mental trauma.

[w8liftinglady]

42. interesting tidbit about how repubs support the troops

-snip
One Washington medical centre is reporting that a staggering 83% of wounded Marines and sailors were suffering from temporary or permanent brain damage.

The emergence of this latest "signature wound" comes just one month after President Bush announced in his 2006 budget that he would eliminate a $9 million program for the treatment of people with Traumatic Brain Injury.

http://www.birf.info/home/library/vet/vet-tbi-iraq.html

[w8liftinglady]

43. I would call them evil c#cksuckers-but they don't even deserve that.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

38. The bushes have "beautiful minds"- they can't muss it up w/these thoughts

[Rex]

44. The sheer force from the explosion of modern ordinance.

No amount of padding will protect the brain. How does Bush sleep at night?

[ReadTomPaine]

45. How do they sleep at night?

On a big pile of money, surrounded by fawning sycophants happy to do whatever they are told.

That trio have no conscience, no empathy. Therefore, they have no trouble sleeping at night. The sleepless nights all came many years ago, before they had a way to act on their base desires and sick ideology.

[w8liftinglady]

48. Kicking in honor of Rumsfeld's visit to Iraq

I hope you're proud,you soulless,evil BASTARD.