Just heard from my nephew who started boot camp 3 wks ago.

[woodsprite]

He's the one that went in under the "buddy" program. Well, apparently there was an outbreak of meningitis on base. He's in Georgia for training. He had to be tested before he received a vaccination. When they tested him, something went wrong with the spinal tap and now he can't feel anything from the waist down. He had just gotten married August 26th and was doing very well. He had been made squad leader and was really pumped about that. They don't know if it's temporary or not. Soooo, if all of you would just keep him in your thoughts and prayers I'd really appreciate it. His wife is beside herself, but the Army said for her not to come down since he's in a base facility and there is no place for her to stay during his bootcamp stint.

[Generic Other]

1. Oh Woodsprite, I'm so sorry

I hope he bounces back to normal soon.

[Pirate Smile]

2. That's terrible. I'm so sorry. I hope he recovers fully.

:grouphug:

[MadMaddie]

3. Dammit.....this is something that shouldn't have happened...

Meningitas and other close quarter disieses were erradicated from military bases during the 80's and early 90's. There was a coctail of drugs given to prevent the soldiars from getting sick...They stopped giving this coctail sometimes in the 90s because they had had no outbreaks....


Umm why did they give him a spinal tap to determine if he needed a vacination. When I went in they gave us our shots and that was that?

Your nephew is in my prayers....

[The Backlash Cometh]

37. It's not making sense.

Isn't there a vaccination given for meningitis? It's required for college students.

[MadMaddie]

45. Exactly.....our soldiers are getting shorted on evertying....

[babylonsister]

4. woodsprite, I am

astounded. My thoughts and prayers are going your way and your nephew's. How long has it been since he had that spinal tap?

I have two nephews in the military; here's a hug. :hug:

[Solly Mack]

5. Warm vibes heading his way...and her way as well.

and for you too.

[OzarkDem]

6. Good heavens!

I'm so sorry to hear that, what an awful thing to happen to a young person. I will pray that he recovers quickly and that he doesn't have to go to Iraq.

[Flying Dream Blues]

7. Prayers said and sending healing love and peace! nt

[Ilsa]

8. Oh shit. And not a word on the internets about meningitis

at boot camp in GA. I wonder if Halliburton has a contract for something there.

Anyway, I hope your nephew gets through this hopefully temporary loss of feeling. I hope his bride can find some peace before she goes crazy with worry.

[TomInTib]

9. That's bullshit about the visitation thing

They just do not want anyone to see how idiotically incompetent those base hospitals can be.

Trust me, I spent a lot of time in those things.

Where is his wife and where does she need to go?

Maybe I can help.

Tom

[HeeBGBz]

15. Most military bases have guest hotels

That's bullshit.

[Qanisqineq]

34. Bingo!

Absolute bullshit. I've never seen a military base without a hotel and I've lived on a few and visited others.

[woodsprite]

25. I'm not sure where the bootcamp is, but I can find out.

Thanks for the offer. I'll let her know that I have several people who have offered some help in figuring out logistics. She's close by in Maryland, the rest of the family is just across the line in Delaware, so we see her quite often. I heard thru the family phonetree that my father-in-law is planning on taking their motorhome down. That way, he'll be down there with my niece for support, plus she'll have a familar place to stay. She's only 22, so I'm glad that Dad is taking care of the situation and going to be with her, plus the male presence certainly won't hurt. He's retired, so he doesn't have to worry about taking off from work, etc. and I believe whereever this is, is where Dad was stationed when he served. I heard them talking about it before Tony left.

I haven't been able to get thru to Mom/Dad tonight, but I've been poking around on the web. Either Tony's at Fort Gordon or he was going to go to Fort Gordon after basic. He is planning on going into Communications, so that would make sense. I just don't know if he was doing basic there or not.

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

32. Possibly Ft Benning if he is training in Georgia

I know people who have had sons in training there, and there are places to stay nearby, even if she can't stay onsite.

Here are google results for 20 hotels and motels in the vicinity.
www.google.com/maps?num=100&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=hotel+motel&near=Fort+Benning,+GA&sa=X&oi=local&ct=title

Your nephew will be in my thoughts.

[patrice]

10. God Bless him!

and your Family.

May the long-time Sun shine upon him,
All Love surround him,
And the pure Light within him,
Guide his way on.

[spuddonna]

11. Your nephew will definitely be in our prayers and thoughts...

I hope that his wife and he hear good news soon, and that he heals completely. Peace and love to you all...

[Monkeyman]

12. He will have to start over over again

He will heal it happens a lot most recover in about four weeks. He is in my prayers

[TomInTib]

13. Can't you just see it, Monkeyman?

Man, I definitely do not miss those places.

See my reply above.

What do you think?

[Monkeyman]

14. You and me both

Walter Reed for two dam years.I seen guys at Fort Ord get sicker and sicker I do not miss it at all.At Least the hospitals in Nam took good care of you. VA are no better

[TomInTib]

16. Stateside base hospitals suck

Reah, the stay was better in country, but Naval Hospital, Yokusuka, Japan was a ride.

[dave502d]

17. woodsprite so sorry to hear this. n/t

[madfloridian]

18. When did they start giving a spinal tap as a "test"?

I would not think they would do one unless it was absolutely necessary.

[alittlelark]

19. It is the only way I know of to definitively test for meningitis.

[madfloridian]

21. Did he have symptoms?

I know when my son was younger he had serious symptoms, and they still were cautious. I guess I am surprised.

[woodsprite]

23. From the little bit of the story I got so far, he was in the same barracks

as the guy who came down with it, so they were testing all who had come in direct or close contact with him. I believe the other people in different barracks were just given the vaccine. I have to talk to my MIL to find out exactly what's up and exactly where he is. It was something that I didn't find out right before he left because his orders had changed several times and he said he probably wouldn't even have email access.

[uppityperson]

20. My condelences and best wishes for a recovery

and hoping his wife can get down there soon.

[ninkasi]

22. Prayers and loving thoughts

are being sent your way, and to your nephew and his wife as well. I hope and pray that he will completely recover, and be in excellent health. :hug:

[spacelady]

24. This is not in his best interests--i.e. keeping his wife away, she may

just be the steel magnolia to get him the best care. She can help him with bathing & changing his sheets & combing his hair, just little things that make a big difference in his recovery. I am doing these things right now for my husband. He had a setback from a colon resection & just to have someone go get him icewater makes a difference, the personnel is so busy.
So, say please & thank you to those who are giving him care, but also insist that his family can be there to do those loving tasks that the overworked staff would appreciate. Also, Healing vibes right now for you. He will be okay. He needs his wife if she is willing & able. PM me if you want.

[Kurovski]

26. K&R so all the DU prayer/light/positive energy folks catch it.

woodsprite, would it be ok if you told us his first name?

Edit: His name is Tony? Is that correct?

[Mnemosyne]

27. I will hope he recovers quickly and fully. So sorry to hear it. n/t

[fed-up]

28. sending good thoughts your way, and I just sent you a pm

[Synnical]

29. Our military are guinea pigs!

I hate this so much!

Anthrax vaccinations and now this! K&R woodsprite, my thoughts are with you.

Guinea Pig Soldiers?

http://archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/02/21/ethics.matters/

Prompted by worries that Iraq and other rogue nations have and might use biological weapons, the Department of Defense has been vaccinating all active and reserve soldiers against anthrax. The program began in 1998, and has so far inoculated 400,000 out of 2.4 million military personnel. A few hundred soldiers have refused the six-injection regimen, saying it hasn't been proven either safe or effective and that they are unlikely to fight against the few nations that have such bio-warfare capabilities.
Center for Bioethics

Of those already vaccinated, almost 500 have reported reactions to it. In response, the military has court-martialed soldiers who refuse the vaccination, and there are reports that some National Guard pilots are choosing to resign rather than accept the vaccine.

Guinea pigs?

http://www.salon.com/health/feature/1999/05/13/anthrax/print.html

At Dover Air Force Base in Delaware on May 5, Col. Felix Grieder, the wing commander, temporarily suspended vaccinations on the 3,600-strong base because the performance of a Pentagon briefer sent to explain the shots had been "inadequate to dispel rumors and misinformation" about the vaccine's safety, Grieder's spokesman said. The incident at Dover reflects growing skepticism in and outside the military over the safety and reliability of the anthrax shots. A movement to make the shot voluntary has been orchestrated by an extremely loose coalition of critics -- everyone from Clinton-bashing militia types to left-wing activists, along with a General Accounting Office investigator in Washington and a day-care provider in suburban Denver who serves as electronic den mother for thousands of disgruntled soldiers, sailors and airmen. In the past six weeks, top brass and Food and Drug Administration officials have twice been called before Congress to answer critics of the program. In the middle of a war, the Pentagon is being accused of reckless disregard for the health of its men and women. "It would seem that troops are being used as guinea pigs," says Mark Zaid, a lawyer who represents several sailors disciplined for refusing the vaccine.

[Lisa]

30. oh, no!

I hope he recovers soon -- and that his wife gets to see him. She must be absolutely frantic.

[windbreeze]

31. meningitis...nothing to mess with...

but I cannot imagine them doing a spinal tap unless he was showing symptoms....?...serious good health thoughts going his way...good luck to him and his wife, he is young, and that's good...will keep them in my thoughts...and you too...
wb

[radwriter0555]

33. I hope he has a good lawyer?

That should have been the first course of action.

[RiDuvessa]

39. A military member can't sue.

Military member's are not allowed to sue military hospitals for malpractice. Their spouses can sue, but only for incidents of malpractice that occur on themselves, or in the case of pregnant women, their baby.

[radwriter0555]

42. It would appear that is not the case.... this law firm says it handles

Military Medical Malpractice...

http://www.govtclaim.com/CM/Custom/TOCPracticeAreaDescriptions.asp

[RiDuvessa]

43. Like I said

The spouse of a military member can sue a military medical facility for malpractice against themselves or a child. If you noticed, about half of the lawsuits at your link were for infant injury. Also, veterans can sue for malpractice against military/veteran medical facilities. However, an active duty service member cannot sue a military medical facility for injuries received while under their care.

<http://www.vet4vet.net/faqs.html>

<http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2006/Feb/07/ln/FP602070329.html>

<http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/cases/immunity/feres_v_us.htm>

It sucks, and doesn't seem fair at all.

[radwriter0555]

46. Could it be argued that a kid 3 weeks into boot camp wasn't on active

duty?

I would ABSOLUTELY talk to any lawyers until they all agreed or said flat out there is no case.

[FILAM23]

48. Your officially on active duty

the day they start paying you active duty pay, usually the day you report to boot camp.

[RiDuvessa]

49. Possibly.

I wouldn't bet on it though. The contract you sign is pretty binding. Still, never hurts to talk.

[radwriter0555]

51. Yes, it's important that this kid at least TALKS to a lawyer who

specializes in this type of thing, just to rule every possibility out.

I hope someone makes sure he does. I've gotten a lot of wrong information before I sat down in front of a lawyer... and it's cost me millions.

What you don't know can cost you your life and your health. He should consult real experts on this matter, is all I'm saying.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

35. I'm so sorry!

I hope he makes a speedy and full recovery. I can't believe they can't find a place for his wife. Isn't there some kind of Army Relief program that can help?

[ClayZ]

36. Lighting a candle on the left coast for your nephew!

Blessings!

[intheflow]

38. Prayer said and prayer request posted in the DU Prayer Circle Group

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=237x864

I also lit a candle for him. http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/message.cfm?l=eng&cid=1761075

[RiDuvessa]

40. Hope he recovers soon.

Best Wishes.

[Pool Hall Ace]

41. So sorry, woodsprite

Prayers and good thoughts going out to your nephew and family.

[mmonk]

44. Sorry to hear that.

Let's hope it is temporary. Can't they isolate what may have caused the loss of feeling?

[woodsprite]

47. My niece said they suspect a nerve was "nicked" in the process. n/t

[mmonk]

50. Yeah, definitely nerve related IMO. Hopefully, feeling

will be restored. They really need to take a look around the area. I hope things work out in the positive.

[greiner3]

52. Why the hell are people still going to DoD doctors?

They are butchers. I lived and worked near two army towns and the military personal were scared shitless when they had to go to the hospital or for a check-up. Oh, I get it, military doctors stay in for 20 years giving up $150,000 yearly salaries for basically room and board in the military because they are the best-of-the best!