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Regular Joe
 
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I will be at the VA Spinal Cord Clinic in Augusta, GA from 04/Aug 'til God knows when for my 20th annual evaluation. 
It gets more and more depressing as the years go by and I get more and more dependent on others for help.
Add to the mix that they cut some "suspicious growths" out of my colon last year. The pain has only gotten worse and I'm shittin' bricks worrying that I might be a candidate for a colostomy. Yea, I know it's gross, but this is the section of this site where Veterans health issues can be discussed right?
Anyway, the good news is that they have a state-of-the-art lightweight power assist wheelchair waiting for me. Good news, that is, for my worn-out shoulders, elbows and wrists. 21 years of pushing a manual wheelchair around will do that to you.
I hope to report on the state of that medical center if I make it out alive. 
JJ...
When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. (Edmund Burke-1770)
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Strong Like Bull, Smart As Rock
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Good luck to you, JJ.  Keep on keeping on. 
Gold Class 92-03
The Warrant Officer – an officer appointed by the Secretary of the Army based on a sound level of technical and tactical competence. The Warrant Officer is a highly specialized expert and trainer who by gaining progressive levels of expertise and leadership operates, maintains, administers, and manages the Army’s equipment, support activities, or technical systems for an entire career.
WTF? Who's Mr. Pillow Pants? - Clerks 2
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Air Force Liaison/P.Net Original Cast of Characters
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Hey my dad lives in Augusta....you need a contact point (he's old school 508th ARCT) he would be happy to help you out!
LOAD CLEAR! LOAD CLEAR! Your Job is my Hobby!
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Regular Joe
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Mortarman11c (7/22/2009)
Hey my dad lives in Augusta....you need a contact point (he's old school 508th ARCT) he would be happy to help you out!
Hey Mort, your Old Man never showed up. Would have been nice, but I got blessed with the best three guys (4 man rooms) you could ever hope for as roomies. Two quads, one para and me. All bedridden including me. I got back about a week ago. I'm still building some strength up. They had to cut a piece of my gut out and now I got a sack hanging to the left of my belly button. I'm really havin' fun now.
Funny story, I was getting out of bed to my wheel chair, and my nurse Carlos was helping me. I was week and dizzy and I said "spot me if I look like I'm gonna hit the tile bro'". He said "just do a PLF"! Caught me up short and I looked him in the eye and said "what the hell do you know about a "PLF?"! He said I told you a month ago, I was in the 2/325 at Bragg. He was right. I was whacked from complications of the surgery and f**cked up on some serious meds and forgot. from then on every time he was my nurse, we had that Airborne bond.
I got my new wheel chair, some good drugs and everything I need to keep on keepin' on. You always meet some sour pusses, but for the most part every person on every part of the staff deserves a pat on the back.
My battery went dead from sitting out there for over two months. A call to the local Advance Auto, who happened to be run by a disabled Vet, sent a mechanic out who put in a new battery, checked all the fluids and tires, did not charge me for the road call and gave me a 10% discount on the whole thing. The mechanic must have had pity on me because I was sitting there in hospital clothes and he would not accept a tip. There are a few good people left on the planet.
Any info I can offer about this particular spinal cord center, I'll be glad to help.
JJ...
When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. (Edmund Burke-1770)
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Air Force Liaison/P.Net Original Cast of Characters
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JJ welcome back brother....well the ol man is 72 and has two artificial knees. He must have been on the go.....who knows. I'll put a foot in his 4th point of contact.
I never did find your daughter at the convention. We would have taken care of her.
LOAD CLEAR! LOAD CLEAR! Your Job is my Hobby!
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Regular Joe
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Hello JJ. I'm a SCI Veteran myself. 19 years this year. I live in Florida and go to the Tampa SCI Center so we have probably never crossed paths but I hope everything is going well with you.
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Regular Joe
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Mustard-Stain (4/16/2010)
Hello JJ. I'm a SCI Veteran myself. 19 years this year. I live in Florida and go to the Tampa SCI Center so we have probably never crossed paths but I hope everything is going well with you.Hey brother... I hear good things about the Tampa SCIU. I'm a complete T-7 Para. 22 years in May. What level are you? I was doing good 'til around 2003. I was draggin' ass to work by '05, and had to retire in '06. My shit's fallin' apart fast. I'm hopin' to meet my final reward soon 'cause the pain is driving me out of my mind and the drugs don't seem to be helping as much as I get on in years. I don't want to be a burden on anyone especially my wife. She busts her ass enough taking care of my crazy-ass daughters first two kids. Young man, with that civil engineering degree, you should be doing more than sittin' around playing video games. You should be able to get a civilian job with the military or civil service easy. Sorry, I call 'em as i see 'em. Feel free to needle me if ya like.  I always say: I went from being a paratrooper to a paraplegic. yuk, yuk... We have many issues the walkers can't even comprehend. Feel free to discuss anything you need to with me bro. If you want we can try out the private section of this topic JJ...
When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. (Edmund Burke-1770)
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Regular Joe
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Know it's rough for you. Hang in there. Prayers out!
"Get out of that door you Goddam piece of shit" and than I felt the kick of the boot on my skinny ass and the small of my back-it broke my grasp of the tower door and out I went screaming like a little girl.
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Regular Joe
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brothers all (4/18/2010)
Know it's rough for you. Hang in there. Prayers out!Thanks for the thoughts Bro... I bitch and moan but there are others who are way out of my league laying up in the hospitals. I used to volunteer when I was in better health but I'm real slow nowadays. At the very least, I can get myself out of bed alone and wheel around. Some are so badly injured there is nothing for them but to lay around having someone take care of them and waiting for the end. That's rough! JJ...
When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle. (Edmund Burke-1770)
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Regular Joe
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I'm a T-5 complete. I got the degree Dec 08 and went to the Florida Department of Transportation for about 6 months and realized I spent more time going to the doctors because i was worn out than I had ever done before. They also aren't as wheelchair friendly as they would like to pretend. It was an experience though. Not to curse it or anything but I have had an interview with the PVA and am trying to become a NSO. I like helping people and I also know that I will never have to worry about wheelchair accessibility working for them. Sorry to here about your pain. I have bad shoulders and that's about it right now. 19 years this year in Oct so I count myself somewhat fortunate. I only had 1 stint in the Richmond VA where they screwed 3 surgeries after I had osteomyelitis in my right femur head that they took out the femur head. That was a rough year but thankfully Bob Griese couldn't steal all of the National Championship from Nebraska even though his son barely won the Rose Bowl to the #7 team. Forgot to add that this little break from work and school as helped me focus on my health. My wife went on the Wii Fit after the holidays and her character blew up because she had gained weight. So we started weight watchers and I lost 30 lbs since the end of Jan and down below 200 (just barely). I'll know how much tomorrow as it's time for me to go to Tampa all day tomorrow for my annual eval exams.
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