Rich & Mary's Story
This site is dedicated to my Rich and all the Veterans of past wars , the present war and hopefully not a future war.
I started this site to help change the Veteran Health Care System. Their Emergency Room front desk's has to be changed
to have a trained Triage person manning the desk and some of their staff has to be more considerate of the problems of vets.
I hope I can accomplish this with help from Politicians and the VA it self.
The Veteran's Administration has to stop the mistreatment of our veterans and using them as Guinea Pigs.
We relied on the VA health care system for his health care.
I must say that his primary doctor was a wonderful, caring man. I will always remember him . He did his best to help my guy.
Rich was diagnosed with Parkinson's five years ago during a stay at the James A. Haley VA Hospital in Tampa, Florida.
He was there for five days with a bout of Diverticulitis. His care while there was excellent.
Two years ago Rich was treated for Prostrate cancer with radiation for 42 days. He beat it, his PSA went down to normal.
At his last visit he was released and did not have to go back until next year.
Around January of this year Rich started to lose weight and his appetite. His stomach extended and gurgled all the time. We went to his primary and Rich was sent for 2 Colonoscopy's in the space of 5 days because he was not cleaning out enough to finish the test. He had an X-ray that showed a 9 1/2 cm blockage and had a Cat Scan. He was scheduled for a Barium test on July 1st. 3 weeks away.
On June 25 we went to see his primary and the doctor said to go right to the Tampa VA to see a surgeon instead of waiting. The doctor gave me the name of a Physicians Assistant to see on the surgical ward. The surgeon the PA called in to see Rich said he "saw no reason to admit Rich for a surgical reason."
And this is where our nightmare began.
Go to "Letters to Politician's" to read a letter I emailed to First Lady Laura Bush, Barack Obama, Ron Paul and to every other politician , I could think of for help telling them of Rich's humiliation after his Barium test, the mismanagement in the Emergency Room that we encountered, the 45 minutes in the waiting room that may have cost Rich his life.
The ONLY three so far to return a call or an email was a man who phoned me from Senator John McCain's campaign office in Arlington, VA and he gave me Senator McCain's address in AZ and assured me that Senator McCain would be made aware of it. Senator Mccain has written to me three times and is aware of what the VA did and has done.
The other two where Senator Bill Nelson of Florida and Congressman Gus Bilirakis from Palm Harbor, FL. who has disappointed me very much. Please go to the "Interesting Info & Links" page to find out why this man is a disapointment.
UPDATE
On Wednesday, July 23 I met with the hospital Chief of Staff, Dr. Cutolo, the Veterans attorney James Kelly and another rep. of the hospital. All three admitted that if they had admitted Rich into the hospital back in April instead of sending him for more tests his death would have been preventable.
His cause of death was from
A) Bowel obstruction w. perforation-
approximate interval to death- 3 days--Date of his Barium test
B) Perforated Diverticulitis
approximate interval to death-- weeks
C) Multiple organ dysfunction/Sepsis Syndrome
approximate interval to death- 3 days-Date of his Barium test
FLORIDA ARCHAIC LAW'S
Under Florida state law, that as a companion and not a spouse, I cannot sue the hospital for causing his death. In Florida that person and their spouse are usually the only people who can file a medical malpractice claim. I did not and do not want to sue the VA. All I have want is for them, the VA, to make the changes within their system to guard against another one of our Veterans being killed.
In case of death, only the spouse or a child younger than 25 or otherwise dependent can file a claim.
So technically, the VA hospitals can get away with killing our veterans without so much as a slap on the wrist if you are only a companion or child under 25!.
Unless Florida changes it's legislation and statues, everyone in our position of not being married will run into the same problem we have with the VA and other legal issues in Florida and 35 other states.
JULY 29 UPDATE
I just received a letter from Congressman Gus Bilirakis that was an answer from the Va's Director Stephen M. Lucas to the Congressman's inquiry dated July 24, the day after our meeting.
Starting with the 1st paragraph to the end, it is one lie after another. They lied about dates and results of his tests, the ER, the condition he was left in after his Barium test and even the Clarion motel.
Mr. Lucas did not even sign the letter, someone else did above Lucas's typed name. All I have received from that man is a rubber-stamped form letter of condolence!
I have not yet been able to locate a attorney to help me bring justification to this mess. Once they hear I am not a spouse and there is no money involved they drop me like a hot potato! They don't care about the man, only the money involved.
If you read this, PLEASE forward my site to everyone on your email and Buddy list. It may just reach the right person that can help bring about changes to help our vets.
Many thanks to Lady_Cinn a member of WeaverDesigns
for her great graphics .
August 8, 2008
Our local paper the St. Petersburg Times did a story on Rich.
You can read it by following the link below.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/military/veterans/article762728.ece
August 9
VA Letter to Congressman Bilirakis & Senator Nelson
http://www.tampabay.com/news/military/veterans/article764297.ece
August 10
VA talk with Congressman Bilirakis
http://www.tampabay.com/news/military/veterans/article765173
.ece
August 15
Senator Nelson wants answers from VA
http://www.tampabay.com/news/military/veterans/article771611
.ece
August 19
More families hear apologies following medical mistakes
http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/medicine/article775911
.ece
August 20
Bilirakis to meet VA Thursday
http://blogs.tampabay.com/military/2008/08/bilirakis-to-me.html
August 22
Lawyer challenges VA to be more open
http://blogs.tampabay.com/military/2008/08/lawyer-challeng.html#more
August 22
Va refuses again to talk about Haley death
http://blogs.tampabay.com/military/2008/08/va-refuses-agai.html
August 22
Bilirakis REFUSES to discuss meeting with VA
http://blogs.tampabay.com/military/2008/08/bilirakis-refus.html#more
August 22
Bilirakis: VA didn't mislead him him death case
http://blogs.tampabay.com/military/james_a_haley_veterans_hospital/index.html
August 23
Haley didn't mislead in case of vet who died, Bilirakis says
http://www.tampabay.com/news/military/veterans/article781638.ece
August 25
Haley apologizes to Senator Nelson
http://blogs.tampabay.com/military/2008/08/haley-apologize.html#more
August 26
VA KILLS ANOTHER VET
VA apologizes over Bronx death
http://blogs.tampabay.com/military/2008/08/va-apologizes-o.html
November 9
VA KILLS YET ANOTHER VET
Transfer of VA patient goes awry
http://www.tampabay.com/news/military/veterans/article896241.ece
