We NEED National attention!

Okay, so apparently Nick’s care has over stretched the budget of our local VA and due to the fact that he has “dementia” listed in one of his many many false diagnosis, we are now in a “battle” to get Nick’s care paid for. I have been told that we could move Nick once again to a facility that would be closer to me, his guardian, BUT is that really in Nick’s best interest? The Eisenhower Center has a phenomenal reputation in helping those with TBI and take patient’s from all over the country, not just here in Michigan. Matter of fact, a person has to be accepted into the facility. Yes, this means there is a waiting list to get into the Eisenhower Center. So, why on earth would we have Nick moved (yet once again) to a new facility? Nick has been moved around too much as it is. Why would we take him OUT of a facility that has a strong reputation for helping those with a TBI (Nick has has 5 at least)? Uh, we are not THAT naive. NO, Nick stays right were he is and yes, for all the sacrifice he and his family has given for this great country of ours, it WILL be covered!

Nick is thriving at Eisenhower. He is becoming less incontinent to where he is dry all day and maybe an accident at night, HUGE improvement. Nick is feeding himself with less intervention, Nick’s speech is improving, the list goes on. Funny, if he had dementia, wouldn’t he be getting worse and not better? Hey, what do I know, right?! Well, Nick IS improving and he does NOT have dementia.
Bottom line, Nick’s care needs to be covered and we are helping with that BUT not all of it.

Nick suffered the TBI injuries from the war, so I think it is fair to say his care should be covered by the government, right? Seems like an obvious solution to our problem. Yet this is not a wound you can see, this is a wound deep within, along with the PTSD he that he has. I for one am tired of having my brother thrown out with the daily “garbage“. I want to continue the positive progress Nick is working towards. No more of this “Accept your brother is dying and go home a grief for him” mentality that has been fed to his family. Nick is NOT dying, he is thriving! he loves it at the Eisenhower and wants to stay. So, we will make that happen for him.

The smile you see, in this photo of Nick holding his son Storm, is returning and I want to see that continue. Nick deserves that.

So come on! We need NATIONAL attention to continue this battle for Nick’s care! The government needs to know, “We have a soilder who is worth something here“

The Battle Continues!

Nick is currently in the Eisenhower Center in Ann Arbor Michigan receiving treatment. However, the VA has and continues to fight against us as we seek to improve Nick’s life. The new battle we are “fighting” against is Nick’s primary diagnosis of dementia that was given to him in the many diagnosis he has received over the many years. Because of this the VA is saying “Nick is not in need of treatment for TBI and PTSD that the Eisenhower is giving him so therefore we will no longer be paying for any of Nick’s treatment”. UGhhhhh!!!! Really?? Can this be happening??? I thought the VA was suppose to TAKE CARE of their Veterans! The men and women who have served this GREAT country of ours SELFLESSLY! Nick has dementia due to the many exposures of IED blast at close range! Nick has a TBI!!!! Well duh, you are thinking. Apparently for the VA it needs to be spelled out slowly. For all the effort and expense the VA has put into fighting against Nick’s treatment, you would think it would be cheaper to just help him and get us out of their “hair” sort of speak. Nick has fought for our country, shouldn’t we fight for him? Does he not deserve the treatment? Should he not be able to enjoy his life too? Come on! Give this soilder, this Marine a fighting chance!

TBI cases increased dramatically during the war

Hmmm……amazing that this was known. Our soilders need help with recovering from TBI and only a “few” are recieving the help they need. Why does it take a battle to fight through all the beuracratic red tape? Don’t our soilders deserve the best for giving their best?

Nick is at EISENHOWER CENTER in Ann Arbor

Nick is at the Eisenhower Center in Ann Arbor and is loving it! Of course he should be as he is in active therapy from speech, to occupational therapy (brushing teeth, bathing, feeding himself) and Physical therapy (bowling, art, etc…) Nick is being stimulated and his mind is being stimulated into doing things and remember, connecting those neurons to do more! YEAH!!!! This is HUGE and we are so glad the VA took a chance on him and will pay for 3 months of therapy! Nick needs to improve to the point that he no longer needs one on one so that the cost will decrease and hopefully the VA can see that he is worth the effort, money, and time! The Eisenhower Center has stated that Nick needs at the very least 6 months of therapy in order for this too work and ideally 1 year for complete therapy! Now the “fight” is to get this paid for! Nick deserves the year due to all the miss diagnoses, labeling, false information that has been handed to him and to his family! He has been labeled as “faking” his symptoms to “graduating from the “6” week program” for PTSD, to having “alzheimers”. Doctors have even told us to “grieve” because we need to “accept” that Nick is dying! WHAT……You go grieve, we will FIGHT for Nick to have his life! So the battle was won but Nick’s war continues! Onward and upward!

We are getting closer!

Recently received word that the Eisenhower Center thinks Nick is a good fit for their program! YEAH!!!! But…….now we have to convince the VA that Nick is worth the cost, worth the fight! Nick deserves a chance at a better life. A life that was taken from him and then misdiagnosed for years. This is Nick’s chance. Give it to him!

Nick’s daughter’s graduation cap

Suzy wore this cap during her graduation ceremony in honor of her Dad who she has said he went to Iraq to war and never returned. We honor that love she has for her Dad, that is why we fight so hard for Nick.
“We are fighters till the end” (Nick’s own words)