Since we left Ward 7-D, there’s been some progress to report.
Specialist Claudio Carreon has moved back to Arizona to be with her mother and two year-old daughter.
Staff Sergeant Jay Wilkerson is still at the hospital, but spends every weekend at home with his family.
Sergeant Frank Sandoval did have his polymer implant surgery, but it became infected and had to be removed. While waiting for a new implant, he’s back at home in Arizona with his wife and daughter.
Finally, Staff Sergeant Eric Cagle, who walked again for the first time during our visit, won a gold medal in the National V.A. Wheelchair Games in Alaska last July. He was discharged from Ward 7-D in October 2006.
August 20th, 2006 at 12:59 pm
Aug 20 2006
Hello, I saw your show today about war stories from ward 7-D that originally aired on July 7 2006. I saw it today for the first time. I am veteran of the US Navy. I had a head injury while I was in service 20 years ago. I am so very impressed with your show about war stories from ward 7-D! Thank you SO much !!!
Could you please tell at what VA hospital & it’s address that ward 7-D is in.
October 8th, 2006 at 2:37 pm
Hi - First of all, thank you very much for everything that you folks do here at CaliforniaConnected.org. It is one of the most informative, and important TV programs out there.
On 8th Oct issue of Mercury news, there’s a story on post-traumatic stress “disorder” featuring war veterans in the Menlo Park center. Here it is. I am particularly interested to see if CaliforniaConnected.org can investigate into the following the train of thought expressed by this war veteran commenter, “USMC”: ”
I’m a vet too and wish journalist could have more courage to write the other battle we have to go through going to the VA for PTSD which Dr. Tasha Souter failed to mention. We get evaluated by percentage 10%-100% and see how serious it is which the VA Compensates us monthly for the rest of our lifes. Just to get 100% you have to wait year which leaves you in poverty waiting.
I sought treatment at the Menlo Park for PTSD and they placed me in a program called HVRP, live in program and it was “attack thearpy.” Many veterans back from Iraq would drop out of program because it was regimented, humiliating, and meant to break us down. These groups are facilitated by psychiatrist & social workers who were spectators and wanting to treated like gods!
If were seriously wanting to treat veterans with the best care, you need to start with the changing programs which are outdated and was used for the veterans of the Vietnam era. I also believe they need to change the culture inside and stop acting as if the VA is a Correctional facility and treating veterans like inmates. I only wish this story would have covered why were dropping out!” I am not associated with “USMC” but I resonate with these comments. I am just an ordinary citizen.
Thank you,
Raj
November 9th, 2006 at 6:02 pm
Contact information for the VA Palo Alto Health Care System:
3801 Miranda Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94304-1290
Phone: (650) 493-5000 or 800-455-0057
Fax: (650) 852-3228
Palo Alto Polytrauma Unit
(650) 924-3259
November 11th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
Dear Ms. McRae and the rest of the California Connected team:
I just watched the heart-wrenching episode about our brave young soldiers who suffered traumatic head injuries, Ward 7-D that is doing such superb work in rehabilitating these heroic young men and women, and the families that give their love and support in what is obviously a very challenging time.
Stories like this make me feel blessed, fortunate and lucky, not because I have my health, but that this country has so many admirable young people willing to put themselves in harms way to protect our society. Politics aside, all our soldiers should have as much love and support as we, as a society, can give them.
That’s why I am hoping you might be able to share your thoughts on how we, the American public, can help our brave brothers and sisters who fight our wars.
I am not a military man and do not have any real knowledge of what we civilians can do to help our soliders, particularly the ones that have such significant injuries.
If you have a moment, I’d love to find out what options are available. Your thoughts and ideas would be greatly appreciated.
And thanks, again, for shedding some light on such an important and sensitive issue.
Keep up the terrific work!!!