European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 1, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse Pages stars and stripes sunday april 1 200 experts say More needs to be done for brain injured loved ones lobby for Bill that would require More help for wounded vets by Leo Shane Iii stars and stripes Washington retired army sgt Edward Wade has adjusted to his prosthetic right Arm his nagging foot pain and most of the other ailments caused by a Roadside bomb in Iraq three years ago what he Hast been Able to get used to is the lingering fog Giness in his mind from the brain injury he sustained in that blast everything conies out very slow and meaningful the 28yearold said with frequent pauses underscoring his frustration everybody else can do More than one thing at once but in forced to just focus on doing one thing at a Wade and his family joined medical experts on Capitol Hill on thursday to lobby for More brain injury research both be fore troops deploy and after they return Home and for a Bill introduced by presidential candidate sen Hillary Clinton Man dating More attention on the Issue that legislation would require More Access to mental rehabilitation for wounded troops through the departments of defense and Tai by the numbers percentage of patients treated at Walter Reed army medical Center since 2003 showing signs of brain injury percentage of those patients who will Likely suffer seizures As a result of their injuries t estimated number of troops who have suffered severe j brain damage in Iraq and Afghanistan estimated number of troops who have suffered some Type of brain injury in Iraq and Afghanistan of j estimated percentage of americans who suffer brain injuries each year i estimated percentage of troops in Iraq and u Afghanistan who suffer a brain injury each year sources american Academy of neurology brain injury association of America wounded Warrior project Walter Reed army medical Center stars and stripes Joe and stripes two women who have been instrumental in helping their husbands recover from severe brain injuries incurred in Iraq Lee Woodruff left and Sarah Wade embrace during thursdays news conference on Capitol Hill at right is sarahs husband sgt Ted Wade veterans affairs better training for family members to care for injured loved ones and More comprehensive monitoring of All troops for signs of brain trauma health officials said the Mili tary has done a Good Job identify ing severe brain trauma cases for troops such As Wade who was in a coma and near death after his february 2004 injury but they added that mild cases of head trauma concussive explosions that dont leave visible signs of injury for example Are not being identified or treated even though those injuries can Lead to Lon term problems weve seen a Rise in troops who Are having seizures people who Are having trouble control Ling their thoughts and memories and said or Katherine Henry director of neurology for the new York University school of Medicine for Many of these even with mild brain injuries they May never return to full brain fun Lan Stuhl regional medical Center in Germany launched a brain injury screening program last May identifying a third of its War related patients As suffering from some level of mental impair ment what symptoms May indicate a close head injury difficulties experienced As a result of a close head blast injury include decreased memory and headaches slower thinking irritability depression source defense and veterans brain injury Center John Melia executive director of the wounded Warrior project said screening programs Are needed for every deployed ser Vic member As Well As some Baseline evaluation of those troops before they leave for com Parison we really need the govern ment to step he said if this country cannot serve severely injured men and women coming Back from this conflict we need to look at ourselves unfortunately to this Point we have Wade has received some rehabilitation for his brain injuries stars and stripes but his wife Sarah said Treyve had to fight for every evaluation and treatment session army officials pressured him to medically retire she said and a officials Arent equipped to provide consistent and Quick care for the new head trauma cases coming out of the War zone Ive been his Driver his Case manager and his primary care give she said without me and our families there is no Way he could have made the recovery he has but there Are plenty of sol Diers who dont have that email Leo Shane at Baldwin offers to help deploying i pay for school by Amanda Lee Myers the associated press Phoenix actor Alec Bald win was so moved by the Story of an 18yearold army Soldier who is scheduled to serve in Iraq Hes going to help pay for her College education after she leaves the military after Reading a March 4 new York times Story about pvt Resha Kanes last Day with family and friends before going for training to prepare for serving in Iraq Baldwin called Kanes Mother at a discount store where she works to offer his assistance his spokesman said i didst know what to Kane said and then i asked him if he could Send me his Auto graph Ive never met a Star let alone talked to one on the Baldwin who appeared in Glengarry Glen Ross and the departed and most recently won a Golden Globe and screen actors Guild award for his performance in the weekly Abc comedy 30 was vacationing in London and could not be reached for comment baldwins spokesman mat thew Hiltzik said when Baldwin read the times article it made him think of his own daughter 11yearold Ireland Hiltzik said the actor would meet the Kane family in Mohave Valley and give them a Check which will be in addition to the the army will give Kane for College a Date for the meet ing will be decided next week he said although Baldwin 48 has been a vocal critic against the War in Iraq Hiltzik said support ing the troops who Are fighting there is important to the actor he him self tried to find the fam ily and he was very Happy he was Able to connect with Hiltzik said its a great example that people of different backgrounds can agree on the importance of supporting our Patricia Kane said when she heard baldwins voice on the other line she didst know what to think i said no Way youre i was just blown she said i am totally shocked and awed this has Resha Kane a chemical operations specialist in the army said she wants to be a biochemist but is not sure what University she wants to attend once she leaves the military in three years Baldwin court martial defense aggressive and successful defense for servicemen and women worldwide Contact Thomas j Fisher Esq former judge advocate general Curtis c Van de veld Esq Van de veld Shimizu Canto Fisher attorneys at Law Telephone us on Guam at 16714721131 or email us at
