More surgeries just ordered.

I went to the VA hospital today and they said I need surgery on both shoulders and both knees. They will start with the left shoulder and remove 2" of bone from the shoulder blade. I have already had 32 surgeries so these will be a piece of cake. Just wish they would do the knees first. Great way to start my B-day.

Sorry to hear it Mike. Dealing with the VA right now myself. And I don't have to tell you if you need it, better sooner than later right? And never pass up anything the VA approves!

Well, you don't want their "shoulder guy" to do your knees, do you?

It will all work out, and maybe you can start collecting accessories for your ob/gyn van

Mike... 23 surgeries... You had one hell of a career, pretty busted up... So far I have had pretty good luck with the VA. Except the one time I tried to go there for stitches at the ER because I knew there would be NO wait, and they told me since I was working again I made to much money... Sorry go down the road to regular hospital. Hope everything goes well....

67a 100 pickup wrote:Mike... 23 surgeries... You had one hell of a career, pretty busted up... So far I have had pretty good luck with the VA. Except the one time I tried to go there for stitches at the ER because I knew there would be NO wait, and they told me since I was working again I made to much money... Sorry go down the road to regular hospital. Hope everything goes well....

Yep wounded four times in Nam and shot four times here in southern Cali. I spent 6 weeks in a coma the last time I was wounded in Nam and 7 years in a wheel chair. I have a 100% disability rating so all my medical treatments are free and same for my wife. I haven't been allowed to work for several years. Would love to work again but teaching karate again is out of the question.

Sorry to hear it Mike, probably better if it gets done though. I put my knee off for years.....till it locked-up, works pretty god now.

Mike... "work" is over rated... Being able to pass on your knowledge is the important part. You might not be able to teach the whole class, but you can assist and still have the interaction. Teaching in one way or another was a daily thing while we were in the service and your students are just like privates... they want to know what we know. Keep us posted, and hopefully you don't have to eat that VA chow for long before they let you go home.

Damm Mike, You better watch yourself if I not mistaken your bullet count is up to eight .Are you trying to test that whole nine lives thing ? Now I know why you are stocking up on all that good Karma. Anyway good luck on you surgeries and I am sure an overdue thank you is in order.

mike

Actually the first time I got wounded was when a hand grenade hit the winshield of my jeep and blew my passengers head clean off. I got schrapnel in my chest and face and right arm. The next three times were from mortar rounds with the last mortar hitting three feet from me and killing my entire special ops team. I had over 100 pieces of shrapnel in me that time. Almost lost both legs. 6 weeks in a coma and seven years in a wheelchair. The four times I was shot here included getting shot in the back twice with a 12 gauge shotgun. Luckily the guys that shot me were to far away for the buckshot to do much damage. Stung like hell but I recovered pretty fast both times. Another time I was shot in the side and chest with a shotgun but the fool that shot me was using bird shot and was about 100 feet away. The last time was a rifle shot in my left thigh that went through the back of my leg and out the front.

what in the world.. do you just tend to piss people off or are you the unluckiest guy in the world..always at the wrong place at the wrong time..

hope all goes well for you.. good luck..sounds like you need it..

The four times I got shot here were my members of a motorcycle gang called the Psychos. We had a big shoot out once where I got shot in the back and my brother got shot in the arm. I shot 6 of them with an M16 after they shot me. The DA said it was self defense on my part since they shot me first. They couldn't find the M16 since I had it in a safe under the floor so they couldn't charge me for possessing it. The Hells Angels paid the Psychos a visit and told them if anyone in my family was hurt again even by accident that they would kill every Psychos member.

VA---Im retired Navy---haven;t had to deal too much with the VA, But My father in law is having to deal with them now...What a bitch... needs liver transplant and all... Self abuse in his early years.... still sucks.... Hope ya come thru your surgery OK.

Mike have they put you on a schedule for when they're gonna do ya surgery?

Not yet. There is a waiting list because the hospital is seeing a lot more vets coming in.

Yep Father in law is waitin on a bed at the VA hosp in Atlanta.....no room for him in B-ham or Atlanta...Hang in there man... Lots of them boys comin home hurt....so with all that and all of us old vets,,,I am sure the VA guys are over loaded...Let us know when ya get the schedule!!!!