Anthrax Vaccine Network - Heroes - Vance Wasden |
Vance Wasden is on a 2-year temporary medical retirement from the Air Force,
after getting vaccines from lot 020. He walks with a cane, is having major skin
problems, fatigue problems, migraines, and severe arthritic pain throughout his
body. Vance and his wife, Michelle, have three children - two born after the
vaccines, and both had some initial health problems that their parents suspect
may be related to the vaccine.
The following list details Vanceâs many illnesses and conditions since taking the anthrax vaccine. After the list, a series of e-mails from Vance describes his current status and struggle. -rectal bleeding 9/16/98 12/7/98 present vafb -bilateral conjunctivitis 9/10/98 present vafb -chronic fatigue 4/21/99 present Balboa Hospital, San Diego -bilateral knee condition 10/30/97 11/12/98 11/25/98 2/17/99 present vafb -viral syndrome 8/28/98 3/10/99 4/21/99 5/21/99 present NMC San Diego Ca -chronic headaches 8/26/98 11/17/99 present vafb -disease disorder of hepatabeliary system and pancreas 8/24/98 -hepatitis 8/24/98 8/1/98 8/28/98 lab reports vafb -lower back condition 8/20/98 present vafb -left shoulder/arm/wrist condition 2/17/99 present vafb -fibromyalgia -reactive arthritis10/8/98 phy profile report vafb -bi-ankle foot condition 9/24/99 present -inflamatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis naval med center and physical examination -condition of the skeletal system12/28/98 present -depression secondary to medical condition vafb -chronic staph infections/dermititis Riyahd, Saudi Arabia -heart murmer -anal fissure/hemorrhoids -Gulf War Syndrome March, 2001: From Michelle Wasden to another ill troop: Dear Kelli: Hi, my name is Michelle and my husband has become extremely ill from the vaccine, too. He got three shots in 1998 and has been sick since. He, too, has all of the symptoms you experience and more. Three years later he still struggles to walk and get around. He is always in pain, but he tries to keep a good attitude about it. Some days it is hard because the VA still has not started to give us benefits. He tried and tries to get an appointment to be seen by a doctor. We were given an appointment but it was for 7 months later. He is temporarily retired from the Air Force. Next year he will have to face the medical board again and try and fight for a permanent retirement. Social Security has deemd him 100% disabled and so now we wait for the VA to do the same. I wonât kid you, it is really tough. Trying to get the VA to move on anything is like pulling teeth. We turned in his VA stuff one year ago and still nothing. And yes, we do bug them all the time, but we always get those letters saying ãsorry for the wait but we are still processing your application.ä March, 2001: from Vance: Hi. Sorry for not staying in touch, this has been a busy time for us. I am at a loss for words over Sra Colosimoâs discharge from active duty. It is like living my nightmare all over again. We were given about the same benefits package. We are facing the same difficulties with medical treatment, and personal finances. The 17th of March will conclude my first year on TDRL (Temporary Duty, medical retirement). I still have not received a dime from the V.A. and am not receiving sufficient medical care. I have been seen twice by VA doctors this past year. I have left 9 messages pleading for an appointment. I finally had to make an appointment at Hill Air Force Base (a two-hour drive away). The medical staff is still pretty hush- hush over the vaccine debate. I have been active in getting the word out about the vaccine. I am trying to do my share of the work. I have contacted the local media, and government officials, mainly Senator Craigâs (R-Idaho) office. I have also been working on fliers and an exhibition booth which I am planning on setting up outside the recruiting offices. ...Michelle finally had to get a job so we could stay afloat. I hope the VA money gets here soon, I don't know how much longer I can last. I have to take so much caffeine and ephedrine pills to make it through the day. As you well know, when you have little kids you can't sleep on the job. July, 2001: from Vance: Hi, I am going to make this brief because I'm not feeling well. I have been running a fever since Saturday. I went to the hospital yesterday, they did a spinal tap. The results came back as meningitis. I received my paperwork from the military today. The package they sent me contained the doctorâs recommendations, the medical boardâs decision, and information on the appeals process. I thought the doctors from Travis wrote a good dictation. They commented on the fact that I have several other health problems than just the fybromyalgia. I am still very angry about the medical board for not taking into account the 23 other health problems listed on my VA application. They are only looking at the fybromyalgia because of some clerical errors at Vandenberg. One would think that a Colonel, with a medical degree, would be able to read through my records and figure out that there is more going on. I was given three different options: a formal hearing, a written rebuttal instead of the hearing, or take the $14,000 severance pay. I really can't believe what is happening. My family and I have suffered so much at the hands of the military. I never argued at being deployed three times to the Persian Gulf. I did what my country needed in spite of the loss of family time. I gave the military my all. It hurts very much to know that my country is not taking up their fair share of the bargain. July, 2001: from Vance Hi, I am alive and doing well. This has definitely been a long week though. Today I have started to map out a plan of attack for the medical board. I haven't been this angry in a long time, I am trying to turn that into positive energy. The medical board said that I didn't "follow the spirit" of the boards wishes. I didn't see as many doctors as they would have liked me to have seen. Therefore I obviously couldn't be that sick. I have to agree with them, I haven't been to the doctors like I should have. Why is that though? I remember now! The local VA clinic refuses new patients and the Salt Lake hospital has me scheduled to be seen next month. We haven't received a dime of income from the VA. This first thing I must accomplish is to make public officials aware of this injustice. My father is writing a letter on my behalf, which he will e-mail to all the members of the senate, congress and the White House. I'm also going to contact my local Congressman and Senators...Senator Craig's office has been very helpful with the VA. I am sure he will be of help with this as well. The next step is to contact the physician I saw in California. I'm hoping she will write another letter on my behalf. I think she could play a significant role. I am currently seeking legal representation as well. I'm sure it will be more difficult to discard me that way. I am open to any suggestion that you might have. I don't have very much time to mount my defense, August 12th to be exact. I am hoping with everyoneâs collective mind that we can beat this bum wrap. Talk to you later, Vance |
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Home Heros Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Support Join Links