thedrifter
07-17-09, 08:42 AM
Esprit de Corps
Marines Reinstate Eddie Ryan, Family Continues Funding Fight
By Brian Rubin
ELLENVILLE – For Sergeant Eddie Ryan, his reinstatement in the United States Marines isn't simply a formality, or a matter of corrected paperwork, but rather a sign that he was part of a brotherhood.
"I feel like the marine corps helped me out," he says of being welcomed back into the corps.
At 25 years old, Ryan is achieving what many thought would be impossible upon his return from Iraq in 2005, after being seriously wounded from "friendly fire." The incident caused a severe brain injury, and the damage was so extensive that it left him partially paralyzed, and it seemed doubtful that he'd be able to talk again. Of course, they don't call him the "Miracle Marine" for nothing.
In the years since his injury, aided by physical therapists and the care of his parents, Chris and Angie Ryan, Sergeant Ryan has been making enormous progress, now able to hold conversations, use his computer, and he's hard at work exercising his legs in the hopes that one day he'll be able to walk again. Though still technically on active duty, Eddie was put on the marines' temporary disability list, and was to be on that list for five years while he worked on continuing to recover. "For Eddie, [being in the marines] is what keeps him going." says Angie, saying that knowing he's a member of the corps is a primary source of his motivation to keep working on rehab.
However, that motivation looked like it might get taken away, when the Ryans received notification in the mail that Eddie had been retired from active duty, deemed "incompetent and unemployable" because of the extent of his injuries, by the Department of the Navy's Physical Evaluation Board, despite their never having examined him. Furthermore, the letter informing of his retirement was, in fact, addressed to "Corporal Eddie Ryan"; the fact that the department had gotten his rank wrong set off warning bells for the Ryans, who decided to investigate.
Fortunately, after being informed of the situation, Lieutenant General Ronald Coleman intervened, reversing the decision, an action for which Eddie's parents thanked him.
"His response was, 'This is what we do for our marines,'" recalls Chris. "Just an incredible guy."
Even though Eddie's back in the marines to serve out his full five-year term of temporary disability, the Ryans still have battles to fight. A year and a half ago, a Doctor LoRé, who had been assigned as Eddie's doctor when he was first injured but had never examined him, stopped funding the physical therapists who worked with him, citing a lack of improvement.
Since that time, Eddie has gone without, with the Ryans paying out of pocket for Eddie's massage therapy, music therapy, amd his physical trainer to make up for the deficit. While they've been fortunate to receive the kindness of a group of New York City firefighters who visit the Ryans' home to continue with Eddie's regimen of strength training and rehabilitation, the lack of physical therapy has been a wrong they're constantly working to rectify.
Just this past Friday, Chris and Angie played host to representatives visiting from the Albany Office of Veteran Affairs, part of a bid to hold the United States Military to their commitment to pay for Eddie's physical therapy. The conflict, it seems, is that the VA believes that Eddie should be in a VA hospital, under their care. Eddie and his parents disagree.
"No one can take care of him like his own mother. I don't care how many nurses they have," said Chris. He says that while Eddie was staying in the VA hospital in Richmond, Virginia, he suffered an infected bedsore — the staff hadn't bothered to turn him, he says.
"And that was one of the top four VA hospitals in the country," says Chris.
Furthermore, the Ryans have signed reports from the myriad therapists who've worked with their son which show just how much progress he's made. For now, though, it's unknown whether the military will be able to fund the physical therapy Sergeant Ryan needs to continue his rehabilitation — or if it will remain AWOL.
His personal trainer, Sondra Faas, of the Fit Squad out of Poughkeepsie, can attest to the progress he's made in the year she's known Eddie.
"He's made so many changes since I met him," she says after a workout with Eddie last Friday. "Mind, body — his legs are stronger. He couldn't even move his legs at all. Now, he picks them up, I can push against them.
"He's a seriously hard worker," she says.
And with a family this dedicated to ensuring that he gets the care and respect he deserves, it's no wonder.
Ellie
Marines Reinstate Eddie Ryan, Family Continues Funding Fight
By Brian Rubin
ELLENVILLE – For Sergeant Eddie Ryan, his reinstatement in the United States Marines isn't simply a formality, or a matter of corrected paperwork, but rather a sign that he was part of a brotherhood.
"I feel like the marine corps helped me out," he says of being welcomed back into the corps.
At 25 years old, Ryan is achieving what many thought would be impossible upon his return from Iraq in 2005, after being seriously wounded from "friendly fire." The incident caused a severe brain injury, and the damage was so extensive that it left him partially paralyzed, and it seemed doubtful that he'd be able to talk again. Of course, they don't call him the "Miracle Marine" for nothing.
In the years since his injury, aided by physical therapists and the care of his parents, Chris and Angie Ryan, Sergeant Ryan has been making enormous progress, now able to hold conversations, use his computer, and he's hard at work exercising his legs in the hopes that one day he'll be able to walk again. Though still technically on active duty, Eddie was put on the marines' temporary disability list, and was to be on that list for five years while he worked on continuing to recover. "For Eddie, [being in the marines] is what keeps him going." says Angie, saying that knowing he's a member of the corps is a primary source of his motivation to keep working on rehab.
However, that motivation looked like it might get taken away, when the Ryans received notification in the mail that Eddie had been retired from active duty, deemed "incompetent and unemployable" because of the extent of his injuries, by the Department of the Navy's Physical Evaluation Board, despite their never having examined him. Furthermore, the letter informing of his retirement was, in fact, addressed to "Corporal Eddie Ryan"; the fact that the department had gotten his rank wrong set off warning bells for the Ryans, who decided to investigate.
Fortunately, after being informed of the situation, Lieutenant General Ronald Coleman intervened, reversing the decision, an action for which Eddie's parents thanked him.
"His response was, 'This is what we do for our marines,'" recalls Chris. "Just an incredible guy."
Even though Eddie's back in the marines to serve out his full five-year term of temporary disability, the Ryans still have battles to fight. A year and a half ago, a Doctor LoRé, who had been assigned as Eddie's doctor when he was first injured but had never examined him, stopped funding the physical therapists who worked with him, citing a lack of improvement.
Since that time, Eddie has gone without, with the Ryans paying out of pocket for Eddie's massage therapy, music therapy, amd his physical trainer to make up for the deficit. While they've been fortunate to receive the kindness of a group of New York City firefighters who visit the Ryans' home to continue with Eddie's regimen of strength training and rehabilitation, the lack of physical therapy has been a wrong they're constantly working to rectify.
Just this past Friday, Chris and Angie played host to representatives visiting from the Albany Office of Veteran Affairs, part of a bid to hold the United States Military to their commitment to pay for Eddie's physical therapy. The conflict, it seems, is that the VA believes that Eddie should be in a VA hospital, under their care. Eddie and his parents disagree.
"No one can take care of him like his own mother. I don't care how many nurses they have," said Chris. He says that while Eddie was staying in the VA hospital in Richmond, Virginia, he suffered an infected bedsore — the staff hadn't bothered to turn him, he says.
"And that was one of the top four VA hospitals in the country," says Chris.
Furthermore, the Ryans have signed reports from the myriad therapists who've worked with their son which show just how much progress he's made. For now, though, it's unknown whether the military will be able to fund the physical therapy Sergeant Ryan needs to continue his rehabilitation — or if it will remain AWOL.
His personal trainer, Sondra Faas, of the Fit Squad out of Poughkeepsie, can attest to the progress he's made in the year she's known Eddie.
"He's made so many changes since I met him," she says after a workout with Eddie last Friday. "Mind, body — his legs are stronger. He couldn't even move his legs at all. Now, he picks them up, I can push against them.
"He's a seriously hard worker," she says.
And with a family this dedicated to ensuring that he gets the care and respect he deserves, it's no wonder.
Ellie