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GULF WAR VETERAN STRUGGLES TO GET CANCER
TREATMENT FROM THE VA -- But now, the Gulf War
vet,
husband and father is just trying to pay his
medical bills.
We have two stories...
First story here...
http://www.wistv.
com/global/Story.asp?s=6617564
Story below:
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Veteran struggles to get cancer treatment from
VA
Kara Gormley
AIKEN COUNTY, SC (WIS) - When a Gulf War vet
from South Carolina said he was running into roadblocks getting the help
he needs from the VA - his family called News 10's Kara Gormley.
"My dream was always to retire and buy me a red Corvette," says James
Holloway.
But now, the Gulf War vet, husband and father is just trying to pay his
medical bills.
Holloway has blurred vision and slurred speech. He gets black-outs, has
rectal bleeding, depression and pain so great he takes up to 30 pills a
day.
James is dying. He's only 38, but, he says, "Inside my body's wearing
down. I keep medicated. I just hope that I just see my daughter graduate
next year. That's all you know, that's it."
After civilian doctors diagnosed his colon cancer almost a year ago,
James says he went to the VA for help, "Figured I'd get rides with them,
figured I could get my medication, wouldn't have to worry about
co-payments. I figured there would be someone to talk to when I picked
up the phone. I just figured with me serving, with me being a veteran,
that they would step in and take care of it."
But James says so far, the only thing he's gotten from the VA is an ID
card, and now he says he's maxed out his credit paying bills.
Instead of worrying about his health, he's worried about leaving his
wife of 18 years - an Air Force reservist - and his teenage daughter in
debt. "I'm worth more now dead right now than alive."
James says his family is his life. Because his memory is going, he
carries notepads around to make sure he doesn't forget important things,
like telling the woman he loves how he feels when she sends him a text
message. "Especially when I'm in therapy. It keeps me strong, just smile
when I get one from you while I'm in therapy. That's why I love you. I'm
still in love with you. Thank you."
Former Marine Sgt. James Holloway just wanted to retire with his wife
and drive a red Corvette. WIS' Kara Gormley asks if there can be a happy
ending.
Holloway: "If they give me what I deserve - give me and my family what I
deserve, yes."
Kara: "That would be a happy ending?"
Holloway: "That would be satisfying for me. Then I could die in peace."
He was prepared to sacrifice his life for his country, but it's the
battle he's currently in that he wasn't prepared to fight.
We've received a number of requests for information on how to help
James. The family has set up the James Holloway Fund at First Citizens
Bank. People should be able to donate at any First Citizens Branch.
Reported by Kara Gormley
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Second story here...
http://www.wistv.com/
Global/story.asp?S=6623013&nav=menu36_3
Story below:
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WIS learns more about regulations preventing
treatment of veteran
Kara Gormley
KERSHAW COUNTY, SC (WIS) - The family of a Gulf War veteran who says
he's running into road blocks getting help from the VA called WIS' Kara
Gormley, and now she's heard from many News 10 viewers asking how they
can help. And she's gotten more details on what regulations may be
causing the problem.
"Do I feel let down? Yeah. Am I still proud to serve as a Marine? Of
course," says James Holloway.
Holloway served in the Gulf War. He got out of the military in the early
90's now 38, he's dying of cancer. It was diagnosed over a year ago.
Holloway's experiencing memory loss and slurred speech. "It gets to a
point where I don't know what I'm doing - or what's going on."
Holloway says he went to the VA seeking treatment and financial help. He
says so far, he's filled out a lot of paperwork - but all he's got to
show for it is an ID card.
The VA can't talk specifically about Holloway's case due to privacy
issues. When WIS asked if we could speak with someone about veteran's
benefits in general, no one would talk with us on camera.
"The vets that walk into our office - they are unfortunately at their
last straw. They've tried to do this on their own for many years and
they've finally realized, usually not the vet, but the wife, the child,
somebody, you know, 'Dad, honey - you need help, you can't do this on
your own,' and they come to us," says Bryan Kerouc, a representative of
Disabled American Vets.
It's Kerouc's job to fight for veteran's benefits, something he says he
can't do if a veteran doesn't have proof his injury or illness stems
from his military service. "The VA will not base a decision on what the
veteran thinks, says or even swears to under oath at a hearing. We need
to have the evidence that something happened to you on active duty and
actually see it from the time frame of being on active duty."
As it turns out, lack of proof may be Holloway's vital mistake. It all
has to do with a form, something called a 526. Kerouc says every vet
needs to fill it out and get a physical before leaving the military, no
matter what.
Kerouc advises, "Do not just rush through this and think, 'You know, I'm
strong. I feel good. There's other guys out there that get legs blown
off, all these problems, they need it more than me.' Don't think that
way. Think of your family 10 to 20 years from now, what if we now find
out 20 years from now there are conditions that were caused by the
Persian Gulf, and I needed one urinalysis to prove you had that."
Holloway didn't fill out his 526. In fact, Holloway says back then, he
wouldn't think about complaining to his commanders or going to sick bay.
As a Marine he was taught to tough it out. "If they see that you are
some type of lingering, sick, lame and lazy, you get low evaluations and
you don't get promoted."
Kerouc doesn't disagree, "It's worse than that in the military because
you feel like you're going to be punished if you if you go to sick call
cause everyone's going to say, 'What's wrong with you?' But in these
days you need to go."
Holloway was only 17 when he signed up for the military. He says when he
got out years later, "When you get out, you're so happy you got out of
there, you're just glad you walked out with your life."
Kerouc understands, "They've been through a lot. Been to war, they've
seen horrible things. 'I want to get home, I want to hug my wife, kiss
the kids see mom and dad - hang out with the guys at the club. I really
don't want to go through this process. Get me home.' It's kind of tunnel
vision."
Kerouc has never talked to Holloway, never seen his history or
paperwork, but Kerouc says without that 526 form, there's probably not
much anyone can do for him.
Holloway's not willing to take "no" for an answer. His next appointment
with the VA is in October. He says God willing, he intends to keep it,
"As I explained to them, I'm not going to give up until I die because
I'm going to keep signing paperwork."
If you'd like to help Holloway, the family has set up the James Holloway
Fund at First Citizens Bank. People should be able to donate at any
First Citizens Branch.
Reported by Kara Gormley
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Larry Scott --
