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ST. LOUIS TODAY |
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© 2002, St. Louis Today By Greg Freeman Document Dated: Nov-17-2002 Dave Haner says he's gotten over the bitterness. But he can't forget what's happened to him since he served in the Gulf War. In 1991, Haner was a Navy corpsman, a medic with the Marines. When the Gulf War began, he started in Saudi Arabia, went to Kuwait and finished up in Kuwait City. During that time Haner, like so many other Americans sent there at that time, was given an experimental chemical - pyridostigmine bromide. The chemical, given in pill form, was administered to prevent death in the event of exposure to certain types of nerve gas. Haner thought nothing of it at the time. He was a career serviceman, ultimately spending 20 years in the armed services before finishing his career in New Orleans. At the end of 1995, Haner began experiencing pain. Government doctors took a while to diagnose it but finally determined that he had a blood blister on his liver, which was finally removed in 1997. "The pain was gone and I was grateful for that," Haner said. "But in the meantime, I started having other problems." Haner began having problems with his memory. Things that were once easy for him to remember now were difficult. In addition, he noticed that his muscle tone was degenerating. Veterans Affairs doctors were stumped. Time went by and Haner got weaker. He gave up on the VA docs. "They were too slow and they weren't well organized," he said. Private doctors diagnosed the muscle problem as myasthenia gravis, muscle weakness that results from an autoimmune attack against the nerves and muscles. By this time, Haner and his family had moved to the St. Louis area because his son was attending Washington University. Haner worked at several different companies before finally having to go on disability. He filed a disability claim with the VA. Again, the process was slow. Finally, he was turned down, because the federal government has not determined with certainty that pyridostigmine bromide was the cause of his problems. The Pentagon estimates that 90,000 troops who served in the Gulf War complain of such illnesses as muscle and joint problems, fatigue, headaches and skin rashes. Officials have not ruled out the chemical as a possible contributor to some of the illnesses. But they haven't ruled it in either. Other studies suggest strong connections between pyridostigmine bromide and some of the illnesses veterans are now experiencing. Private physicians have suggested the same. But until the government officially determines a connection, Haner and veterans like him will be left out in the cold. For Haner, it's not for lack of trying. He's looked everywhere for help. He's contacted the offices of Sens. Christopher "Kit" Bond and Jean Carnahan. Both have contacted the VA on his behalf, but have only received responses that the government is looking into it. Rep. Todd Akin's office has received similar responses. Now on the verge of bankruptcy, Haner is doing all he can just to try to stay afloat. "Every month is a struggle trying to figure out how to pay the bills," he said. "That's all I can worry about right now." With the United States poised to go back to Iraq, shameful doesn't seem like too strong a word to use for how some Gulf War veterans have been treated. It doesn't send the most positive message from our country to the men and women who may have to go and fight in the next war. Haner and others who have served our country with honor deserve our thanks. But they surely deserve to be taken care of as well. As posted by Grant Szabo Editor/Founder, Gulf War Veteran Resource Pages http://www.gulfweb.org/doc_show.cfm?ID=772 |