Praise does not replace care for wounded Marine

USMC Sgt. Eddie Ryan in his Ellenville home on Wednesday, April 16, 2008. Sgt. Ryan is the wounded Iraq War veteran whose home therapy aide benefits have been ended by the Veteran's Administration.
THR/CHET GORDON

V.A. offers limited options for wounded Marine's family
Government cites a lack of qualified aides for Ryans

By Paul Brooks
Times Herald-Record
April 17, 2008
ELLENVILLE — A week ago, wounded Marine Sgt. Eddie Ryan was at a Marine foundation gala in Manhattan, basking in praise from the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Friday night his mom, Angie, had to cover the overnight shift to care for her brain-injured son because there was no aide to do it.

Saturday night was the same. So was Sunday, the three-year anniversary of the day two bullets from an American tank ripped through his brain in Iraq.


Monday, the Albany VA Center which coordinates and pays for Eddie’s care called. The worker said they can’t find any new aides to help out the family. Wednesday, the VA told Angie there is no new physical therapist for the bed-ridden Marine either, she said. Only one therapist remains of the four he is supposed to have.

“This is the worst it has ever been,” she said. “How do you look at 30 agencies for a physical therapist and come up with nothing? How is this going to work? What are we going to do?”
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