Update on Tomas Young

[proud2BlibKansan]

Tomas is an Iraq vet from Kansas City who was paralyzed on his 5th day of duty in Iraq in 2004. He has been active in IVAW and has spoken out against the war since he returned from Iraq. Phil Donahue made a movie BODY OF WAR about Tomas.

Six weeks ago Tomas lapsed into a coma due to a pulmonary embolism. The clot started in his arm and he went to the VA for help. They gave him oxycontin and sent him home. His family found him in a coma and rushed him to a different hospital, where they found the embolism which had started in his arm and traveled to his lung.

Tomas was in a coma for 10 days. Since then he has survived the embolism, a mersa infection and pneumonia. He has been hospitalized for 47 days and is literally lucky to be alive. Immediately following his hospitalization, the VA tried to transfer him back to their hospital but his family insisted he remain in the private hospital and the VA pay for it.

Tomas is now suffering from limited mobility in his arms, which was caused by shrapnel in his spine. In spite of hospitalization at Walter Reed following his injury and follow up care for 4 years by the VA, this shrapnel was not found until he was treated at the private hospital.

Tomorrow Tomas will go to Chicago for rehab at Northwestern Rehab Hospital. And once again, the VA tried to prevent that. They wanted him to come to their hospital for evaluation and then go to Northwestern in Chicago. But Tomas's family said no and they are paying for his transportation to Chicago.

So Tomas continues to struggle not only from his injuries but from his treatment by the VA. They have already nearly killed him at least once and then they tried to delay his rehab. He is paralyzed from the chest down so the loss of mobility in his arms is a critical complication and rehab is absolutely vital as soon as possible.

Thank you to all the DUers who sent cards and spread the word about Tomas. He received over 1000 cards and someone even sent a newspaper article about him from a Japanese newspaper.

If you are in Chicago and can visit Tomas while he is there, please PM me and I will give you contact info. We have contacted a veteran's group in Chicago but want to line up as much support for Tomas and his mom as we can. They have suffered enough.

More info on Tomas: http://ivaw.org/member/tomas-vincent-young

This picture was taken Sunday when some Vets for Peace came to KC to see Tomas:

[marmar]

1. After seeing "Body of War", he's my new hero.....

..... They nearly had to cart me out of the theater for hysterical joy when he gave the pictures of Bush and Cheney the finger as he entered the VA hospital.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I loved that part!

I also loved when he shouted at that freeper at the march "IF I COULD WALK I WOULD COME OVER THERE AND KICK YOUR ASS!"

:rofl:

[marmar]

5. I was at that same anti-war rally...if it's the one I'm thinking it is....and I'm very glad...

.... I did not walk right in front of that particular group of apes. I remember some "counter-protesters" being off to the side, but I couldn't hear them over the din of the march.

[babylonsister]

3. Rec'd, and I'm glad his family is telling the VA to pack

sand after their dismal performance in 'helping' Tomas. When/if you get a new address, pls. post it so we can get more cards out to him.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Yes as soon as I know I will post it

Knowing the VA, they will be at the airport tomorrow trying to keep the plane from taking off.

[annabanana]

4. This is one of the bravest people I have ever heard of.

I hope people line up in droves to give him & his family support.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. So far they have really come through

We had a screening of his movie 2 weeks ago here and raised money for him. It was more than we expected but not enough to pay for an air ambulance to Chicago.

At this point I am thinking letters of protest to the VA might be the best we can do.

[Blue_In_AK]

8. Thank you for the update, Proud. n/t

[ClayZ]

9. Thank you for the update!

Our thoughts and prayers are with him!

K and R

[scorpiogirl]

10. Get well Tomas!

Amazing how much effort they are putting into preventing him from getting good care, after they couldn't be bothered to treat him when he needed it. They actually thought his family would just bring him back? How ridiculous! I hope they have to pay every last cent for their fuck-ups!

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. I smell a lawsuit

I am also glad Tomas has Phil Donahue in his corner.

[scorpiogirl]

14. I agree!

I'm sure they tried to get him back to they can avoid a lawsuit, but it just makes them look more pathetic and guilty.

[EFerrari]

12. Is the VA trying to kill him? Is there an addy we can write to

and give them hell?

Motherf#ckers.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Let me check with Tomas's mom and see what she wants us to do

Cathy is a dynamo. She will tell us if she needs letters or whatever.

At this point, I am just hoping we can get visitors to go see Tomas in Chicago.

[EFerrari]

19. Good deal. Thank you.

[kas125]

24. Oh, don't worry - I'll make sure he has visitors!

I know all the CodePinkers, the IVAW members, the Veterans for Peace, etc in NW Indiana and in Chicago. We'll take good care of Tomas (and Cathy) while they're here.

[Hav]

13. .

Never heard about the movie so I checked out IMDB. There were short videos from the movie as well and the one where he met women who lost their sons or husbands was very moving. He seems to be a really great guy and I hope he gets better.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Here

No DVD out yet but you can watch clips here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HZuQkITY64

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoEZbKsi7ZU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qMjTq8qcKM&feature=related

[Hissyspit]

15. kick

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Thanks Hissy!

:hi:

[Muttocracy]

16. thanks to you for helping him and telling his story. nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. He's a very worthy cause

He has enriched my life and the lives of so many.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. update

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3636743&mesg_id=3636743

[proud2BlibKansan]

23. kick for Tomas