I have a very dear friend that I grew up with that is in need of your help. Her name is Ivonne Thompson and her husband is Anthony Thompson. Here is what happened in her words:
"Anthony is a Corpsman third class with the United States Navy. He is stationed with the second batallion, seventh marine unit out of Twentynine Palms, CA. He was deployed for his second tour of combat duty on January 29, 2007. Anthony takes great pride in his job and in "his" marines.
Anthony was injured on April 20, 2007 when a SVBIED (suicide vehicle born improvised e device) was detonated under an overpass where they were standing post. He and 7 other marines were injured in the incident. Anthony sustained a head injury, an injury to his lower back, a punctured right lung and minor scrapes and scratches on his legs, hands, arms and face. He was medivaced to 3 different medical stations before finally being sent to Landstuhl Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. There he was cared for by loving hands of the ICU nurses and doctors for just shy of a week. On Friday, April 27, 2007, he was then medivaced to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. " -from her journal at www.caringbridge.org/visit/anthonythompson
Anthony was injured on April 20, 2007 when a SVBIED (suicide vehicle born improvised e device) was detonated under an overpass where they were standing post. He and 7 other marines were injured in the incident. Anthony sustained a head injury, an injury to his lower back, a punctured right lung and minor scrapes and scratches on his legs, hands, arms and face. He was medivaced to 3 different medical stations before finally being sent to Landstuhl Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. There he was cared for by loving hands of the ICU nurses and doctors for just shy of a week. On Friday, April 27, 2007, he was then medivaced to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. " -from her journal at www.caringbridge.org/visit/anthonythompson
In a recent email from Ivonne:
"I regret to inform you that I received a phone call this morning to let me know that the Navy 
Medical Board came to the conclusion that Anthony is 100% disabled (I am well aware of that fact) and will now be medically retired sooner than expected.
Let me start by back-tracking to give you the full background of this decision. I had been asked in Nov. about possibly retiring Anthony, to which my response was, “Not anytime soon; he’s not finished with his medical treatments.” I thought that would be enough to prolong the inevitable, I was wrong. On December 21, 2007, I was presented with the paperwork for Anthony’s Physical Evaluation Board (what I was told was the first step of the Medical Board process). I was explained that the PEB process could take 60-90 days. Since the PEB had been started, I couldn’t stop the Medical Board process; all I could do was appeal once they made their final decision. So although I was upset that this had all been started, I had comfort knowing that I would have 60-90 days to prepare a well thought out and written letter of appeal. Since being given this information, I have been “blowing any horns and whistles” to make sure I have the support to help me fight for Anthony.
This morning at 8:45am, I received a phone call from Senior Chief Giles at Jacksonville Medical Hospital (to whom Anthony has been attached) to inform me that the Medical Board had made their decision and they have found Anthony 100% disabled. A process that I was told would take 60-90 days, took 27days. Now from today’s date, I have 15 days to present a formal letter of appeal to then have a formal trial to fight this decision.
Here’s our dilema, I wanted to keep Anthony active until ALL of his medical treatments have been completed. The Medical Board process, which leads to retirement, will more than likely interrupt his medical treatments. To insure that Anthony gets as far as he can get we CAN NOT LET THIS HAPPEN!
According to Tricare (the military’s insurance company) legislation, Tricare does not have a supplemental fund to supply cognitive rehabilitation for veterans (but they do have the funds for active duty military); therefore, we would depend on the VA to supply cognitive rehabilitation or outsource to another facility. The process of outsourcing from the VA is not guaranteed. In order to be guaranteed the appropriate rehabilitative treatments, we MUST keep Anthony active duty military or lobby to have Tricare change their legislation. Since the latter of the two will most likely not change in the immediate future, our only option is to appeal this decision with full force.
Another point, since 30% of the injuries coming back from this war is TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) or other head related injuries, the Department of Defense must update current protocol and policies to be more in tune with the unique battlefield casualties that have become the signature wound of this war.
So fellow supporters, we are asking for your help! We are asking you to contact your Congress persons and Senators, as I too will be, to help either change Tricare legislation, Department of Defense policies in reference to battlefield casualties or to support Anthony’s active military status. We know we can count on you all because of the support you have given us thus far. I will keep you abreast of any and all information I receive and hope you will do the same!
With sincerest regards,
Ivonne Thompson
HM3 Anthony Thompson’s wife
Medical Board came to the conclusion that Anthony is 100% disabled (I am well aware of that fact) and will now be medically retired sooner than expected.Let me start by back-tracking to give you the full background of this decision. I had been asked in Nov. about possibly retiring Anthony, to which my response was, “Not anytime soon; he’s not finished with his medical treatments.” I thought that would be enough to prolong the inevitable, I was wrong. On December 21, 2007, I was presented with the paperwork for Anthony’s Physical Evaluation Board (what I was told was the first step of the Medical Board process). I was explained that the PEB process could take 60-90 days. Since the PEB had been started, I couldn’t stop the Medical Board process; all I could do was appeal once they made their final decision. So although I was upset that this had all been started, I had comfort knowing that I would have 60-90 days to prepare a well thought out and written letter of appeal. Since being given this information, I have been “blowing any horns and whistles” to make sure I have the support to help me fight for Anthony.
This morning at 8:45am, I received a phone call from Senior Chief Giles at Jacksonville Medical Hospital (to whom Anthony has been attached) to inform me that the Medical Board had made their decision and they have found Anthony 100% disabled. A process that I was told would take 60-90 days, took 27days. Now from today’s date, I have 15 days to present a formal letter of appeal to then have a formal trial to fight this decision.
Here’s our dilema, I wanted to keep Anthony active until ALL of his medical treatments have been completed. The Medical Board process, which leads to retirement, will more than likely interrupt his medical treatments. To insure that Anthony gets as far as he can get we CAN NOT LET THIS HAPPEN!
According to Tricare (the military’s insurance company) legislation, Tricare does not have a supplemental fund to supply cognitive rehabilitation for veterans (but they do have the funds for active duty military); therefore, we would depend on the VA to supply cognitive rehabilitation or outsource to another facility. The process of outsourcing from the VA is not guaranteed. In order to be guaranteed the appropriate rehabilitative treatments, we MUST keep Anthony active duty military or lobby to have Tricare change their legislation. Since the latter of the two will most likely not change in the immediate future, our only option is to appeal this decision with full force.
Another point, since 30% of the injuries coming back from this war is TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) or other head related injuries, the Department of Defense must update current protocol and policies to be more in tune with the unique battlefield casualties that have become the signature wound of this war.
So fellow supporters, we are asking for your help! We are asking you to contact your Congress persons and Senators, as I too will be, to help either change Tricare legislation, Department of Defense policies in reference to battlefield casualties or to support Anthony’s active military status. We know we can count on you all because of the support you have given us thus far. I will keep you abreast of any and all information I receive and hope you will do the same!
With sincerest regards,
Ivonne Thompson
HM3 Anthony Thompson’s wife
Being an Army wife, this is something that we all fear. Please pray for this family and speak out. You can contact your Congressman at this link: http://www.rallycongress.com/veteranhealthcare/
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