Even a heart transplant won't stand in soldier's way

Source: Houston Chronicle/Associated Press

April 18, 2007, 12:15AM
Even a heart transplant won't stand in soldier's way
Instead of retirement — or worse —sergeant gets a clean bill of health and a post in the Army Reserves


By JOHN MILBURN
Associated Press

HUTCHINSON, KAN. — As a professional soldier, John Fairbanks wasn't about to let what he calls "a medical procedure" end his military career.

But the Army told the 38-year-old sergeant that the procedure — a heart transplant — precluded him from service.

Now, nearly two years after the surgery, Fairbanks' fight to save his life and his job has paid off: He's been given a clean bill of health and a post in the Army Reserves.
(snip)

"Sgt. Fairbanks represents the commitment to protect human life by continuing to serve his nation in uniform," said Army spokeswoman Maj. Anne Edgecomb. "He also represents all soldiers by living the warrior ethos, 'I will not accept defeat. I will not quit.'"




Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/4724528.html

Everyone has a right to be happy. Personally, I'll be happy when bush and cheney are simultaneously impeached and convicted.

??

(Mind you, from the dumb comments that the army spokesperson came out
with, it sounds like a brain transplant is needed round there too ...)

Congenital heart defects sometimes are so severe they require transplant. Either that, or he might have had rheumatic fever as a child, which can also weaken the heart.

So, no. Transplants aren't just the purview of the elderly.

"Tricare for Life" - guaranteed affordable health and dental insurance that won't become more expensive because of a pre-existing condition - and an additional stipend that is similar to the rapidly fading "pension" that can supplement Social Security when he's 62 is a very attractive draw to staying in, even if it's going to be in the Reserves. (If he could remain active, he'd receive both as soon as he actually retired)

At 38, he probably has done at least 12 - 14 years active service (depending on when the Army gave him his surgery), so one more enlistment more will give him his 20 for retirement - and in the current instability, the chance he could go back active to finish out his service until he becomes eligible for retirement is at least 50%. If he isn't eligible for a medical retirement due to a "service related injury" - if the heart condition he received the transplant for was a congenital problem that might cause even minor health issues a few decades from now - this would definitely be a palatable alternative to anyone in this uncertain economy.

Except for the unusual situation of "9/11" (or in an earlier era, Pearl Harbor or the occasional "Red Scare"), I've never seen anyone go into military service on just "patriotism" - it's always been about weighing career and retirement alternatives.

Haele