Desert Storm Veteran Wants to Help Those Before He Makes a Final Salute!

Desert Storm Veteran Wants to Help Those Before He Makes a Final Salute

"Please don't be alarmed by the video."

RP Members, Connections, and Friends - this is a message from SSG Bob Klement for those fighting for their VA Benefits from the Gulf War Era and I would like to personally get a Strong Prayer Chain going for Bob Kement and his family and his service to this country.

The photos in the post below are Bob just joining the military, a picture from the Gulf War, Him and his Wife, and Picture of him and his wife when an idea he had went from concept to law and the governor signed.

Here is the law that was signed:
http://apps2.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5881&Year=2015

I've include more pictures below in the post in reference to Bob's Prognosis

Bob wants all veterans to know that navigating the VA is a challenge. Information from them is not forthcoming. Bob had to dig to find the research program and fought like hell to get the Milwaukee VA on the right page.

Fortunately, he was very good at research and has gotten a very good education on the title 38 CFR's the VA uses for ratings. He's helped a few veterans get the 100% that they deserve.

Here is Bob's story shared with me.

The first part is from September 2017 and the second part is from August 2018.

Somewhere in my previous question to the group I asked about information on the VA in Boston and DU. Again, I am sorry for this being so long.

I was talking to a friend and I’m taking her advice and deciding to talk about this. This is not something that has been easy on me or my family.

This is probably by far the hardest thing I have ever written. Some of you are aware of this already, but there has been new information added to the diagnosis. I will get to that in a moment.

Today, I was talking to my mom, Nan Klement, and she told me of a conversation she had with one of my daughters. “Cheyenne, the diagnosis is real and your dad is dying.” I think that those have been the hardest words I have ever heard and the hardest for my mom to ever say. No parent should ever have to say those words about their son or daughter. For me to hear those words that way really caught me off guard. It put everything that I have been facing since April 17, 2017 into a different light for me. Part of me wanted to say that she wasn’t talking about me, but the other half knew she was.

My family was here in August and most surrounded me with love and support. It was very welcome when the next diagnosis came in on August 24, 2017. A few did not. Instead, it caused great pain.

I had not seen my middle daughter since 2004. We have had an off and on relationship since 2012. Her choice. A lot of things have been said in the last few weeks that were very painful and hard to hear. I’m just as guilty because I said some things as well. I guess what I’m trying to get to is that life is short. None of us know how long we have left on this planet. I hate the idea that the relationships that I had hoped for were destroyed by jealousy and vindictiveness. Hold those that you love close because life is short.

I know a number of you are sitting there going WTH is he talking about? Well, I have waited a long time to talk publicly about this. It has taken me a long time to deal with the emotions that a person is faced with when they receive news of a fatal disease. I still get bowled over every now and again. I will have to deal with them until the end, whenever that may be.

I have had problems with my health since I came home from Iraq twenty-six years ago. We finally have an answer: Lead and Depleted Uranium Poisoning. Like the Vietnam veterans and Agent Orange, this has taken it’s time in showing its ugly head. There is no cure. This will probably cause more cancer in the future, but no one is certain of anything. It has impacted my parathyroid, hypothalamus, kidneys, neurological system and bones.

I tell you this now, so there is no sudden shock down the road. I know what you are thinking: How long do I have. No one knows at this point. Right now it is just a matter of monitoring me. My cancer tumor markers are elevated, so the clock is ticking. I just don’t know and to be honest, I don’t want the doctors to tell me. I’m trying to live my life the best that I can. I don’t want nor need sympathy. I have enough reminders every day of what is happening to my mind and body. There are so many of you that I have known for so long that I felt it was only right to tell you all now after my family was here for me. I ask that you don’t cry for me. I ask that you look back at memories and smile. I do. I don’t know what my purpose on this earth is, but I hope that I can leave it with a smile knowing I left my mark on it in a positive way and a positive impact on your life. I love you all. Thank you for being my friends and family.

This is the most recent update….

My journey

Hello everyone and thank you for the well wishes. I guess it’s time to fill you all in on what is going on. April 17, 2017 I was diagnosed with depleted uranium poisoning as I’m sure many of you know. Last August, lead poisoning was also added to the list. Last November I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and a few weeks ago Meige syndrome.

Meige syndrome is a rare neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary and often forceful contractions of the muscles of the jaw and tongue (oromandibular dystonia) and involuntary muscle spasms and contractions of the muscles around the eyes (blepharospasm). This syndrome makes it difficult to hold my head upright and speak. Some days are better than others.

Yesterday I had a DAT scan done that confirmed the diagnosis’s. the report states “Findings: These images show near absent uptake in the putamen of the left hemisphere with activity confined to the caudate nucleus. There is near normal distribution of the uptake in the striatal cortex to background with near normal uptake seen in the caudate and putamen of the right hemisphere.

Overall, the findings suggest parkinsonian syndrome. Impression: Abnormal uptake is seen in the putamen of the left hemisphere and near normal uptake in the right putamen and caudate nucleus with findings suggestive of Parkinsonian syndrome”.

The defining feature of parkinsonism is bradykinesia, or slowness with decrement and degradation of repetitive movements (“fatigue”). Parkinsonian syndrome does not respond as well to dopaminergic treatments and generally have a worse prognosis compared to typical Parkinson’s disease. Degenerative causes of parkinsonism may be difficult to diagnose in the earliest stages and ancillary investigations may be of limited value in this instance. For many of these atypical disorders, the average lifespan is five to 10 years.

The disability comes more quickly than with Parkinson’s. So, in a nut shell, neurologically, I’m not doing so well. I’m very tired and I have a lot on my mind (what’s left of it anyway). There are still many unanswered questions and I am just going to have to evaluate what my provider suggests.

Message to COL (Ret) Mikel Burroughs:

"I'm working on getting to the Houston VA because they have a research project that I am enrolling in. I know that it will not save my life, but I pray that at some point down the road, it will help my brothers and sisters in arms and others who face some of these issues.

My wife has asked me to get my final wishes documented for her and I am working on that. I'm leaving in the morning for Arizona to spend time with my parents and brother. I also have things at their house that I need to make decisions on and deal with so my parents are not faced with that painful burden. I have also taken care of most of the things at my home so my wife won't have as much to face. While I'm in Arizona, I have an appointment with JAG at Luke AFB to have my will updated.

I don't expect to die any time soon, but I want as much handled before I am at a point where I am no longer able to.

I need to talk to my parents about their thoughts on my funeral when that time comes. I live in Wisconsin, but I want my service with a viewing in Washington state with cremation after. I want my honors and part of my remains placed in the Tahoma National Cemetery while the rest of my remains are scattered at my favorite duck hunting and fishing spots. I just need to figure out how to put it all together. I know that I can't do advanced planning for a national cemetery, but I can do the rest. My best friend was a Blackhawk pilot and told me to look into a missing man formation of OH-58's out of Ft. Lewis, but that is one thing I have absolutely no idea how to go about researching.

Well sir, I have bent your ear long enough and I'm sure that you have other matters to tend to, but I appreciate your time."
"Scouts Out!"
Bob