I mentioned on DKs site that my father in his 20s contracted rheumatic fever during WWII, in a military hospital 6 or 8 weeks. He worked as a typist during WWII.
After that he had a long career as a pharmacist and then executive.
About my father's other, late, contact with the federal military system, 50 or so years later.
He had smoked too much all his life, died of emphysema and surgical complications.
He had lost his mind (lack of oxygen), age 73- 74, and was a VA hospital again.
The VA was then doing experimental surgery for otherwise terminal emphysema. I am sure they had so many patients.....
My mother, not operating with a full deck, agreed to this.
My father's nurse, post op, tears rolling down his cheeks, wailed that the surgeon was such a butcher. He, not I, was rather in a position to know.
My father lived in intensive care for several weeks, his torso twice its normal size.
They found out, only by autopsy, that he had had a narrowed mitral valve, (a common and serious rheumatic fever consequence).
They said that this surprise contributed to his inability to recover from iffy experimental lung surgery, probably not noticing how he had gotten the narrowed mitral valve in the first place!
For me, looking back, that was classic.
They said that this surprise contributed to his inability to recover from iffy experimental lung surgery, probably not noticing how he had gotten the narrowed mitral valve in the first place!
For me, looking back, that was classic.
He had been denied disability benefits, though honorably discharged.
Some of my readers might appreciate this little story.
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