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N ovember 10, 1993 « T he P ortland O bserver
P age A2
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S e n d y o u r le tte rs to th e E d ito r to:
E d ito r, P O B o x 3 1 3 7 , P o r tla n d , O R , 9 7 2 0 8
Dear Editor:
This is a statement of facts re
garding my medical care, at the V.A.
Hospital in Portland Oregon. 1 have a
history of hypertension which was
brought to my attention, in March 17,
1967, while still in active service at Ft.
Hood, Texas Medical Hold Co. My
blood pressure was 140/90. since that
time, I have had a blood pressure
reading as high as 208/110, on May
2 1 ,1 9 9 0 .1 came to Portland, Oregon
in 1989.
I had never visited Oregon, but
was stationed at Ft. lewis, W ashing
ton. Being raised in Texas, 1 was
attracted to the forest. Shortly afterm y
arrival in Portland, I was about out of
medicine. So I w ent to get a refill at the
V.A. pharmacy which I received. At
that time, I was advised that in order
toreceiveadditional medicine,I would
have to make an appointment to see a
doctor. Bare in mind, that I am not
against progress to research. Mymedi-
cal records from the V.A. hospital
Oakland, CA, and doctor records from
Dr. Otis Round, private physician,
was made available. I ended up taking
25 pills a day. I don’t know for how
long until on one of my visits, I re
turned the pills. There was no change
in my blood pressure. I always felt
lifeless. The doctor made no comment
except asking me what I was taking
now. 1 informed the doctor that 1 was
on my original medication, in which I
was only taking three pills a day.
On the next visit, without making
eye contact, the doctor said, “You
know they pay money to people with
blood pressure like yours.” I made no
comment. On a later visit, I was ad
vised that ifl would take this radiation
treatment, it may show a better picture
of what was going on inside of me.
After a few visits, I became somewhat
convinced that it might help in solv
ing my blood pressure problem so, an
appointment was made. Upon arrival,
1 received an authorization form to
sign. The content of the form was
down right frightening. I don’t re
member the form word for word, but it
stated that this procedure was strictly
voluntary, and had been known, in
some cases, to be fatal and cause can
cer. The radiation should leave the
body in about 3 days, the only persons
who will know about this test will be
you, us and the Food and Drug Ad
ministration. I would be contacted
every 2 to 5 years. I refused the test.
Since 1 have been in Portland, 1
have had from CAT Scans, to M RI’s
which showed no medical disorder or
problem. The first suggestion was that
1 had an adrenal gland problem. I
asked the doctor what does the adrenal
glands have to with blood pressure. He
said that it may or may not have
anything to do with it. He stated that
it was only a short operation on your
side 1 1/2 inches long. An appoint
ment was made to see the surgeon. I
asked the surgeon what does adrenal
glands have to do with blood pressure.
He said, “Nothing”. He then stated
that, in most cases, they do a small
incision on the side, but in my case,
they want to cut me wide open so they
could see everything. 1 did not have
the surgery.
Shortly after that, I w as ap
proached by the same doctor who had
suggested the adrenal gland opera
tion. He stated that there was a simple
test that was normally done while in
the hospital, but he had talked to staff
and felt that it was O.K. to do the
procedure in the clinic. It was only to
check my hormones. The test was
done by injecting a solution through
an I.V. Within seconds, I could not
breathe or speak. I thought I was
dying. Slowly I regained control. The
doctor sent for a nurse and kept me in
the office for at least 1 1/2 hours. 1 had
to get assistance from Congress to be
assigned a permanent doctor. I was
seen by at least six different doctors.
None would answer m y questions, but
would suggest that I talk with my
other doctor. One o f the first state
ments made by my new doctor was,
“ You went to see Congress?” W hen
ever I would ask questions, my ap
pointment would be set back as far as
four months. At first, my appoint
ments were twice a month.
I have been on medication for
years and one thing I do know is that
you do not stop all medication at once.
On my next visit, my new doctor told
me to stop all medication and take one
pill. I questioned this procedure and
the doctor said that he believed this
pill would do it and that sometimes,
one pill will work. I followed the
doctor’s advice and within one day, by
blood pressure went up to 208/110.
This was on May 31, 1990. I was
fortunate to have some o f my regular
medicine.
1 hope I am not taking up too
much time, but please listen to what I
have to say next. The same doctor,
who injected me to check my hor
mones, said, “1 am convinced that
irreversible damage had already been
done, we will have to wail and see.”
The doctor’s next predictions was
that unless something is done in the
next 9 months, this is w hat will hap
pen:
1. Rapid weight loss
2. Cramps in the limbs and joints
3. Rad stomach cramps with se
vere headaches
4. F o u l sm elling odor in bowel
m ovem ents
5. Extrem e high fe v e r along with
nose sores
6. Kidney or heart failure
At the onset o f each prediction,
my heart would pound so hard, that 1
could seem to hear it. As suddenly as
it started, it would stop until the next
phase. The rapid loss of weight lasted
from about four days to a week. 1
received all kinds o f tests, except a
urine test. I asked why no urine test
was done. I received no answer. I feel
that the test were given to find out
what stage of the predictions I was in.
After that visit, which was the last
visit, I asked the same questions about
what has happening to me. The doc
tors said, “ You are doing fine.” My
appointments have been set off for six
months. Soon after number 2 ,3 ,4 , of
the predictions happened, almost im
mediately. As of today, November 2,
1993, I have not been to the V.A.
Hospital, although I have been in fear
of my life. All this, because I would
not take an operation - that all tests
said 1 didn’t need. At first, I thought it
was coincidence. Now, I know it is
real. I just experienced prediction
number 5, where for almost four days,
my temperature was up and down
from normal to 102.9 degrees. When
I asked the other doctors about my
condition, they all say I am doing fine
and they have no idea what was in
jected in me because that it was some
time back and the records are not
available.
I have feared the V .A . H ospi
tal for som etim e. W hen I was able
to w ork, I did not use the V .A .
Now a fte r all that has happened, I
fear for my life. This letter may
not be able to help m e, since as
one o f the d o cto rs put it, “ ...irre
v ersible dam age had already been
d o n e ..” , but m aybe it w ill spare
som eone else. B esides, the people
have the rig h t to know w hat is
g o ing on.
Another Vietnam Veteran
1.
Y
Portland Christian Schools Seeks Diversity
by
alternative for minority students look
ing for a quality Christian education
in Portland-V ancouver. Portland
Christian Schools is a non-denomi-
national evangelical Christian school,
with classes ranging from day care
through the 12th grade. Our three
campus system in Portland and Van
couver is the largest private school in
the area (according to The Business
Journal), with nearly 1,000 students
in attendance in Portland and Van
couver. Portland Christian is fully
accredited (grades 7-12) with both
the association of Christian Schools
International (ACSI), and the North
west Association of Schools and Col
leges (NASC). The school has been in
continuous operation since 1947, serv
ing Christian families who are seek
ing a Christian education of excel
lence for their children.
Under the well known leader
ship of Pastor Steve Holt, Mr. Tim
Holt, Executive Director of Minority
Youth Concerns Action Program
(MYCAP),and the Rev. Willie Banks,
D avid W. R obinson
“It is the mission of Portland
Christian Schools to educate students
in the truth of G od’s W ord in every
area of instruction and activity so that
their lives may be transformed by the
renewing of their minds.”
W e’ve all heard it: “ A mind is a
terrible thing to w aste.” O ur children,
our students live in fear and violence.
Drugs, gangs, poverty, and despair
mark their horizon, and make it hard
to resist the temptation to give up on
life. Our community is losing many of
the promising young lives it needs if
it is to prosper in the future.
Parents, comm unity leaders, pas
tors and those in our business com
munity are looking for solutions. How
do we save our children? How can we
help them to see the possibilities that
life has to offer? How can lasting
values, ones that are based upon the
Lord’s eternal W ord, be transmitted
to our students, so that they can grasp
their future with hope and joy?
The word is out! There is an
Portland Christian has instituted an
exciting new program, called the
Minority S tudent Development Fund.
This has been established to encour
age Christian minority students to
attend a quality program. We are also
seeking to raise the support necessary
to help our minority brothers and
sisters who may be interested in at
tending the school, but who find that
they cannot afford the tuition. In this
way, we hope to exemplify the diver
sity and breadth of the Lord’s King
dom, and allow our students to expe
rience the richness of G od’s grace to
all of His children.
What would this require? The
cost of educating students at Portland
Christian is roughly half that of the
public schools. For example, a kin
dergarten child may attend our full-
day kindergarten program for only
S191.67 per month, or S2.300 per
year.
An elementary student costs S300
per month, or $3,600 per year; a
junior high student attends for $320
per month, or S3,840 per year, while
a senior high student pays $372.50
per month, or $4,470 per year. Stu
dent discounts are applied for more
than one child per family, with a
maximum paymentofS7,900per fam
ily, regardless of the number of chil
dren. This compares quite favorably
with other private schools in Port
land-Vancouver area, with per stu
dent rates of up to S9,000-510,000,
and no discounting.
Even at these lower tuition rates,
however, many cannot afford to at
tend Portland Christian. The response
of the school has been to institute an
aggressive fund raising effort to raise
the money necessary to cover the cost
of adding minority students to the
school. Churches, businesses, civic
groups, and individual donors are
being encouraged to support this wor
thy program for Christian youth. A
number of firms and individuals have
already expressed interest in helping
our children in this way.
How can you help? Portland
W O M E N 'S STREET
SELF-D EFENSE
•
and a burden for minority Christian
students in our area. For more infor
mation about the program ,or to make
a donation to the m inority student aid
fund, contact the Portland Christian
Development Office at (503) 256-
3960. Pastor Holt or Rev. Banks would
be glad to discuss ways for you to
become more involved with Portland
Christian. Speakers are available to
appear at your church, business, or
civic meetings. W ecan show you how
a Christian education makes an in
credible investment in the future of
our community, and how it changes
the lives of the students and families
who commit themselves to it.
Our children are our most pre
cious resource! We should give them
every opportunity to develop the minds
that God gave them, and refuse the
despair that threatens to swallow their
lives.
Join the P ortland C h ristian
Schools in this important new pro
gram for ourcom m unityand our chil
dren!
Christian is seeking help in two ways.
First, the school is seeking funds
to underwrite students. It is our goal
to ra is e b e tw e e n $ 5 0 ,0 0 0 a n d
S 100,000 annually for minority tu
ition aid. If you or your church, civic
group, or business would be inter
ested in underwriting students, this
would be a very tangible way of help
ing the project.
Second subject to funding, Port
land Christian is always interested in
qualified Christian students for its
program. Families who would like
their children to have an alternative
to a landscape of fear,and would like
them to develop Biblical values while
enjoying an education of excellence,
should contact the school concerning
enrollment. Those who can afford the
tuition may apply directly; those who
cannot, may place their name on the
list for consideration by the Minority
Student Aid Committee. As funds
become available, qualified students
will be reviewed for admission.
Portland Christian has a vision
Be an ex-smoker
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