It reads/ sounds like a great recovery/ outcome from an anoxic brain injury... although it seems he started to progress earlier than Chris ...
By Matt Barnes, Staff writer
Published:
A smile burst onto Eric Edmundson’s face every time another friend, relative or well-wisher walked through the doors of the
Edmundson’s reception at the
And he was the king.
The reception was held to recognize Edmundson for his photographic work while he served with the United States Army in
But really, the artist’s reception served as an opportunity for those in the
Eric’s father, Ed Edmundson, put into words what Eric could not as loved ones stood at attention around the retired Army sergeant.
“If you go over to Eric right now, you can tell that he’s just thrilled that people are able to see his photographs,” Ed said. “He’s very excited to be here, to finally see everybody.”
As Ed’s voice wafted through the room, Eric sat quietly smiling in his wheelchair, awaiting his chance to show the crowd how far he had come. When it came time for Eric’s speech, those at the
That warm welcome for Eric on a cold
While on a vehicle extrication mission on
While waiting to be airlifted to an American military hospital in
When Edmundson arrived at
It was apparent that Eric would need an advocate to aid in his journey to recovery.
Ed and his wife, Beth, moved to
“I didn’t even think about it,” Ed said about becoming Eric’s advocate. “Every parent would do that, I’m sure.”
Being an advocate for an injured soldier in need of expert care would prove to be more of a challenge than Ed originally thought, though.
After Eric was discharged from Walter Reed, he was placed under the care of the Veterans Administration, which sent him to a VA hospital in
“When Eric came in with his injuries, you could just tell they were at a loss as to how to help him,” Ed said.
Eric’s morale and self-esteem slipped lower and lower while he was in the VA system. As Ed watched, he decided to begin a bureaucratic battle for his son’s rights.
Ed researched and educated himself and found out that if Eric remained on active duty, the government would pay for private care.
He insisted that his son be left on active duty, and eventually won his battle against stiff opposition.
In October of 2006, Eric entered the world-class Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
After winning the right for private treatment, Ed said he does not blame the VA system. He said the length of the war and the unexpected number of serious injuries have taken its toll.
In an ABC News report, Ed had nothing but good things to say about the treatment at Walter Reed, but said it is the postdischarge period that is flawed.
“It was quite a journey for him to get permission to go there (RIC),” Ed remarked.
The start of his treatment was delayed by an infection, but Eric started full-time at the Rehabilitation Institute in January of 2007 — 14 months after being injured.
“Once Eric was allowed to go to the Rehabilitation Institute in
Now, Eric can stand and walk short distances with assistance. He still cannot speak, but he can nod yes or no to specific questions.
His current capabilities are a far cry from the initial prognosis.
“When Eric was first at Walter Reed, they took the family all into a room and sat us down and told us that Eric would be a vegetable the rest of his life,” Ed said.
After hearing that news, Ed recalled standing at the foot of Eric’s bed with his doctors, pleading with his son to just move a toe.
“It was devastating — not only for us, but for him,” Ed said. “But he has proved every physician and physical therapist wrong since he’s been injured. He just fights and fights.”
As it became clear that Eric could make progress at the Rehabilitation Institute, a feeling of guilt washed over the Edmundsons. In January of 2007, Eric was the only soldier receiving treatment at the nation’s top-rated rehab center.
“When you have hundreds of severely injured soldiers at home, in nursing homes, at hospitals and VA centers hoping to get the quality of care and recovery that Eric’s experienced, it was frustrating to say the least when we got there,” Ed explained. “This guilt came over us because we fought so hard to get him (to the RIC), but once we got there, he was the only soldier there receiving this world-class care.”
During the rehabilitation process, Eric and Ed began to communicate with other soldiers and their families who were facing the same challenges that they had.
Eric slowly became the face for soldiers injured in
The Edmundsons hope that Eric’s story, beginning with his journey through the VA system, into the private health care sector and through rehab, will shed light on all the options for returning soldiers with serious injuries.
“He’s been the face of a lot of soldiers,” said Eric’s mother, Beth. “He’s done a lot to help others.”
“What Eric wants to say is ‘Don’t give up,’” Ed added. “Fight, fight, fight.”
After Eric walked out of rehab — yes, walked — on
Following his stay at the Rehabilitation Institute, Eric has continued to work everyday towards a return to normalcy. That process included a stop in
A photography enthusiast growing up in
While at the Rehabilitation Institute, 400 of his photographs were submitted to the
“What the museum liked most about the photos were the quality and the fact that they reflect the details of the daily life of a soldier,” Ed explained.
Since, the photos have traveled, and have even been displayed at the Pentagon.
The success of the exhibit has played a major role in Eric’s recovery process and has given him one more channel to speak through.
“When Eric was first injured, he was 25. He loved life and was a vibrant young man. He was married and had a 7-month-old daughter. To be so devastatingly injured and then to suffer a brain injury caused his morale and self-esteem to plummet,” Ed said. “The photograph exhibit has been a positive part of his recovery process.”
“It means a lot (for him to be here),” said Stephanie, his wife. “I’m really happy knowing that he enjoys being here and can see everyone again.”
The culmination of Friday’s reception was when Eric was able to speak. Although the words originated from a computerized voice box, the words were still Eric’s, and those who were there listened intently. As Eric introduced himself and thanked those that made the exhibit possible, he began to cry when his speech mentioned special people from
Ed explained that while Eric has lived across the country — from
“I’ve said many times that Eric’s outcome, in fact his family’s outcome, would have been different if it were not for help from families, friends, prayers, concerns and financial support from non-profit organizations,” Ed said. “The world is full of many, many caring people — when you experience something like this, you find that out real quick.”
Edmundson’s exhibit will remain at the
A CaringBridge Web site has been created for Eric. Visit www.caringbridge.org, enter ericedmundson and then click visit to read updates, leave messages and view an archive of Eric’s experiences.
Eric, Stephanie and Gracie, along with Ed and Beth, all live together in a house constructed by volunteers along the coast of
Always an avid outdoorsman, Ed said that he and Eric have been out deer hunting and have started fishing again. Ed hopes that someday he will be able to open a bait shop with Eric at his side.
Contact Matt Barnes at mattb@charlescitypress.com or
(641) 228-3211 ext. 21
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