Edward Skewes, Director of Prosthetics and Orthotics for the Shrine Hospital in Greenville, demonstrates to Maj. Gen. Nesbitt procedures used to create a well-fitting prosthesis for children.  Guard officials visited the Shrine Children’s Hospital to discuss opportunities to utilize the hospital’s state-of-the-art rehabilitation services to aid wounded Soldiers.

Shrine, Guard may partner to aid wounded combat veterans

GREEVNILLE, S.C. – Georgia Guardsmen wounded in action, and other wounded veterans may  be able to take advantage of additional rehabilitation help thanks to the Shriners and other civic organizations.

Major Gen. Terry Nesbitt, Georgia’s Adjutant General, and Brig. Gen. Maria Britt, commanding general, Georgia Army Guard visited the Shiners Children’s Hospital, April 22, 2008, in Greenville, S.C., to explore an the possibility of a  partnering with the civic organization to help wounded combat veterans. 

The Shriners, an organization with a worldwide reputation for helping children through a system of twenty-two privately-funded pediatric hospitals would provide out-patient services for wounded veterans.

 “The proposed rehabilitation services we have in mind for Georgia Guardsmen,” said Roger Wise, National Ambassador, who joined Nesbitt and Britt on the trip, “will be much the same as we provide for our children and the benefits to Guardsman would be convenient, come up for the day, undergo necessary rehabilitation treatments, and return to sleep in their own bed at night.”

 “I am impressed by the hundreds of children who are helped each year through the vast network of Shrine Hospitals and the generosity of countless Shrine organizations throughout the country,” said Nesbitt.

The Greenville hospital was selected because of its recognition as a leader for “research into motion” studies and orthopedic diagnostic care.  A staff of trained technicians and doctors develop prosthetic limbs using the latest technology and materials and therapeutic care. While acknowledging that Georgia Guardsmen needing prosthetics is “fortunately very small,” Britt emphasized that “that there are benefits for Guardsmen here.”

Hospital administrator, Gary Fraley, looked beyond the physical needs of Guardsmen, saying “In additional to the medical benefits, I see important psychological benefit as well.”

Recently, the Atlanta Yaarab Headquarters approached the Georgia National Guard with the idea of making their state-of-the-art pediatric hospitals and rehabilitation services available to Georgia National Guardsmen who have suffered injuries or have lost limbs in combat.

Particulars of a unique arrangement between the Shrine Greenville Pediatric Hospital and the Georgia Guard are still in the developmental stage, but the new partnership offers an attractive option for wounded Georgia Guardsmen.  If adopted and successful, similar partnerships may be established wherever there is a Shrine Children’s hospital throughout the United States.

 “We can do everything for the Soldier that the VA can do, and without any federal funds or insurance companies,” said Lou Gaylor, Potentate of the Atlanta Yaarab Headquarters. Most wounded veterans currently spend months away from home in rehabilitation therapy at Army hospitals like Walter Reed, in Bethesda, Md., and Fort Sam Houston, in Texas.

Nesbitt and Britt joined Atlanta Shriners Wise, Gaylor, Costas Soulakos, editor, The Basharat, and Committee members Harlyn Lund and Steve Walker on the fact-finding visit.

 

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