This is an open letter to the readers of Traveling Soldier from Specialist Barron's wife Kim Barron.

My name is Kimberly A. Barron.

I am writing this letter to convey my concern over the condition of my husbands, SPC Patrick G Barron, knees. He has been diagnosed with Chondromalacia Pattelar, a degenerative condition affecting the cartilage beneath the kneecap. Since Pat has been mobilized, his pain has increased and his limp more pronounced.

My husband will be deploying to Iraq very shortly, and my concerns are for the health and well being of him in such a hostile environment.

I ask you this: How can anyone deploy a soldier to combat with such limitations as: no lifting or carrying more than forty pounds, no ruck, no walking/running on uneven surfaces, no 3 -5 second rushes under direct or indirect fire? These limitations have me deeply confused as he is 11B, an infantryman, one of the most physically demanding jobs in the army.

He has been on a T-3 profile under the L on the PULHES on the physical profile functional capacity guide. The first one was issued on the very first day he was mobilized and it had a duration of 60 days. Since that time he has been issued 4 more, all 30 day T-3 profiles. He has endured physical therapies, and numerous medications all to no avail. The problem has not gone away, and will not, as it is a degenerative condition.

On 06 DEC 2004, he suffered a fall at JRTC in FT Polk LA. The soldier who was standing nearby witnessed this. He is also an army medic, and he saw as well as heard the noise my husbands knee made when he slipped while climbing out of the back of a hummer.

The attending P.A. Capt. Eric Rice told my husband that a visit to the emergency room was not necessary and he dispensed Tylenol for pain. The pain my husband was in was excruciating but he felt he had no choice but to carry on, even in great pain.

Upon returning to Ft Hood some two weeks later, my husband then sought out the advice of an emergency room doctor at Darnell Military Hospital, once there he saw Capt. Dale A Spence P.A. who recommended an MRI as soon as possible and an Ortho consult as well, he then issued Patrick another 30 day T-3 pending aforementioned Consultation and test.

He said that he was worried that Patrick may have torn a ligament because his knees felt “looser” than it should be. The only problem with this is that he has been denied an MRI time and time again.

When he came home for the holidays, I noticed an increased limp as well as obvious pain. I insisted on a trip to our hospital, Uvalde Memorial Hospital, he agreed and was seen by Dr Lewis Christian who concurred with Capt Spence’s diagnosis that he needed both an Ortho Consult and a MRI. He gave Patrick a immobilization brace and crutches as well as a prescription for Vicoden.

When Pat returned to Ft Hood after the holidays he was seen again, this time by SRP Capt Jeff H Wright D.O. Captain Wright examined Patrick's knees and told him that all previous diagnosis were wrong, and he didn't have Chondromalacia Patellar, he had something else and it would by cured in 30 days with knees braces, however the braces would not be available until after Patrick was out of the country.

He asked for a MRI and showed paperwork that said that it was needed, he was denied. My question is, who is this man that can change the diagnosis of 5 previous doctors without benefit of X-rays or MRI?

It certainly sounds very wrong to me.

Something must be done for Patrick, and soldiers like him that are at the mercy of the Army’s whims.

If all it takes is for the diagnosis of one man to wipe out the previous diagnosis of several other doctors, civilian as well as military then why do we have these doctors to begin with? It seems to me that we really only need this one!

Something does not sound right to me, is the army so hard up for numbers that they will say whatever is necessary to send them into combat?

I would like to remind the people who read our articles that if they would like to contact us, you can email us at ArchAngel1BL@aol.com, ArchAngel1BL@hotmail.com , and ArchAngel2KB@hotmail.com

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