Marine left with 61 ailments from drinking toxic water – Health -……
Six of those years he was stationed in Jacksonville, North Carolina, where he drank contaminated water (Image: SWNS)
A former Marine and his household have been left battling severe health issues allegedly tied to “toxic” contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune.
Elbridge Cleveland, 64, served in the United States Marine Corps from 1979 to 1988, spending six years stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune from 1980, alongside his then-wife and their three youngsters.
In 1982, the Marine Corps uncovered toxic risky natural compounds in the bottom’s water provide, which served roughly 34,000 people. Elbridge’s health deteriorated from 1985, when persistent complications and leg pain first emerged.
Since then, he has obtained diagnoses for 61 separate health circumstances, including kidney disease, fibromyalgia, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, pores and skin cancer, mitochondrial disease, cysts throughout his physique, and has endured a number of strokes.
Tragically, his spouse succumbed to cancer, his daughter is battling stage 4 cancer, and his sons have also developed health issues — all of which Elbridge attributes to the contaminated water provide.
The contamination dates back to 1953, but no one was conscious of it during Vernon’s time at the bottom (Image: SWNS)
Elbridge, from Lacona, New York, recalled: “We didn’t know anything about the water being contaminated.”
“Nobody did until 1987, when they sent out a survey to people who had lived there.
“It requested if we had skilled any kind of sickness, where we lived and where we drank the water from.
“At the time, they didn’t say the survey was due to the contamination, but I knew there was something else behind it.”
Throughout his service with the United States Marine Corps, Elbridge spent six years based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
He resided there alongside his former spouse, and during their time at the bottom, they’d three youngsters.
“I started experiencing constant headaches, prostate issues and discomfort in both of my legs,” Elbridge recalled.
“I didn’t know anything about the water being poisoned; nobody did.”
The water pollution at Camp Lejeune traces back to August 1953, when the Hadnot Point water distribution system began delivering tainted water to personnel residing on base.
Testing performed in laboratories by 1981 confirmed extreme contamination ranges. Despite this discovery, occupants weren’t formally informed until a number of years afterward.
Following his departure from army service, Elbridge experiences struggling from “all kinds of health issues.”
His medical diagnoses embrace kidney disease, fibromyalgia, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, pores and skin cancer, mitochondrial disease, cysts throughout his physique, and he has endured a number of strokes.
His spouse handed away from cancer in 2024, he revealed, and each of his three youngsters has confronted medical issues, which he attributes to publicity to the polluted water provide.
In dialog with Sell Us Your Story, Elbridge shared, “I can’t do a lot of things that I used to. I still get lightheaded all the time.”
“I get muscle spasms throughout my whole body; they are in my throat, so sometimes I struggle to breathe.”
“My daughter has stage four cancer. My two sons, who were born on the base, also have health issues.”
“My sons were born in the Navy hospital there. When they were born, they were washed with that toxic water and then wound up drinking it.”
Vernon has been touring to Ohio for treatment because he feels ignored by the New York medical neighborhood (Image: SWNS )
The Department of Veterans Affairs web site urges veterans who have been stationed at Camp Lejeune between August 1, 1953, and December 31, 1987, to submit purposes for incapacity advantages and healthcare.
He said he had to start flying to the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, for treatment as the hospitals in New York, as really useful by the Veterans Affairs, have been “putting Band-Aids” over his health points.
He revealed he started touring to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio for medical care after New York hospitals, as recommended by Veterans Affairs, have been merely “putting plasters” over his health issues.
“I started going to the Cleveland Clinic for treatment, as no hospital in New York would treat me,” he said.
“The clinic recommended that the VA install an infrared sauna and a hydrotherapy unit in my home, as it would help with the pain and my sleep.
“But the VA stored saying no, and I’m shedding feeling in my arms and legs.”
He characterized his treatment as “horrific” and said he feels it would be easier for the department if he died, so “they would not have to foot the invoice.”
“I’m preventing them for every part,” he stated.
“I can not help but really feel like it will be simpler for them if I died.”
“This is no manner to deal with a veteran.”
Quinn Slaven, press secretary for Veterans Affairs, explained: “Federal law prohibits the acquisition or set up of therapeutic or wellness tools for in-home use under the VA Home Improvements and Structural Alterations program.
“This program may only be used for home modifications, such as accessibility improvements to bathrooms, entrances and mobility-related home functions.”
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