Milwaukee VA makes Vet's Antarctica trip possible
A U.S. Army Veteran — unable to walk or care for himself just weeks before — was able to take the trip of a lifetime thanks to care he received at the Milwaukee VA Medical Center.
Bill Schneider, 80, was able to travel to Antarctica in February despite a debilitating, fast-moving illness that waylaid him
Schneider was leaving a friend’s house in early December when his legs suddenly gave out and he collapsed. He was initially diagnosed with spinal stenosis and started physical therapy.
However, that wasn’t helping; in fact, his condition was getting worse. He couldn’t walk or dress himself, his wife Josephine said. “He had become almost a total invalid within four weeks,” she said.
“I was in bad shape,” Bill said. “I just didn’t have any muscles. I could still eat, but that was about it.”
That led to more testing, which revealed a much more serious condition — chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, or CIDP. It’s a rare autoimmune disease that attacks the protective covering around the nerves, leading to pain, weakness and numbness.
“They did the test, and within two minutes the doctor told Bill, ‘You’re not going home today,’” Josephine said.
Bill was checked into the hospital, set to begin intravenous immunoglobulin treatment, which involves injecting concentrated antibodies from healthy people. He would receive the injections daily over five days.
Meanwhile, despite his condition, Bill was eyeing the calendar: He and Josephine were due to leave on their two-week Antarctica trip on Feb. 14. And Bill told the doctors he was going on the trip.
“They said, ‘We’ll try to get you ready,’ to which I snapped back, ‘No, I’m going,’” Bill said. “I was pretty determined.”
After receiving the treatments the first week, Bill was moved into rehabilitation, during which his days were filled with physical therapy. The team knew about Bill’s determination to be well enough to make the trip, and they worked to make it happen.
“Everybody had heard the story,” he said. “Nurses would come in and cheer me on, and I had two or three doctor visits every day.”
“And the doctors are so fantastic,” Josephine said. “They have been so compassionate, passionate, patient and kind. I can’t say enough about how good they were.”
After three weeks, Bill was discharged, though he still had to continue with his physical therapy. As Feb. 14 grew closer, doctors assured Bill he would make his trip. He was issued a special walker, safety precautions and medications.
When he and Josephine left on their cruise, Bill was still struggling to walk. But that wasn’t the case by the end of the trip.
He rented a scooter to use on the cruise ship, but quickly parked it. And while he used the walker for off-boat excursions in South America, he eventually got to the point where it too wasn’t needed.
“He went from a guy who couldn’t go to the bathroom by himself to someone who was walking five or six miles a day — in less than two months,” Josephine said. “It was a remarkable recovery.”
Because so many of his Milwaukee VA caregivers knew of his Antarctica trip, Bill created a collage of photos from the trip that he hand-delivered to doctors, nurses and others who helped him make it.
“I promised everybody pictures,” he said. “That’s how this all started.”
Angie Kinter, division manager for acute inpatient nursing, said the story is testament to the impact the VA makes on Veterans “not just when they are inpatients but long afterward as well. The hard work, expertise, caring and dedication contribute to Veterans and their families having improved quality of life and experiences that provide lasting memories.”
Bill checked in with his medical team recently and was issued a clean bill of health, though providers want to continue monitoring him.
Both he and Josephine said they were grateful for the care they received.
“It was unbelievable,” Josephine said. “People don’t realize that about the VA: These doctors care. They want to be there; they love our service men. There is so much compassion. If I had any questions, they got me answers as quickly as possible.”
Bill said he made it a point while in the hospital to ask all employees he encountered about their work.
“I didn’t find anybody who said they didn’t like working at the VA,” he said. “They love taking care of Veterans.
“I have nothing but good things to say about the entire crew — from the doctors and nurses to the kitchen staff. Being in the hospital is not fun, but they made it as easy as could be.”
“We are so blessed to have the Milwaukee VA,” Josephine said.