I joined the US Air Force when I was 18, fresh out of High School. While in boot camp at Lackland AFB. Texas, I was caught in a mine field. My backpack, which weighed 45 lbs, got tangled in barbed wire, setting off pot mines all around me. I was blown 60 feet due east from my location. Landed on my back and when I stood up, there was machine guns pounding the dirt at my feet. I was sure at that time that was the end of my life. Oddly enough I came away with only a sprained ankle and sweaty palms. That was the start of my ordeal of fighting diversity. That angel on my shoulder must have smiled at me. For my fight had just begun……The story is not really finished. The most apparent presence of God's help is yet to come. But first I will continue my story. After my basic training and technical schooling. I was transferred to Scott AFB, Illinois. I was a communications set-up specialist , we as a group set up radio signals ground to Air. To direct planes to a target on the ground. I was sitting at a teletype , sending messages over the U.S. military Microwave Network. Much to my surprise a sergeant entered the room and in a screeching voice said, "Don't stand up or touch anything" I froze and was like a statue. I had not noticed the window was open and the rain had covered the floor with an inch or two of water.....the water did not penetrate my combat boots. Needless to say I was inches away from a power source of 6,000 volts. The main klystron power tube was glowing like a 200 watt light bulb. The Sarge, called the rescue crew. I was hoisted out into an insulated area. Had I put pressure on my feet , I would have fried myself. Another guardian angel? After serving only 18 months in the Air Force, I became very tired and my speech became garbled. This lasted a month or so. I went to the base hospital. The doctors had no idea what was wrong with me. They went over my record and decided to give me a medical discharge. Diagnosis: Heart disease. By March of 1958 I was home. My mom and dad were puzzled and worried. I dropped to the floor and did 50 pushups, just to show them I was O.K. I was 21 years old, and was planning to get married in May 1958. The wedding took place, my wife and I were very much in love. August 1960, I awoke at six o-clock ; the plan was to get ready for work , my head was light as a feather, my legs weighed 500 lbs. I could not move them. I tried to get up; but I fell on the floor. My wife was startled by the noise. At the family doctor's office that afternoon, I was taken to the New England Medical Center, Pratt Diagnostic section. After four days of grueling tests and invasive procedures, The medical team came up with a diagnosis. "Multiple Sclerosis" they said . I replied what is that? After a lengthy discussion, I decided that I would not tell anyone about it. But in Sept. 1964, I was having trouble seeing could not separate the double images I was seeing. My opthamologist, Dr. Joseph Skirball, said it was optic neuritis along with nastagmous. And I would be blind in my left eye. My wife and I were a little crushed at the statement. But the legs were still a bit heavy. I could still walk and run with my kids, 4 in all. 3 boys and one angel of a girl. In the past I was blessed twice , the mine field and the radio room; now with the blessing of children, I started to think that my Lord had done all he could for me. On June 4 1967, I was offered a job at a major defense company. They heard about me from a coworker ( I was involved in the Space Program) i.e.: space suits.....BF Goodrich............ I had visions of going into Space, and meeting my guardian Angel.. Someone or something was plotting my future, I worked on simulated flights with the computers of that era......You may laugh! But they got us to the moon. I worked till November 1972, It became too much of a task for me to go on working, I was hospitalized, Nov 1972, Got a new Doctor, He gave me a medication called ACTH. 80ml diluted in 500cc saline solution.. oddly enough it gave me back a new lease on life, I had these treatments every 6 months until October 1987 . During a routine cat scan of my entire body, looking for lesions on the spine, the radiologist spotted a shadow in my abdomen . It was a tumor. A surgeon was called in, lucky for me, he was the best colo-rectal surgeon in the northeast. He assembled my whole family at my bedside in the hospital, explained my condition to them. Then he asked, "Is there anything you want to know?" My wife asked, "What are his chances for survival?" He responded, "With George's condition there is no data I can refer to. But with all of us right here and now, we can pray for a miracle." We all prayed our different prayers. I had surgery in Jan 1988. The tumor was malignant. He removed as much as possible, he said when my incision healed, I would have to go for radiation and chemotherapy. In March 1988, I had my first radiation treatment. There were 45 of them altogether, and at the 38th day they added chemotherapy. I was at the new England rehab hospital at this point. I was taken by ambulance for all of my radiation treatments at Waltham Weston Hospital. While at the NEW England rehab, I spoke before an oncology group, I can not recall the subject matter, but all of the cancer patients were staring at me. I asked the coordinator what was wrong? She said, "There was a white ring around your face as you spoke." All of the cancer patients in that room, that day survived. The three that were not there died. Every Doctor I see can not believe I have had MS this long. When they read the record I can see the amazement on their faces. OH! I forgot to say ! my disability is Service connected........and that the story goes on........ 1) fractured hip 1992........The sodium pentothal did not flow. .entire operation I was wide awake. The paralytic drug they gave me prevented my screams from leaving my mouth. ( it did smart ) 2) third degree burn 1996 on back of leg from chemical freezer - heater pad. George Bryant
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