Good bye to Eric
On September 17, 2010 a worker named Eric passed away at the age of 49 years old
Eric was not known well by many people. He was a quiet man who I had the opportunity to meet at a time he needed help the most.
Unfortunately, I was not able to help Eric and no one will know much about him and the trial and tribulations he had since he sustained a work related accident. He was left with a severe brain injury but the memory of who he was prior to his injury remained. He moved from Ontario to Alberta for a new adventure with the company he dedicated his working life to for over 20 years. He had no family, no friends and the Northern Brain Injury Society of Alberta had staff that became his only guiding light in life after the accident.
Eric had a work related incident for injury in Alberta. The WCB denied his claim, and responsibility for the brain injury. The DRDRB and the Appeals Commission denied his claim as well, before I meet Eric.
The Appeals Commission refused to reconsider the decision to deny his claim. The Ombudsman refused to assist us with a review of the circumstances, decisions and claim. The MLA, and the employer of 20 years and the Union failed Eric in his struggles.
The compassion and understanding of the complexity of the situation was expressed on deaf ears. In society Eric felt isolated, rejected, and very sad with a loneliness that only a brain injury or an experienced caregiver, family member or dear friend of a brain injury can understand.
He would say over and over to me "why doesn't anyone believe me, why did the company never call me, where was the union, how can the government let this happen to me"?
Like so many others it happened and the bureaucracy I will never be able to explain. Knowing Eric for a short time and seeing his difficulty with life and his death does not surprise me. His life after an accident and his struggles with the bureaucracy will never seize to amaze me.
Workers express their anger, hurt, frustration of the bureaucracy in different forms. This was a worker that could not express his disappointment and make change in the system as so many others.
I hope that Eric will remain an inspiration to me while I go forward with my own frustrations in dealing with the WCB and helping others deal with injuries from work and the bureaucracy that has disappointed so many.
Eric's death will not be remembered by many. I will remember the man I met, his life and his death while I hope he has found peace now. His life he thought was worth nothing to anyone and he truly was a sad injured worker that will not be a statistic in any WCB reports. I wonder how often workers are statistics some where else?
Please take care of your physical, psychological and emotional needs whether you are injured or not. Seek help when you need it and help others that can not help themself.
Gail Cumming
Eric was not known well by many people. He was a quiet man who I had the opportunity to meet at a time he needed help the most.
Unfortunately, I was not able to help Eric and no one will know much about him and the trial and tribulations he had since he sustained a work related accident. He was left with a severe brain injury but the memory of who he was prior to his injury remained. He moved from Ontario to Alberta for a new adventure with the company he dedicated his working life to for over 20 years. He had no family, no friends and the Northern Brain Injury Society of Alberta had staff that became his only guiding light in life after the accident.
Eric had a work related incident for injury in Alberta. The WCB denied his claim, and responsibility for the brain injury. The DRDRB and the Appeals Commission denied his claim as well, before I meet Eric.
The Appeals Commission refused to reconsider the decision to deny his claim. The Ombudsman refused to assist us with a review of the circumstances, decisions and claim. The MLA, and the employer of 20 years and the Union failed Eric in his struggles.
The compassion and understanding of the complexity of the situation was expressed on deaf ears. In society Eric felt isolated, rejected, and very sad with a loneliness that only a brain injury or an experienced caregiver, family member or dear friend of a brain injury can understand.
He would say over and over to me "why doesn't anyone believe me, why did the company never call me, where was the union, how can the government let this happen to me"?
Like so many others it happened and the bureaucracy I will never be able to explain. Knowing Eric for a short time and seeing his difficulty with life and his death does not surprise me. His life after an accident and his struggles with the bureaucracy will never seize to amaze me.
Workers express their anger, hurt, frustration of the bureaucracy in different forms. This was a worker that could not express his disappointment and make change in the system as so many others.
I hope that Eric will remain an inspiration to me while I go forward with my own frustrations in dealing with the WCB and helping others deal with injuries from work and the bureaucracy that has disappointed so many.
Eric's death will not be remembered by many. I will remember the man I met, his life and his death while I hope he has found peace now. His life he thought was worth nothing to anyone and he truly was a sad injured worker that will not be a statistic in any WCB reports. I wonder how often workers are statistics some where else?
Please take care of your physical, psychological and emotional needs whether you are injured or not. Seek help when you need it and help others that can not help themself.
Gail Cumming
