#DearVA, I missed you yesterday. I needed time to think about how to write this post... without sounding whiney and ungrateful... but while also making some points on a larger scale. So, since Ive been chewing on this for most of the night and this morning... Forgive me, but this post is destined to be long. On 10/31/2014 you sent us a letter (that we didnt receive until just before Veterans Day) that because of a form you supposedly sent in March 2013 (that we never received, and believe me I have spent hours upon hours going back through my files to verify that, and thus never returned) and after supposedly reviewing my husbands medical records (I honestly call bull hockey on that one... because it is documented over and over and over in his records that he hasnt been able to work for more than six years and goes months at a time without being able to leave our home), that you were reducing my husbands monthly disability benefits. A reduction that would result in a little over 1/3 of our monthly income being gone as well as our eight year old daughters health insurance. As soon as we received that letter, I did what Ive learned (and been taught by other veterans and caregivers in my 7+ years in this life). I sat down and made my list of who to call for help, went and met with the staff of our Senator and Representative, made a whole lot of noise in every way possible (all with detailed facts and records to back me up), and basically enacted a full on battle plan that Ive used far too many times over the years. And honestly, not just because our own family was at risk... but because quite suddenly (and still) there are so many heroes and families receiving similar letters... that put them in impossible situations... in the midst of lives that are already (and are constantly) perilously close to falling apart. Then late yesterday my Senators office called. Apparently (and I am thankful... I dont mean to sound ungrateful...) the misunderstanding about my husbands benefits has been fixed. Please dont get me wrong. I get that we all (including me... Soooooo including me) make mistakes. Mistakes are one of lifes few guarantees. So, I can give you that... And forgive you that. And as Ive said, personally I am so grateful. But professionally... That part of me that eats / sleeps / breathes this job I love and knows how many other families are far (faaaaaaar) from breathing easy... I feel a bit guilty and a bit odd and a bit angry. Guilty because I can personally breathe when Im well aware of how many others cant. Odd that there are still so many other misunderstandings left to fix. And angry that any of us need to wage these fights, have to know how to wage these fights, and are ever put through these fights. It shouldnt take a caregiver or hero knowing how to meet with senators and representatives and making a million calls and crying to their Federal Recovery Coordinator and basically baring their soul to the world to simply keep a roof and food on their table. And their are sooooooooooooooo many of these misunderstandings left for the #NewVA to fix. Families and their heroes heading into the holidays holding their breath and praying for relief from you. So, like I said... I write you with thanks... But with confused, bittersweet thanks... And high hopes that you will be quickly fixing many (many, many, many) other misunderstandings for the heroes and families I love - and that we are both supposed to serve. Sincerely, Brannan Vines
Posted on: Wed, 19 Nov 2014 16:26:45 +0000
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