I hesitate to write this. Please believe that I am in no way discounting the proven horror stories that we have heard from the VA. I have seen the story of the Vet that the awesome Lowes workers fixed his wheelchair because it broke down. The VA was Shamed as FOX reported in giving him a new chair. The Vet said it took two years of red tape and not getting his new chair. I need to know what he means by red tape. When Mark has asked for anything, he gets it right away or very soon. . He asked for something to help him walk, actually I spoke to his Doc and requested it. Two weeks later he was in Ortho getting fitted for his braces. A week later he got them. He asked for a wheel chair to help for long walks he cannot do, he got one. If he ever needs a new cane he gets one. Today or just a few mins ago, Raven just chewed on of his braces and we have to get a new one. We will start the process on Friday in getting him an electric wheelchair. And the VA will pay to have our van to refurbished to fit the chair in the van. The VA is paying a company to build a ramp to our front door. And we are in the process of getting a 60,000 dollar grant to re work our bathroom for his needs. These programs are out there if Vets would only look into it and follow the red tape. Yes, you may have to jump through hoops, welcome to the Govt. But they are there. Yes, you may have to wait a month or so, you are not the only Vet out there being worked on. Nothing happens quickly. I read the story of the daughter who was upset at the VA as she couldnt get help from the VA with her dying father, who had cancer. He had been diagnosed years earlier. The VA told her to take a 24 hr urine sample and bring it back. There was blood in it. He passed. That is horrible. BUT even now when you call, the first thing you hear in the phone is , if this is a medical emergency, call 911. If Mark (God forbid) is ever injured and a VA hospital is not near, you take them to a hospital period. The VA WILL pay that hospital. To me? That daughter failed her Father. I sure as hell would have had my father in the hospital, any hospital if I couldnt get him in a VA right away. It turns out he had had cancer for years and had not used the VA for years. Then when the time came, she asked for their help. No way in hell would I let my father sit in bed to die. The VA will reimburse any hospital in an emergency. I have spoken to many older Vets who want things NOW. And if they dont get it now, screw em. Mark is a combat hurt vet, thank god he is getting the help he needs. Those that left the Military after their contracts were up do have to wait. A long wait, true. And that is wrong. I will not have Mark wait, I make his appts, I follow up, I make sure things are done. Knowing that he is NOT the only Vet that they work with and there will be a waiting time. I have researched and researched all the programs that are available to him IE: The bathroom redo, they dont tell you about it, you have to read and do your work. We are grateful for the free care he gets. They will pay for us to get a new Van, when this van dies. Will it be right away? Probably not. When I read some of these stories, I need to know the background. I need to know what the Vet did or didnt do. I dont know, I just thank God that Mark has received the really good care (much better than the Army) in the VA system.
Posted on: Wed, 16 Jul 2014 16:38:32 +0000