...but it is heartwarming, and supportive.... I think?

My brother had been receiving medical/mental care through the VA Clinic in a Northern town in California.  His mental health had deteriorated beyond belief.  I don't live there, and I wasn't on top of it, and my brother had over-medicated himself a few times.  This last time, I became so angry that I had to do something.  I knew that someone at that clinic could have been helping him, with both his physical and mental pain, but they didn't seem to care.  If they were not helping him, what about the 1000's of other vets in that area that were in the same boat.  There aren't any vets hospitals in the area.  The closest is Sacramento.  I complained all the way up to the VFW in Washington and to the Customer Service people in the VA in Sacramento.  However, I treaded lightly because the doctors in the clinic, and call me crazy, will punish the vet, if they find out someone has "tattled" on them.  The doctors will not write their scripts for them, make appts, or refer them out to specialists in a timely manner.  My brother would have been very angry if he'd known that I'd complained.  He was terrified of what the psychiatrist would do.  It seems to me that all the doctors do (and perhaps that's all they can do because of time, staffing??) is provide pain meds, narcotics, get the disabled guys hooked, and then the vets become terrified that they'll be cut off if they don't "follow the rules".  That's my take on it anyway.

The heartwarming part of it was that I knew in my heart that something was wrong there.  I knew it.  The VFW guy in Wash. said that he was traveling through that area and would investigate.  I don't know if he ever did, however, my brother turned on the t.v. last night and saw a vet waving a petition in front of the camera saying that 1000's of vets had signed this petition demanding that the mental health department at this particular VA clinic be investigated for shoddy service.  My brother was bowled over.  He called me today and said, "I guess you were right".....

It's the first time I really stuck to my guns about something, trusted my gut instinct.  Usually I will back down if faced with enough adversity, but something inside me shouted "this is wrong", and now I've won the confidence and trust of a big brother. 

Is that heartwarming?  lol

The end...

 [ send green star]

...you're bumper cars...lol. 

Today, I felt really good about the VA system, after all the bad stuff I've been hearing, and in expectation of what's going to happen to the system when our Iraq vets come back.  My brother went to the clinic due to many things, yada, yada, yada.  One of the reasons was that they flat turned him down for the neuropathy after the agent orange exposure...it was because when they filed the paperwork, they didn't put down that he served in Vietnam???!!!  I know, hey it's a big world out there.  Anyway, the gentleman that helped him in the clinic was a vet that served just 60 miles away from my bro during one of the worst skermishes at the end of the war.  More yada, yada, yada.  Bottom line is this.  My brother had no clue that he had such an advocate on the premises at the clinic, nor that the VFW had a presence at the VA clinic??!  No on had bothered to tell him.  The VFW is where it's at!

So, this is really not a heart-warming thread to send you all to.  It's just a heart-warming thought that there are individuals in the VA hospital/clinic system that sit right down the hall from the doctors, and administrators that are there JUST for the vets...and they seem to like what they do. 

Yeh!

Hugs, peace and light!

 [ send green star]

Writing, E-mailing or otherwise contacting any of our government reps who stand by our servicepeople should certainly be thanked for their support and friendship,I beleive its always a good Idea to show respect and appreciation for any good Doings...Joe

 [ send green star]

Out of curiousity?  Are any of you Daughters of the American Revolution? Have you ever tried to become one?  It's the hardest darned thing to accomplish, I do know that...lol.

N.

 [ send green star]

... if I may.  It would be an excellent idea if every time we run across representatives who are in support of our vets and who are fighting tooth and nail for their rights, that we e-mail them.  It doesn't matter who's state or district, etc., they belong to.  What do you all think? 

Vets hospitals are scheduled to close, as John's article pointed out the other day, and private donations, are being relied upon to foot the bill.  It's horrifying.  Correct me here, but I think we've totally over-extended ourselves....especially in the wake of our national disasters.  There's just no money.

Gotta hand it to the guy who runs the site for freerepublic.  He clearly states his political stance...no kidding....but he does put lots of links in support of other organizations in direct conflict of his..whew.....lol.

Thanks Jacki...yet again for the articles and links. 

 [ send green star]

http://murray.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=220410

state of Washington--news

 [ send green star]