What better way to deny our veteran's care that was promised to them when they entered the military, than to destroy the VA system? And that is exactly what this scandal and our government is doing. They are only talking about the few that they feel they can shut down because they are the larger ones but in reality, there are several VA hospitals that do provide excellent care and consideration for our veterans and if you will note, there is no mention of them at all---only the ones they know will do the most damage.
For years my husband who was a Veteran heard stories about the VA and I will admit there have been some that have had problems but it was because of the people in charge of those facilities. In 1999, the VA was looking for veterans and my husband talked to someone and soon began seeing a doctor in the Little Rock VA hospital. It was then and there that they discovered and diagnosed his Melanoma. He received treatment without incident and we couldn't have asked for better care. Even when we left Arkansas, we made the 8 hour round trip for his checkup and eventual lymph gland surgery in April 2008 in hopes they had eradicated the cancer cells.
It was by accident that he made a trip to the ER of the Muskogee VA hospital and soon changed from Little Rock to Muskogee as it was closer and we felt the health care was as good if not better. The VA in Little Rock handles a large volume of veterans but they never let anyone go without care or made them wait. The Muskogee hospital is smaller but yet equipped with the necessary things and excellent doctors, nurses and staff to handle the care needed by the veterans. He had his checkups and again we felt he was getting the best care and in talking to other vets they all feel the same way. In Oct. 2009 they discovered the Melanoma had spread to his liver and immediately started treatment even though it had advanced to Stage 4.
The cells had hidden in the liver and were undetected until they had spread creating a death sentence. The doctor explained it all to us as treatment began with our knowledge that he only had a few months left. The health care he received was the best we could ask for and the doctors, nurses and staff were caring and treated us like family. They grieved with us when he lost his battle and to this day they have not forgotten us or him and I can walk into that hospital any day of the week and see the care that the veterans are getting and there are no complaints. I'm sure there are other VA hospitals across this country that are just as good but now they are being brought down with the few that our government wants to get rid of so they cannot honor the promise they made to the veterans.
As a country, we should all be mad as hell and stand up to the tyrants who are trying to destroy the system and ignore those who have fought for their rights to live freely.
I remember something that my husband said one time when we were waiting for him to get in to his appointment. There had been an emergency and they told everyone that there would be some delay and apologized. Some of the veterans were angry that they had to wait to get in to see their doctor and voiced their opinion but it was those who thought they should be at the first of the line. My husband said, "Being here is no different than being in the service. You have to learn that you can't always get what you want when you want it and you can't always be first." He got in that day along with the others with maybe an hour or two longer wait but as he said, you have to learn to have patience.
So I will salute and praise the John L. McClellan Memorial VA Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas and the Jack C. Montgomery Memorial VA Hospital in Muskogee, Oklahoma for the care they provide our veterans and I hope that they will continue giving out the excellent care they have shown they are capable of doing.
I also might add that I have talked to numerous families of veterans who have had their loved ones cared for by these facilities and I keep hearing the same good things I've stated above. Excellent care from caring doctors, nurses and staff. When you walk into the Muskogee VA, it is common that a veteran will be thanked and called by name. It is uncanny how they can remember the names but they do and you couldn't ask for a friendlier bunch of people. It all goes back to the administration and how they are able to provide this care.
So let's tell our government to quit trying to destroy the VA hospitals or to privatize them. Tell our elected officials to quit thinking they are so elite that our veterans are going to have to pay twice just so they can sit around drawing huge paychecks, large pensions and doing absolutely nothing for this country but destroying it.
I am asking everyone who reads this to share it or if you know anyone who has received good care from a good VA hospital, please share but most of all we all need to support our veterans and get rid of the tyrants who want to forget them and not honor the promise made to them.
Barbara Foster proud wife of a veteran, Harold D. Foster (1940 to 2010)
