A Friend of Mine

He came by to see me today.. We drank our coffee, freshly made.. on my
front porch and enjoyed the quiet of a morning .. We talked and chatted
about our past rides.. What a fine way to spend a beautiful morning.. huh ?

My friend knew that I'd been puny for a few days and that was his reason for
dropping by.. As he got up to leave, he mentioned that he'd drop by the VA
hospital in Dallas for a bit, also.. I commenced preparing to go with him..

My good friend gently discouraged me, and only after full reassurances that
I was up for it, he finally said.. "OK .. pard.. always glad to have you
with me".. As we rumbled through the mobile home park where I live, quite a
few of my good neighbors waved and smiled broadly.. We were "looking good"..

Southbound Loop 12 was as normal.. congested and insane.. When we left the
freeway, things calmed down considerable and we enjoyed a nice ride, on
through Oak Cliff to the campus of the VA Hospital..

In the visitors lobby, we were required to sign in and register.. After
that, we patiently waited for the staffer, who'd be our escort.. While we
visited with the nice lady who looked after the registration, we learned a
little bit..

Seems there is normally a waiting period of 2 to 4 years involved before a
new patient will be seen by the doctors in the hospital... It takes that
long for a claim to be processed.. I expressed my surprise.. I questioned
the length of time and the lady patiently exclaimed to me that although the
funds had been promised, they hadn't made it down through the bureaucratic
paper jungles to the ones who desperately need the services and treatment..

Claims handlers had been hired and were processing the claims for our
veterans, but no additional case workers had been hired, so the claims were
bottlenecked in limbo.. No one to execute the claims in a timely
manner..What a sad, sad.. joke on all of us..

We proceeded on into the areas where general visitors are allowed and
visited a few of the wards.. Gawd... we are talking "heart breaker" ..
here.. How in the hell, have we allowed anyone to corrupt our system like
this ?? While I was standing outside the pharmacy, one of the old vets
walked up to the window for his prescription.. One arm was missing at the
shoulder.. When the lady brought the prescription to him, she handed him the
invoice, first.. He stood there and looked at it for a minute.. He had a few
bills in his hand, but obviously there was a problem.. He mumbled something
about "not enough money"..and turned to walk away..

"Whoa up there, neighbor".. I blurted.. "What's going on here ?" The lady
was busily replacing her paperwork and the prescription.. preparing to wait
on the next in line.."Hold it, ma'am".. She hesitated, gave me an impatient
look.. "I couldn't hear clearly, but what is the problem" ?

While we were speaking, I had reached out to keep that old hero from walking
away.. She explained that he was short the money for his prescription and
she could not let him have it.. "**** that.. I'll pay for his prescription"
I almost shouted at her.. "Give it to him, now"..

There were five others in that line.. All of them were of about the same
calibre as the man with one arm.. Not clean.. not groomed and obviously not
well todo.. I bought those prescriptions for them all..

My very good friend and me walked out of the Hospital, very depressed and
angry.. We stood outside and lit up..While we smoked and talked.. some of
the staffers came out to enjoy this perfect morning and enjoy their own
smoke break.. A couple of them remarked about the "good thing" that we had
done, inside.. Holy shit.. people.. that is my responsibility.. We all owe
these old warriors, at least that much.. When our government breaks down to
the point that we are not taking care of these, among us..it is OUR
responsibility to make sure they are provided for..

The problem is.. Who will be there next month.?. Who will intercede for
them, the next time they need medication..?? I am sad and outraged.. I am
infuriated..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker.

 

Bill -

That was a very honorable deed you did.....and you didn't do
it for that reason and that makes it an even greater gift. I'm sorry
that you two got to deal with all of that first hand. It's a sad
state of affairs that the VA hospitals are involved in. Our men and
women do NOT deserve to be treated like that.

My great Uncle was a BK amputee and always had problems with
the VA hospitals. I have never understood how we can allow a system
like that to continue to operate at such a pathetic level.

Unfortunately, it's a rather fine example of how our govt. is
unable to provide medical care for even a "handful" of good people.

--Fullstate

Me and Mah 'Priller!

 

Bill,
I understand how you must feel about the VA but let me tell you another
story. My brother in law served many years in the Navy and in the Coast
Guard. He was never an officer. He was just a plain ol swabbie. He
worked as a general laborer all his life so he never made much money. He
has always been a heavy pipe smoker and when he had a little swelling in
his throat he didn't give it much thought. Well, the swelling got worse
until one night it was a question of see a doctor or choke to death. We
contacted the VA. They got him in and performed a tracheotomy (sp?) so
he could breath. Then they hit the cancer with radiation keeping him in
the hospital because he lived too far to drive in every day for
treatment. The whole thing cost him nothing. He got the best of care in
very clean surroundings. I was treated with care and respect as his
relative. They let me sit with him in the recovery room, they answered
all my questions and were always helpful and kind. Most people with
throat cancer don't live very long but I am happy to report that he is
still around 5 years later. The biggest problem is now that he is "well"
and his financial assistance has stopped. Now there are no jobs for a
general laborer in a weakened condition.
James

 

I can recount many stories .. Most of them are good.. The VA Hospital in
Long Beach, Ca. and in Tucson, Ariz. is responsible for saving the life of
my very good friend Buddy Helscel.. He was diagnosed with cancer three years
ago..

The point that I am making here, is that the service and treatment of the
most deserving amongst us is being closed to them, as we speak..

Your friend in Irving
Bill Walker