American Soldiers Fight the Veterans Health Center

My husband and I are both veteran's of the United States Army. I did three years, he did 23 years. He retired from the National Guard in 2004 after completing the last 8 years he needed to qualify for retirement.

After being deployed to Iraq for a year he came home with back, knee, and shoulder injuries. Not to mention depression and PTSD. Upon returning home, he attempted to go back to his previous job and managed to go to work every day for a little over a year. The pain associated with his back and knees was getting to be too much to bare. There have been mornings where he can not get out of bed.

We have spent the last three years fighting against a system that is so over loaded and broken that I believe that he probably could have received much better care from a veterinarian. ( I'm not talking less of Veterinarians, actually speaking with higher respect then what I currently have for the VA)

During this time we have managed to lose just about everything we own because my husband can no longer work. We live on a minimal amount each month from his VA disability payments, which the VA finds reason to deduct more from each month. We have been trying for the past year to get him on Social Security Disability, which is a whole other war in itself.

It's time we stood up America, and voice our opinions and make known the reality of what is really going on with the soldiers returning home from war. It's time we organize a group that is willing to stand before their legislature in their state and tell them the stories of all the Veteran's in their communities and get something positive happening.

So, here's what I propose, any and every Veteran that has been deployed overseas that is or has ever had any negative experience with the VA to send me an email outlining your story. Also, anyone that is willing to stand with me and fight for the rights of our Veteran's, I would like for you to email me as well. Together we will make a loud noise to get our government to wake up and pay attention to what is happening in America. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

I wish to compose enough stories, with enough evidence to stand before Congress and force them to take action to stand behind the soldiers and their families. They need to be forced to hear that it's not just the soldier that is being affected by the minimal to no support from the VA, but also family members, children, creditors and every community that has a injured soldier living amongst them. The pain of these families ripples out and touches every life that these soldiers and their families touch.

Here's more of an overview of what we have endured: As I stated earlier, we have just about lost everything we own in order to afford just the basic necessities. We lost our home a year ago to foreclosure, and have sold many items to be able to eat. The bank is threatening us to re posses our vehicle and we can not qualify for public assistance due to loop holes in that system. ( That's a whole other story.) We are literally one step from being forced out on to the streets if something positive doesn't happen soon. Our situation, as I am sure, others living with the exact same consequences of our corrupt and broken government, is dire.

We get conflicting reports from different Doctors at the VA. None of them agree with each other as to what is wrong let a lone what should be done about it. The simplest response has been, "There is nothing wrong" which is bologna. If they say that then they are not obligated to have to do anything. However, one of the doctors did prescribe a cane for my husband to use to help him keep his balance enough to walk. Now, walking takes more effort then it should. He can not walk across a room let a lone across a parking lot, but there is nothing wrong.

We were told he needed back surgery, so we waited until a surgery date was set. It never was, as another doctor said it wasn't necessary. He was then told he needed both knees scoped and a phone call was made asking my husband to come into he VA to talk about it and set up a date to have that done. However, he saw a totally different Doctor that claims that surgery wouldn't be necessary.

It takes months just to get in to see a primary care physican, let alone any specialist that may be needed. Once you do get an appointment to be seen, you are then forced to sit and wait for several hours. What should have been no more then an hour at the most, ends up taking nearly all day to complete. Then when you do see the Doctor, you are there maybe ten minutes and sent home with a new prescription and told there is nothing wrong.

So, again I am asking that EVERY Veteran that has medical problems associated with the Iraq or Afganistan wars, that is living a life that is less then what would be described as "comfortable" and that is fighting agaisnt the VA to please contact me so we can start to get something done.

Thank you!