Post by Clipper on Oct 3, 2020 10:11:20 GMT -5
www.wjhl.com/news/local/james-h-quillen-va-medical-center-hosting-drive-thru-baby-shower-for-veteran-families/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR2s-2KaiKNL5v9zyMgVN32eODZVUbGtBUbNbbFBSL7IOjgTReaHmmc8U00
I was surprised to see the announcement about this event. The VA under the Trump administration has made some wonderful advances in care for our veterans and their families in recent years. Our local medical center had their problems with long wait times for appointments, lack of convenient parking, advances in care that include allowing treatment at outside civilian facilities, upgrading satellite clinics, valet parking (temporarily suspended during pandemic), and telephone and virtual appointments with major clinics and primary care physicians.
Our VA sponsors events that not only benefit our vets but also their families. During the summer months they have a farmer's market once a week with vendors offering special prices for the veterans. They have a well stocked canteen and store where we find all sorts of bargains tax free. When I saw this announcement about a drive-thru baby shower it made me smile. It reminded me once more of the fact that we now have many very young veterans. It reminded me of a young couple I met in the canteen while having lunch prior to an appointment. A year or so ago I had the privilege of chatting with a 24 yr old army veteran that has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He had lost both his legs in an IED explosion. The young Sgt. was there for physical and occupational therapy. His young wife was pushing a stroller with a baby toddler in it and was as big as a house with a second child coming soon. We were both sitting at tables in the canteen and I commented on the young one in the stroller. That led to our chatting for about 1/2 hour. I found out that he was retired from the army on a disability retirement after an IED explosion in Afghanistan, and that even with two prosthetic legs he was employed full time at a local call center. He was quite enthusiastic about having found employment that fitted his abilities, and was very upbeat and happy to be getting the therapy to adapt to his artificial limbs. He had been confined to a wheel chair for about 8 months while he recovered enough to be fitted with the prosthetics. He was walking well although he had to walk with two canes at the time.
I think that vets my age often forget that many much younger people are now veterans of the many conflicts our country has engaged in. I always seemed to relate "veteran" to those my age, or veterans of WWII or Korea. In recent years I have sadly noticed many very young vets with visible service connected injuries and disabilities. Thankfully there are many more services and much better medical care available now than there were when we Viet Nam veterans got out.
I went to the local Bristol Va satellite clinic yesterday for my flu shot. It was a walk-in clinic. Ten minutes from the time I walked in until I was headed back to my truck. In the past I always had to drive to Johnson City and wait in a line to get the shot and the hours were limited. The VA has also partnered with some of the major drug stores to allow free flu shots at a local pharmacy. While there are still some areas needing attention, the advances in care and improvements in services and care have been wonderful. I am fortunate to be able to afford insurance and outside civilian care as well as VA benefits. Some are not so fortunate. Those veterans are finally getting the care that they deserve.
I was surprised to see the announcement about this event. The VA under the Trump administration has made some wonderful advances in care for our veterans and their families in recent years. Our local medical center had their problems with long wait times for appointments, lack of convenient parking, advances in care that include allowing treatment at outside civilian facilities, upgrading satellite clinics, valet parking (temporarily suspended during pandemic), and telephone and virtual appointments with major clinics and primary care physicians.
Our VA sponsors events that not only benefit our vets but also their families. During the summer months they have a farmer's market once a week with vendors offering special prices for the veterans. They have a well stocked canteen and store where we find all sorts of bargains tax free. When I saw this announcement about a drive-thru baby shower it made me smile. It reminded me once more of the fact that we now have many very young veterans. It reminded me of a young couple I met in the canteen while having lunch prior to an appointment. A year or so ago I had the privilege of chatting with a 24 yr old army veteran that has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He had lost both his legs in an IED explosion. The young Sgt. was there for physical and occupational therapy. His young wife was pushing a stroller with a baby toddler in it and was as big as a house with a second child coming soon. We were both sitting at tables in the canteen and I commented on the young one in the stroller. That led to our chatting for about 1/2 hour. I found out that he was retired from the army on a disability retirement after an IED explosion in Afghanistan, and that even with two prosthetic legs he was employed full time at a local call center. He was quite enthusiastic about having found employment that fitted his abilities, and was very upbeat and happy to be getting the therapy to adapt to his artificial limbs. He had been confined to a wheel chair for about 8 months while he recovered enough to be fitted with the prosthetics. He was walking well although he had to walk with two canes at the time.
I think that vets my age often forget that many much younger people are now veterans of the many conflicts our country has engaged in. I always seemed to relate "veteran" to those my age, or veterans of WWII or Korea. In recent years I have sadly noticed many very young vets with visible service connected injuries and disabilities. Thankfully there are many more services and much better medical care available now than there were when we Viet Nam veterans got out.
I went to the local Bristol Va satellite clinic yesterday for my flu shot. It was a walk-in clinic. Ten minutes from the time I walked in until I was headed back to my truck. In the past I always had to drive to Johnson City and wait in a line to get the shot and the hours were limited. The VA has also partnered with some of the major drug stores to allow free flu shots at a local pharmacy. While there are still some areas needing attention, the advances in care and improvements in services and care have been wonderful. I am fortunate to be able to afford insurance and outside civilian care as well as VA benefits. Some are not so fortunate. Those veterans are finally getting the care that they deserve.