VAMC trip today.

Tom's Journal.http://tomschuckmanjournal.blogspot.com/tschuckman@aol.com

I suppose you guys get tired of my bemoaning all the bum trips and crude service that we Vets get from the VA. I guess I am very out spoken and VERBAL-- than my other brothers and sisters in arms, but it comes from the early 70's when we were totally disenfranchised by the Gov't with all manner of insults to our dedication, hard work, lack of benefits and many lies concerning PTSD and Agent Orange, etc. I pray ever night before and during my visits to the VA and actually practising biting my lip and tongue and choosing my words carefully! But I will not be lied about and pushed around/ abused! That's a fact.

My visit today was with Orthopedics Dept. and one young doctor shot up my Left knee with out any pain at all! I praised him big time for his skill and professionalism. The other older chief of Ortho had a few choice comments to make about my POST-OP time after the Dec. 6th total knee replacement surgery. We both admitted that all the strong medicines made me a bit wacky, but I stuck to my guns when telling him all about the verbal abuse the staff dished out to me, ganging up and refusing to help me even to get out of the bed so I could relieve my self. The entire VA hospital only had 2- extra wide wheel chairs in the whole complex-- and I KNOW that there are other hefty Vets there! They NEVER BATHED NOR ASSISTED ME ONCE so that I felt like a stinky PIG for the 5 days I was there-- so for personal/ and health reasons I decided to FAST from all foods so I would not have a bowel movement for fear that those mean spirited baffoons would refuse to clean me after any defecation! They refused to do most everything else. In the long run-- I can and will forgive-- but I would have to be mentally challenged to say that I will FORGET-- and I tell all my friends and reader exactly what went down those 5 days in hell! I also respectfully told the older Doctor that I would rather be DEAD rather than ever letting the VA operate on my other [Left] knee-- or any other serious operation, for that matter! i also offered to take a polygraph test to swear what I said was true. The Doctor advised me to get my records and go before the Administrator to bear witness to what I clam happened. On the other other hand, KMH- Kenosha Memorial Hospital-- WI., was completely, totally different, kinder, gentle, professional, and well attended, with SMART staff and doctors. They treated me like a prince-- so that I almost broke down and cried. Not kidding. I even sent the 7th floor at KMH- Palmer building a large bouquet of flowers and high praises for all their kindness to me during my week stay-- after which I went home to convalese with further Rehab from the Kenosha visiting nurses-- who are also very professional and satisfied with my progess. The older ortho Doctor at the VA was satisfied and impressed with my progress after 6 weeks too... I haev good mobility and length of motion. I am blessed that I have two modes of Insurance-- Chrysler Humana, and the VA, but there difference is DAY AND NIGHT.

I will do these correct things in bringing this business to light of the VA Administration in due time, but they are not my main thrust right now or priority. bigger things are coming down the pike right now that are more serious. I am far from the first or only Vet to get messed around by the infamous VA system-- but it's not that all important to me as God will recompense and 'repay.' But I am still stressed out from today's visit as my PT guy came over later for my Rehab here in my home, and my BP was very high... Ha! I will chill out in the morning and reading the Bible always helps me come down to earth-- but the VA knows that they hold many Vets by the short hairs and CONTROL many lives-- to their detriment and early demise-- as so many spouses have told me concerning their dead Vet husbands. If Obama-care does go through-- we will soon have the same high mortality rate as Merry Old England.

I love to look at the big picture using the Bible as my guide and tape measure. I am into History and Bible study/ prophecy in a large way-- and can't help but look at my personal diary/ Journal to see what my mind set was a year ago. We all wish as Christians that the Rapture would bring an end to the intense suffering and persecution to our brother and sisters in Christ in 60 countries around the world-- MUCH WORSE THAN HERE IN THE USA. Still it's all in God's hands and 'Let His will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.' ~Matthew 6:9. Hey! We Christians, sinful as we still are-- need to be in the game for the long haul! You may say that why does poor old Tom seem to have more troubles than others...? That's because I use what legal instruments that are available to me for 'redress' to protect myself from slander and abuse. If there is a set of laws in the land--we ought to learn and abide by them, right? And that means that Christians don't 'turn the other cheek' when the VA plants a 'hay maker' on our jaws or tries to cheat us! We are NOT slaves or 2nd class citizens in this country although the VA and GOV'T usually hit the Vets FIRST with decreases in benefits and services, and 3rd rate care!! MOST folks will just take the crap and roll over without a whimper. But all the combat Vets that I know will protect themselves legally-- or just walk away from the corrupt VA system!

Unfortunately, too many of my friends just walked away from the VA after being insulted and abused-- like about 30 years ago, but that is what the VA and Gov't WANT! Then they can save that money and lavish it on illegal aliens and other pet lefty-loose-y , bone-headed projects, bail outs and hand outs to folks that never worked...lol.
How is it that America is about broke-- yet the GOV'T still keeps spending on pork barrel spending?? The the working man did that he would be thrown in jail.

But for me-- today is a happy day, and I find myself praying and thanking the Lord for EVERYTHING I have-- even the safe trips and journeys on the road, especially in this freaky weather of 2011. And ain't that an 'understatement?' The world is getting clobbered with freaky weather that might in fact cause ANOTHER global food shortage! But just like the Katrina disaster, most folks will just take a 'wait and see' attitude until it's too late. Praise my good parents who raised me right and put a diverse diet on the dinner table, and I am educated and knowledgeable about planting a veggie garden and knowing what and how to eat. Praise God for providing for me and keeping me relatively safe. Let us count our many blessings.

Tom Schuckman