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Karen Lynn Vidra, The Texas Tornado

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     A Veteran injured in Iraqi Freedom feels like he's been given the runaround in dealing with the VA system.

Image of bronze eagle statue (c) 2010, by Karla Dorman.

If I would have known that I would have to face this rigamarole, I wouldn't have ever enlisted into the Marines.

I enlisted into the Marines in the hopes of making a difference, but instead of glory and/or a hero's welcome, all I seem to get are blank stares, symapathetic shakes of peoples' heads, or the runaround in dealing with the beaurocrats at the VA (Veteran's Administration).

I am suire there are good hospitals or good doctors within the VA network, but as for me, all I seem to get are the crackpots or people who don't know what in the  fuck they are doing.  It seems that every time I go to the clinic, I see a different doctor who doesn't know a fig about my injuries encurred in battle, or they refuse to fill my order of pain meds, so I can have at least some blessed relief from this awful intractable pain.

Pain.  That's all I ever seem to think about, twenty-four/seven.  My leg was blown off in a bomb blast, and I suffered catastrophic injuries to my lower half.  I wear a bag on my stomach in order to collect waste; there was just too much damage to my colon.  In addition to that, I have shrapnel imbedded in my stomach, my hips, and my remaining leg.  I am a living, walking medical nightmare.

I walk on a pair of crutches.  I would try to wear my prosthetic leg, so I can ditch the crutches, but all the prosthetics do is rub on my stump and cause more problems and/or ongoing infections.  So I hobble around on my crutches.  I have a prosthetic leg, but to me, it's just a waste of my time!

I should be getting 100% disability pay.  Instead, the stupid idjits at the VA have me listed at 30%.  Are you KIDDING me???  Then people wonder why I want nothing more than to blow my goddamn brains out, especially on days where I have to deal with the stupid government!!  

It's madness, I tell ya: it's sheer madness!!!!  

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Reviewed by Mark Lichterman 2/25/2011
Horribably, Horribably sad story. I know, Karen, that this story comes from out of your brain and through your talent, but, sadly, so sadly, this is the true story of so many of our American heroes.
Your friend in southern California, Mark
Reviewed by Mr. Ed 2/25/2011
I am sure there are good hospitals or good doctors within the VA network

As one who has visited many VA facilities, I know that there are. There are sadly also many bad ones.
Reviewed by Paul Berube 2/25/2011
Sad and well told, Karen.
Reviewed by Regis Auffray 2/24/2011
Harsh, raw, and sadly, very real. Thank you for sharing, Karen. Amour et paix, ton ami de la C-B, Canada,

Regis
Reviewed by Michelle Kidwell Power In The Pen 2/24/2011
I feel the pain as well, well told story
In Christs Love
Michelle~
Reviewed by Karla Dorman, The StormSpinner 2/24/2011
I feel this nameless Veteran's pain, frustration and anger in these sad lines, Karen. Our Veterans should lack for NOTHING. Well done.

(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.

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