Allen has been increasingly ill throughout the last year, losing between 40-50 pounds and unable to eat well since March. So many of us urged him to seek medical help. He refused at first, probably just being stubborn, believing whatever his problem was would go away on its own.

But when his symptoms worsened, he admitted that without health insurance he simply had no money for a doctor and no room on his credit cards to go into further debt. When things got bad enough, he finally agreed to see Dr. Janet Day of the Piedmont Health Clinic, a walk-in doctor whom I see periodically when I am unable to get into my regular doctor at the Veterans Administration.

OH! THE VA! Yes, Allen is a former Marine, honorably discharged with full health. Meaning that when being discharged he was informed- as every healthy, soon-to-be discharged service member is- that because he did not have a “service connected disability” the VA likely would not provide him benefits. It is also why, when knowing their discharge is to happen within 12-months, so many service members suddenly develop some indiscernible medical complication – tinnitus is popular, as is back pain, things that can’t generally be disproved. I know this as it was my brother’s experience and that of countless friends and old boyfriends … I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… every girl should work with sailors.

So, Allen was unaware that the Veterans Administration may in fact, help him until a few months ago at which time he applied for care. He is still waiting to hear back from them.

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