And we are not okay...
RICK J. COLLINS
To provide Southern California Cigar Smokers the best lounge possible.
That Hank Lee died while in VA care at 35 years of age of an accidental overdose.
That his kids will never know their father and that his widow has a tough road ahead.
That Hank Lee was effectively drugged and dependent on a myriad of prescription drugs given out like candy for 10+ years as his singular form of "treatment".
That "we have made changes" and "paid his benefits now" seems to mitigate his death.
It might be the end.
When we get answers to questions as to how and why Hank Lee died.
When we see a change in how veterans with mental health challenges are treated.
When we see an uncaring bureaucracy start treating veterans as though their patients were their own sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, brothers or sisters.
"Why do this, you don't want to piss off the VA and don't you want to work them".
My response is "but, yes I do. If only because that is the only way that change or at least a dialogue about change begins." As long as it is easier to drug or "Red Flag" someone into submission, instead of helping them cope and succeed, then we should not be okay.
Lasting change only happens when the media and or the courts get involved. Media is already on board and 6 months to the day after his death the family signed a retainer with a great law firm who has taken on the 800lb gorilla before.
A young man, Marine, son, brother, father and husband is dead and if that is "okay" then this is definitely NOT the end.
Read our recent press release at ww.CarrytheChallenge.org or visit The Families Campaign - thank you.
Sincerely RJC.
Unable to work at None
7 年My husband Jason VanMeter 10/17/1980 died 03/05/2017 with a bullet to the brain in front of me . My world will never be the same. The VA has also tried to sweep me and his case under the rug. They refused a refill of a medication that was written in his chart since 2009 however, this drug was not habit forming. It gave him stability. His case for PTSD has been swept under the rug as well and finding help for a USMC Widow for financial and legal is pretty much null and void. Ive been denied on basically all resource lists given to me for financial help. I have severe medical issues since his death, and VA refuses to treat me for them claiming I don't have insurance except I do ChampVA. How are they allowed to keep getting away with this is beyond me. So now at end of month I face homelessness along with my Companion Dogs and can't find help anywhere. I now have been diagnosed also with PTSD< Depression, Anxiety. Along with my health issues. Where does a widow get help after taking care and devoting her life to being her husbands caregiver for 13 years?