Insult to Injury

A friend of mine reached out to me today. She is a retired Master Chief and lives in the area. She told me she had gone to the VA and gotten her vaccine today and that I should go! I just had to verify that I was a veteran and I could get my vaccine! Rich and I went right down. There were probably 20 people working….maybe one person getting their vaccine. It looked like a well-oiled machine and I was hopeful. Because I did not have a an appointment, I was sent to a desk to talk to a young lady to see if I could get an appointment. I handed her my DD214….my discharge paperwork. She went on her computer and told me I could not get a vaccine at the VA because I am not poor enough. My husband, a vet, makes too much money. My service as a kid to a military dad, my service as a nurse in the Air Force, my decades of service as a military spouse, and now as a military mom…none of that matters. I served 3 years as active duty military and because I never filed for any disability from the military, I don’t qualify. If you all know me at all, you know what a patriot I am and how much I support our military in anyway I can. Today, that military, whom I have supported my ENTIRE life, disappointed me and told me I did not matter. It was a really hard pill to swallow. Every time I allow myself to get excited about something it is taken away. Today was a real slap in the face. I miss people. I am a people person. I miss hugs. I miss hugging my kids…seeing my kids. I have been home since Nov 1, 2019. I am so tired of it. So, so tired of it. I am willing to let others who are more important to others get vaccinated first. But people are getting vaccinated that are secretaries….researchers that work with mice….most of my cancer online friends have been able to be vaccinated in their states and countries. To be turned down, as a veteran, when the VA has all these vaccines sitting there and no one in line for them….well, that was such a huge kick to the gut. I felt as if I being told my service didn’t count and I was not important enough to warrant giving a vaccine to. I do not want services from the VA…only the vaccine, since they have an abundance of it. Disappointment does not even begin to touch how I feel…and not that I didn’t get the vaccine…that stinks too…..but that I was told I wasn’t poor enough to count as a veteran. Let that sink in. Dying of cancer is better than not having money evidently. Sigh. Welcome to the VA system.