Oh it was so worth it.

[SeaCat]

For the past several days I have been doing research for a patient of mine. He is a proud man who now has to enter rehab due to an operation. His Insurance would only pay for places that I consider to be absolute pits. (I wouldn't send my worst enemies In-Laws to these places.) He doesn't ask for help, and yet he needs it.

When I first met him I noticed an older tattoo. Not only did I notice it, I knew what it meant. I questioned him and started working. I beat the caseworkers without mercy even as I petitioned the government in his behalf. I then verbally beat him about the head and shoulders as well as enlisting the help of his friends.

You see this guy is a Combat Vet. He served with the "Herd" (173rd Airborn) In Vietnam and has several medals to his credit. He has never used the V.A.

Now, because of his status with the Army as well as his own Insurance he will be sent to one of the best Rehab Centers in my area. There they will work with him to get him back on his feet. Hell there they will work with him to get him any other help he needs.

It makes me feel good that this guy who has never asked anything from the government after he left the service will now be getting the help he needs from that same government.

I feel good about this.

Cat

 

[rgraham666]

Well done, Cat.

Our vets deserve anything we can give to them. We owe them too much.

 

[SesameStreet]

Well done, Cat.

Our vets deserve anything we can give to them. We owe them too much.

I agree. You did good.

 

[SeaCat]

Well done, Cat.

Our vets deserve anything we can give to them. We owe them too much.

I agree without reservation.

Anyone who has served, irregardless of if they saw combat or not is in my opinion deserving of everything the government can give them. They served when so many didn't. Too bad more didn't feel the way we do.

Cat

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I agree without reservation.

Anyone who has served, irregardless of if they saw combat or not is in my opinion deserving of everything the government can give them. They served when so many didn't. Too bad more didn't feel the way we do.

Cat

I love you Cat, and that's just great of you to help him out, but I don't think irregardless is a word...
(major pet peeve of mine )

 

[Stella_Omega]

I love you Cat, and that's just great of you to help him out, but I don't think irregardless is a word...
(major pet peeve of mine )

It's an emotion.

 

[MrsDeathlynx]

You did a really good job with that, now if only we could get someone to do that with my father who is also a Vietnam Veteran and get him the disability he deserves...

 

[impressive]

I feel good about this.

Cat

As well you should.

 

[TE999]

(Now that the grammar lesson is over...)

You done good, cat!

There's a lot of the NamVet's that can't or won't use the VA due to lack of knowledge, stubbornness and pride.

The VA counselor in our town is routinely frustrated by the lack of interest in her efforts to help former service men and women.

The VA gets knocked all the time, but I've known plenty of ex-G.I.'s who swear by it. I've never had the need for it, but I know it's there if I do.

Thanks for helping a fellow ex-G.I.

 

[Guest]

I love you Cat, and that's just great of you to help him out, but I don't think irregardless is a word...
(major pet peeve of mine )

It is a word.

http://webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=irregardless&x=0&y=0

irregardless

Main Entry: ir·re·gard·less
Pronunciation: "ir-i-'gärd-l&s
Function: adverb
Etymology: probably blend of irrespective and regardless
nonstandard : REGARDLESS
usage Irregardless originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that "there is no such word." There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead.


And Cat, as usual, you inspire us all.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

It is a word.

http://webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=irregardless&x=0&y=0

irregardless

Main Entry: ir·re·gard·less
Pronunciation: "ir-i-'gärd-l&s
Function: adverb
Etymology: probably blend of irrespective and regardless
nonstandard : REGARDLESS
usage Irregardless originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that "there is no such word." There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead.


And Cat, as usual, you inspire us all.

I didn't want to argue this, but I think this definition is a little more correct:

SYLLABICATION: ir·re·gard·less
PRONUNCIATION: r-gärdls
ADVERB: Nonstandard Regardless.
ETYMOLOGY: Probably blend of irrespective and regardless.
USAGE NOTE: Irregardless is a word that many mistakenly believe to be correct usage in formal style, when in fact it is used chiefly in nonstandard speech or casual writing. Coined in the United States in the early 20th century, it has met with a blizzard of condemnation for being an improper yoking of irrespective and regardless and for the logical absurdity of combining the negative ir– prefix and –less suffix in a single term. Although one might reasonably argue that it is no different from words with redundant affixes like debone and unravel, it has been considered a blunder for decades and will probably continue to be so.

 

[Guest]

Mine is from Webster, yours is from American Heritage.

Six of one, half dozen the other -

 

[MrsDeathlynx]

I am really glad she did this, but then again not all veterans are helped out when they need it by the VA. But it always makes me happy when they do, it gives me some measure of hope they will eventually come through with my father who has no choice but to go to them.

 

[R. Richard]

I feel very good that the guy is getting the help he needs. [Good work Cat!]

I do feel bad that so many of our combat veterans don't get the help they need, either through ignorance of what is available or lack of support from the VA. [There are good and dedicated workers at the VA. There are also those who think that soldiers, particularly soldiers who served in Vietnam, are baby killers. The latter often make it very tough for a discharged soldier to get help.]

 

[SeaCat]

You did a really good job with that, now if only we could get someone to do that with my father who is also a Vietnam Veteran and get him the disability he deserves...

What is the reason he isn't getting the help?

In my patients case it was because he had never gone to the V.A. (He didn't want to take aay from those who needed it more than he did.) Because of this he wasn't in the system and didn't know what they could do for him.

If the reasons behind your father not getting the help he needs is because he refuses the help, then not muh can be done. If the reason is because they don't believe he needs the help then he can ask for a reclassification hearing.

He does need to do his homework though. Especially if he is one of those who are suffering from symptoms due to exposure to chemicals used during the Vietnam War. (Especially Agent Orange.)

Cat

 

[SeaCat]

I feel very good that the guy is getting the help he needs. [Good work Cat!]

I do feel bad that so many of our combat veterans don't get the help they need, either through ignorance of what is available or lack of support from the VA. [There are good and dedicated workers at the VA. There are also those who think that soldiers, particularly soldiers who served in Vietnam, are baby killers. The latter often make it very tough for a discharged soldier to get help.]

This is sad but true, and not just of the veterans of the Vietnam War. I know of several soldiers injured in places like Grenada who are scorned because it was not a "War".

Cat

 

[MrsDeathlynx]

What is the reason he isn't getting the help?

In my patients case it was because he had never gone to the V.A. (He didn't want to take aay from those who needed it more than he did.) Because of this he wasn't in the system and didn't know what they could do for him.

If the reasons behind your father not getting the help he needs is because he refuses the help, then not muh can be done. If the reason is because they don't believe he needs the help then he can ask for a reclassification hearing.

He does need to do his homework though. Especially if he is one of those who are suffering from symptoms due to exposure to chemicals used during the Vietnam War. (Especially Agent Orange.)

Cat

My dad has been going to the VA ever since he got back I think, or at least for as long as I have been alive and that's more than 27 years, in fact they are his primary (resulting in only) care people.

Yes he is suffering from the chemicals, Agent Orange to be specific which is on his VA medical record. His back is also deteriorating due to Spinal Meningitis, since they handed the case over to St. Mary's in Lewiston, ME they already have the necessary surgery scheduled.

Right now he's working with the same guy (advocate named Kai) that got my mother's brother disability for the same things. He only has about 15% movement in his shoulders at this point, he's on 8 different meds varying from vicodin (formerly oxy-codone) to sleep meds to muscle relaxers.

What upsets me most is after him and my mother got back together they got a VA loan to get a house, he was able to work at the time. But about a year or year and a half after he couldn't work anymore, they ended up loosing the house after six months of fighting for disability. What seems a little odd to me is he got SS without a fight, 4 months after he filled out the paperwork and he got it. He's filled out the paperwork for military disability, reasons being Agent Orange damage and PTSD. But for some reason he still isn't getting it, they keep on saying he isn't disabled yet it was the VA that said he is disabled and for him to stop working because of the effects of Agent Orange and PTSD...

 

[MrsDeathlynx]

Oh, I forgot to add they haven't done the spinal tap for the necessary testing for the S.M. and his spine is already at least 50% gone in his neck...

 

[Belegon]

Mine is from Webster, yours is from American Heritage.

Six of one, half dozen the other -

It's in the dictionary. It's a word.

I don't like Paris Hilton. It doesn't mean she isn't a celebrity. It just means she's a celebrity I don't like.

Sorry Thee, but your feelings about "irregardless" seem to be the same. You don't like it, but it is what it is. Because believe me, this:

it has been considered a blunder for decades and will probably continue to be so.

...most definitely applies to Miss Hilton's celebrity status.


Now, can we get back to praising Cat so that he will continue to do good work like this and then tell us about it, thus disproving the idea that no one cares for anyone but themselves?

Well done, my man.

 

[Edward Teach]

Great job, Cat. You are to be commended.

Irregardless of the fucking grammar.

Teach

 

[Frank Noir]

I don't like Paris Hilton. It doesn't mean she isn't a celebrity. It just means she's a celebrity I don't like.

Oh, you don't get how the 21th century works, do you?
We're supposed to swoon in awe at the mere concept of fame.