Stories

Madison VA has a variety of options to help Veterans quit smoking, and Army Veteran Nicole Thompson knows all about them. This is her journey in her words...

As a retired Veteran and Madison VA employee, Roland “Rollie” Carothers’ perspective on the impact of depression and chronic pain is personal. He hopes he can use his 22 years of experience to help other Veterans.

“Don’t talk about my best friend that way.”

Marine Corps and Army Reserve Veteran Warren Crowell has struggled with worsening chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for years, but the COPD CARE program, developed and implemented at the Madison VA, has allowed him to live life the way he wants.

Army Veteran Brent Hass has a story that makes the best Hollywood thriller seem like a snoozer.

Marine Corps Veteran Connie Wilson has a similar story to others experiencing chronic pain. But, she has truly lived up to the VA program named EMPOWER by partnering with Whole Health to live life to the fullest.

Air Force Veteran Byron Degenhardt has spent much of his retirement a bit different than most, accumulating over 5357 volunteer hours at the Madison VA hospital.

Madison resident Shar-Ron Buie served 25 years in prison, was homeless and lost his daughter prior to VA helping turn his life around. Now the U.S. Marine Corps Veteran dedicates his life to helping other Veterans thanks to VA's HUD-VASH program.

Army Veteran Ed Vitell has been seeking his routine medical care through the Rockford VA clinic until a few years ago when a series of health issues resulted in several hospitalizations.

After being shot twice, contracting malaria, seeing “the light" after his heart stopped and other near death situations, Marine Veteran James Foseid still questions why he survived Vietnam while so many others didn’t.