Veteran's faith in VA restored
The Department of Veterans Affairs was a place retired Army Veteran Robert Brady would never visit.
Friends and family warned the 31-year active duty Veteran not to seek care from any VA hospital. His outlook of the VA remained that way until early September when his friend Steve Kaskel was admitted to the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System at Nashville for a possible heart attack.
“He was in bad shape,” Brady said, “So much so, that I spent several nights in the hospital with him.”
Brady stayed at TVHS for a week with Kaskel, who also suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). At first, Brady was filled with anxiety and fear, but within the first few hours his worries vanished.
“What I saw there has completely changed my mind about the VA and its care for our soldiers,” he said. “I was completely astonished at how well the Nashville personnel treated him and myself. Although I was just a visitor, I was treated as one of their own.”
Brady said the staff was not only committed to Kaskel’s health but was also committed to making Kaskel and Brady as comfortable as possible.
“Everybody was so intent on making sure he had a comfortable stay,” Brady said. “Unlike civilian hospitals, we never worried about nurses or doctors busting through the doors and waking us to get vitals. The TVHS personnel really lived up to their standards of not disturbing Veterans.”
After spending time at TVHS with Kaskel, Brady said he wished he visited the VA more.
“I wish I would not have let other people’s experiences influence my decisions,” Brady said. “I chose not to interact with the VA once I retired because all I heard was negativity. I know this is not true now, and I will only go to the VA for my care from this point forward.”