The Parking Lot Suicides | The Washington Post
"Veterans are taking their own lives on VA hospital campuses, a desperate form of protest against a system that they feel hasn’t helped...
top of page
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Welcome Home, Now What?
This narrative was originally posted on my English 303class blog. Although it's fictional, the issues are real.
The day is picture perfect. The smell of dry leaves is carried on the crisp autumn breeze. The sun shines and fluffy white clouds fill the early October sky. Sarah can't help rejoicing as she makes her way to the airport with her two rambunctious boys in tow. The trio, mom and sons alike, is anxious to greet Jack after his deployment in the Middle East.
Jack has served over seas for over a year and, although the family kept in touch through old fashioned letters and more modern video chats, this reunion feels long overdue to Sarah. Nervous excitement rises to a level that's barely contained as the young mom and her wide-eyed little ones arrive at baggage claim and take their place among the rest of the crowd gathered. The boys made their dad, the hero, a banner and they proudly hold it between them dressed in their Sunday bests.
The soldiers begin deplaning on the other side of the airport glass. Sarah spots Jack in the group and, just like in the movies, everything else fades away. The emotions that Sarah has barely held in check all morning are overflowing now. Tears stream down her face as relief flows through her taking away the residue of anxiety left hovering in the back of her mind these last few days. Jack is home.
As he approaches his family, Jack feels happy to be home and ready to step back into his civilian life. He wants things to be like they were before he was deployed, but he is not the same man he was when he left. He feels a sense of disconnection like he's there but he's not there. He fights off the anxiety that comes over him at unpredictable times. Sleep is elusive. In spite of all of this, Jack is hopeful that things will return to normal in time.
It's spring now, usually a time of renewal and hope inspired by the transition from the tired brown desolation of winter to the fresh green rebirth of flora and fauna. However, Jack has not been able to shed the darkness that's fallen over him in the months since returning from his tour in the Middle East.
Adjusting to being home has proven more difficult than either Jack or Sarah had anticipated and their relationship has suffered. Jack loves his boys more than anything, but he often doesn't have the energy to keep up with them or patience to referee their bickering. Chronic pain from a shoulder injury affects his mood, along with depression and PTSD.
Jack has reached a turning point. He is in too much pain to manage with over the counter anti-inflammatory medicines. He is sure that if he can take care of the issue with his shoulder he will feel so much better. He's convinced that his pain is what's causing his mood swings, depression, and lack of patience despite Sarah's suggestion that he see a counselor. He's served his country, now it's his country's turn to serve him.
This story could end in very different ways. Follow the links below and decide how you want it to end...
Click the square to read Ending One
- the worst-case scenario of what could happen if nothing is done to reform VA Healthcare.
Click the square to read Ending Two
- what could occur if we work together to influence change within the VA Healthcare system.
Which of these endings do you want for America's heroes?
Our nation owes the men and women who bravely defend our freedoms and fight against injustice all over the world a debt of gratitude. It's our patriotic duty to provide high quality, accessible healthcare to our veterans. They should not have to wait for vital care because of a lack of resources within the VA system. In addition to overall improved accessibility and care, the stigma surrounding mental healthcare must be changed. Over twenty veterans commit suicide every day. We are failing these men and women and their families who have sacrificed so much for us.
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
- John F. Kennedy
VA HEATHCARE IN THE NEWS
bottom of page