Help Disabled Veteran Overcome Medical & Financial Hardship.

Tasha Waddell is organizing this fundraiser.

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A 65th birthday is not just an typical birthday. It's long been the established retirement age, and the age in which seniors receive their full social security benefits. One usually imagines those at this age retiring in relative peace, with their needs met.

My dad, an army veteran of over 20 years turned 65 today, it ought to be a celebratory occasion.

Yet due to a recent series of events he's unable to celebrate as one should, or even to live anywhere near to his fullest. This year has proved to be one of the most difficult and stressful years in decades, and it saddens me greatly to see the situation he's been put in.

Last year my dad was diagnosed with Trigeminal neuralia, a chronic pain disorder also known as "suicide disease" as it is regarded as one of the most painful disorders in the medical world.

After quitting his job, he underwent surgery this past year to treat the pain. Months went by and it seemed like a success.

At this same time, the Department of Veteran Affairs was in the midst of their campaign to reclaim separation-pay money given out to veterans over a decade ago as an incentive to leave the army during a period of downsizing

My dad had reached out to them years ago to obtain information on the balance owed but never heard or received anything, leaving him with the impression that everything was already taken care of.

Yet 3 months before he was expecting to start receiving his military retirement, the VA sent him a letter.

In 3 months the VA would take close to $1000/mo from his meager income until the separation pay was paid back in full.

From NBC News: The VA..."is legally bound to recover separation payouts from veterans before those eligible can begin receiving disability compensation, due to a little-known federal law that prohibits them from receiving both."

"The obscure law — of which about a dozen military law and veterans policy experts said they did not have enough knowledge to weigh in on — has thrown many disabled veterans into financial and emotional despair since Congress authorized it in 1949."

As my dad continued to recover from his surgery, he was preparing to get a new job to help support himself while paying back the VA. Yet one thing occurred suddenly that brought everything to a halt.

The nerve pain came back.

The unbearable pain that, after going through 4 different pain meds, the only one that worked was one that causes continuous dizziness, drowsiness, weakness and loss of balance.

My dad was now unable to work, let alone drive, and even walk without the risk of falling. In his weakened state, even cleaning his own car to list it for sale is an immense challenge.

A disabled senior vet, living by himself with his cat, hundreds of miles from me, confined to his home for the past year while the VA's income garnishing has wiped him of virtually all his savings.

Bills have piled up. He can now barely afford utilities, even groceries, with the irony being by the State's standards, he still "makes too much" to qualify for EBT or other welfare services.

This sounds like a literal hell. My heart breaks for him, especially as I'm not able to support him as much as I want.

Those familiar with the VA will know of the extended wait times between appointments. As he waits and waits for further treatment sometime next year, I'm helping him as best I can to liquidate assets and keep him afloat.

In the meantime, it would mean the world to us both if you could offer anything in support to get him through these next several months.

As a bonus, I will draw a personalized caricature for anyone who donates over $50- For examples, see my IG @Entity_Mindshifts https://www.instagram.com/entity_mindshifts/?next=%2Fentity_mindshifts%2F

Thank you

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