Disabled Veteran Lisa's Journey to Accessible Freedom

My name is Lisa Groves, and I am a permanently disabled veteran and a Traveling Veterans Advocate who relies on a mobility wheelchair. My two small service dogs, Koko and JR, are my constant companions and provide invaluable support in my daily life.

Since my honorable discharge from the military, I have dedicated myself to ensuring that no veteran and their family is left behind. As a disabled veteran who has experienced significant trauma, I have strived to prevent others from enduring similar hardships. Ironically, despite my advocacy efforts, I now find myself in a position where I feel left behind, forgotten, and alone. You can see some of my work in support of veterans and their families by clicking on this link:

[https://www.google.com/search?q=lisa+groves+veterans&oq=&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqDAgCECMYJxjqAhiMBDIGCAAQRRg6MgcIARBFGLABMgwIAhAjGCcY6gIYjAQyDAgDECMYJxjqAhiMBDIMCAQQIxgnGOoCGIwEMgwIBRAjGCcY6gIYjAQyDAgGECMYJxjqAhiMBDIMCAcQIxgnGOoCGIwEMgwICBAjGCcY6gIYjAQyDAgJECMYJxjqAhiMBDIPCAoQIxgnGOoCGIwEGLQEMgwICxAjGCcY6gIYjAQyDAgMECMYJxjqAhiMBDIMCA0QIxgnGOoCGIwEMgwIDhAjGCcY6gIYjATSAQYtMWowajmoAg6wAgHxBTijp-uK-oOA8QU4o6frivqDgA&client=ms-android-comcast-us-rvc3&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8](https://www.google.com/search?q=lisa+groves+veterans&oq=&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWU*DAgCECMYJxjqAhiMBDIGCAAQRRg6MgcIARBFGLABMgwIAhAjGCcY6gIYjAQyDAgDECMYJxjqAhiMBDIMCAQQIxgnGOoCGIwEMgwIBRAjGCcY6gIYjAQyDAgGECMYJxjqAhiMBDIMCAcQIxgnGOoCGIwEMgwICBAjGCcY6gIYjAQyDAgJECMYJxjqAhiMBDIPCAoQIxgnGOoCGIwEGLQEMgwICxAjGCcY6gIYjAQyDAgMECMYJxjqAhiMBDIMCA0QIxgnGOoCGIwEMgwIDhAjGCcY6gIYjATSAQYtMWowajmoAg6wAgHxBTijp-uK-oOA8QU4o6frivqDgA&client=ms-android-comcast-us-rvc3&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8)

My life took a difficult turn on October 27, 2021, when I underwent my second surgery which was a reconstruction on my right foot and ankle at Emory Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. . This surgery was necessary due to a botched right foot and ankle procedure done at a VAMC in Huntington, West Virginia. During the reconstructive surgery, the hardware from the previous surgery essentially fell apart as the surgeon removed it. He had to remove and replace cartilage, bones, tendons, soft tissue, ligaments, nerves, and some vascular components. This, along with numerous steroid and cortisone injections administered previously, has resulted in a loss of feeling from my knees down and permanent immobility, requiring me to use a mobility wheelchair. My VA pain doctor has since instructed me to discontinue steroid and cortisone shots due to the damage they caused. Unfortunately, I also experience hallucinations with all prescribed pain medications, leaving acupuncture as my only current option for pain management.

As a result of my service-connected disabilities, I qualify for the VA Automobile Allowance and Adaptive Equipment Grant. However, my Service Connected Claim has been repeatedly denied by the VA, despite providing substantial evidence, including Nexus letters from my VAMC Podiatrist. I have appealed each denial, and my case is currently awaiting a hearing in the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in Washington, D.C., which could take a significant amount of time.

Over the years, various VAMCs have consistently approved, paid for, prescribed, and provided me with numerous aids, including cam walkers, crutches, canes, casts, braces, mobility scooters, and mobility wheelchairs. They have also funded physical therapy and pain clinic treatments both within and outside of VA facilities. Most recently, the VA paid two companies to install a long ramp and a threshold ramp outside my home, as well as grab bars, a special commode, and shower chairs in my bathroom. Furthermore, I was sent to the VA Driver’s Rehabilitation Program, where I successfully regained my ability to drive safely using hand controls and now have a prescription for a handicapped accessible van.

Given my permanent reliance on a mobility wheelchair, I am now in desperate need of a handicapped accessible van. The inability to drive a regular vehicle has created significant hardships. I am forced to rely on Marta Public Transportation and Marta Mobility, which have proven unreliable, leaving me stranded on multiple occasions. Additionally, a transportation company contracted by the Atlanta VAMC has also failed me by leaving me stranded for hours on three separate occasions.

This is my true story, and obtaining a handicapped accessible van would profoundly improve my quality of life, providing me with greater independence and a renewed sense of wholeness.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story .