I am a Caregiver.
Of Caregivers.
And, so are you if you are here.
What we do every single day is to give: time, support, love, funds,and care. From somewhere above, we are given what we need to provide the (hopefully) right words at the right time to the right person. We are there for one another. Some days are up, some days are down, but we are present when needed. We save or at least enrich lives daily.
And, it is inconceivable that time and time again, we are told "Thank you for your interest", "Thank you for your support", and "How do you do this job every day?" Is there only Rhetoric in our proud country? Or, is there Heart, but simply no awareness? Our hope is that it is lack of awareness rather than lack of caring that spares the action to go along with the words.
Is it possible that once you know that Caregivers even exist ("I thought the VA provided veteran care"), you can still find them invisible?
Imponderable to us. And, to many others.
Caregivers and Veteran Families matter. After a decade of war, at least three generations will be effected by multiple deployments, fractured families, homelessness, financial strain, joblessness, and injured, ill, or wounded troops. Can we truly ignore what is in front of us? Apparently so.
Yet, listen closely and you'll hear a growing number of voices raised together to stop fragmenting families into disparate groups, vying for dollars, and attention. Unity on this issue is important. Please continue to spread the very real needs of Veteran Families.
Because, once you know the need, how can you not help?
Linda
Beautifully said as always Linda. Being part of this group is indeed caring for all others. All newcomers here are embraced in the warmth of caring and concern. We support each other in a common struggle, and that is the struggle to be recognized for who we are and what we do. I do think there is more awareness now of what Veterans go through, and a little more awareness of us, the caregivers. We are indeed the invisible ones. More has to be done and I believe we need to use all available media to tell our stories.
ReplyDeletethank you for continuing to care. disease costs are diminished when humanity is increased. if VA would figure that out, since they want to believe we're only numbers anyway, maybe they would hire some folks who don't find caring to be something in a 6 year degree of study. some of the best people i've ever talked to at VA were other patients and the elder folk with no degrees whatever pushing a coffee cart and taking a minute or two to listen.
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