When Veteran Michael Sulsona lost both his legs in Vietnam, I’m sure he never imagined that the VA and country he fought for would turn their back on him. However, I’m sure he never would have expected the kindness from strangers he would eventually receive.
On July 7th, Sulsona went to the Mariners Harbor Lowe’s to do some shopping. While in the store, his wheelchair fell apart.
This was not the first time he had problems with his wheelchair. According to a letter written by Sulsona to the Staten Island Advance, he had been struggling for the past two years to get a new wheelchair. The VA had also refused to provide a spare wheelchair to Sulsona, who lost both his legs after stepping on a land mine in Vietnam.
Sulsona:
?I’ve been waiting over two years for a new wheelchair, and this is the third time the bolt has snapped.?
Not only did three employees carry him from his broken wheelchair to another chair, they immediately began repairing?the broken wheelchair, telling Sulsona, ?We’re going to make this chair like new.?
After telling him they weren’t?leaving until the wheelchair was repaired, Sulsona left the Lowe’s store in a chair that ?was like new.?
According to Staten Island Advance, Sulsona and his wife took the employees cookies and a picture of them repairing his wheelchair. Sulsona then wrote a letter to the Staten Island Advance praising the men and ended with this:
?The actions of these three employees at Lowe’s showed me there are some who still believe in stepping to the plate. They didn’t ask any questions, didn’t feel the need to fill out any forms or make phone calls. Someone needed help and they felt privileged to be given the opportunity.?
Despite his thanks, the three employees only said they were honored to help him.
Since the incident, the VA has responded to Sulsona’s situation, gave him a new custom wheelchair, and made this statement:
?We were very sorry to hear about the reported circumstances surrounding Mr. Sulsona’s request for a new wheelchair. We quickly investigated and can report the Veteran’s new custom wheelchair was delivered to him yesterday, and it along with his back up, will be serviced by the VA as needed.
Too many veterans wait too long to receive their care and benefits, and this has never been acceptable. Providing veterans like Mr. Sulsona the quality care and benefits they have earned through their service is our most important mission at the Department of Veterans Affairs. We care deeply for every veteran we are privileged to serve.
The VA New York/New Jersey Healthcare Network places high priority on providing preventative care and treatments to these wounded warriors to restore function and improve quality of life.?
I’m sure the VA cared for Mr. Sulsona. In fact, they cared so much for Mr. Sulsona that they got him his wheelchair two years too late after getting egg on their face in the midst of a VA scandal. The VA is eating crow, and they know it.
As a medical transcriptionist, I have listened to dictations from doctors doing ?mobility evaluations? for Medicare/Medicaid. I can attest to how difficult it can be and how much paperwork it takes to get someone a replacement chair. Despite having proved a need for a wheelchair/mobility device, they are required in some cases to perform another mobility examination just to get repairs done on their assistive devices or get a replacement. In many cases, I’ve heard of patients having to use borrowed wheelchairs for the time being.
This is unacceptable. For this to happen to a veteran who fought a disastrous war for his government makes it doubly unacceptable.
Thank goodness Mr. Sulsona was in a situation where somebody could help him when this happened and not in a situation where he could have been injured or alone with no help.
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h/t to BuzzFeed.
Liz Lee considers herself a modern woman of the South and hails from the swamps of South Georgia. She votes along no party line and prefers to look at issues from all angles before taking a stance. She takes particular interest in healthcare issues, mental health issues, and the battle for equality. She is also an emphatic advocate for the end to dog breed discrimination legislation. She is a wife, mother of one human child, mother to one furry American Bully, a college student, and also your typical everyday Wonder Woman. When she hangs up her cape, you can find her curled up in her office sewing, writing, playing World of Warcraft, or practicing banjo. You can follow her on Facebook to see what issue she is tackling. She also has a Twitter she’s still trying to learn how to use and will soon have a website. You can also contact her via email.
