Raoul Schander, age 78, clutched a letter in his hands as he laid on the hospital bed. “To My ‘Bypass Surgery Team, I probably will not be in any condition to thank each of you individually at the conclusion of this ‘procedure’. But I want you all to know that I have total and complete confidence in your expertise, competence and professionalism already demonstrate(d) by all that has been done for me up to now and what is about to be completed. I feel very blessed to be receiving my medical care from the VA.”...read more.

“My name is Jose Garcia, a 24-year U.S. Air Force disabled veteran, VA employee and a multiple sclerosis patient. When I was diagnosed with MS in April 2000, I was still able to walk and still on active duty. In the beginning, I was in denial. Twenty-five years later, I am in a wheelchair.” Soon after Garcia transitioned out of the military, his legs became weaker. He went from using an ankle-foot orthosis and cane, to a rollator, to a scooter and as of 2019, into a power chair. ...read more