After you’ve cut a hole in a man’s stomach and put a tube into it, it would seem to be a little late in the game to decide that it’s not your problem anymore. Yet, that’s exactly where we’re at today. Sick as he is, IF he can even get an appointment, Joe drives 40 miles to see a doctor and says he’s typically left waiting for 3-4 hours before he can get in to receive substandard care. Joe told me, “After three combat deployments for my country, I gave it 150% for my nation. Then I come home and I can’t get 30% effort, it feels like. It makes my jaw drop, it makes me cry, it makes me want to implode and explode at the same time. It’s the ultimate betrayal.”
As an American, what do you say to a man after he says that to you and YOU KNOW HE’S RIGHT? We talk a lot about “supporting the troops.” Is this it? Leaving a man who served his country to starve to death? That’s just not right. It’s just not acceptable. Maybe the problems the VA has are so big that the people reading this article can’t fix them, but I believe with all my heart that we can do something for Joe Geoghagan.
What can we do?
First of all, I may not have the juice to get the VA to treat Joe Geoghagan, but there are people who do. If the offices of Alabama Senators Jeff Sessions or Richard Shelby were to get interested in this case, it might get some people moving at the VA. Joe’s Congressman is Robert Aderholt. He may also be able to get the VA to decide it matters whether Joe lives or dies. Additionally, if you’re a specialist, particularly one in Alabama who might be able to diagnose Joe’s problem, it would be incredibly helpful. Also, if you have a few bucks to spare, Joe could really use the contribution here. Failing all of that, just spreading this story far and wide by sharing it across Twitter and Facebook could make a difference. There is someone out there who can get Joe Geoghagan the help he needs and if we can’t do it, let’s get his story to an even bigger outlet that can make it happen for him.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member