Kris update: After almost one year.

To all...

After just five days short of one year at Health South RIOSA, Kris will be there for possibly another week or more. Apparently, one person who serves on the board of the Frank Tejeda Texas State Veterans Home evidently was not going to “bend” from the bylaws to admit Kris. It is, after all, a veterans facility and she is not considered a veteran (he contends) until she is fully discharged. Never mind that her husband holds a discharge from the Air Force, which makes him a veteran, and the bylaws state that the spouse of a veteran can be admitted. Never mind that she was discharged from the Air Force after her first four years, then joined the Air National Guard for 10 years, was discharged and returned to full military again as a 2nd Lieutenant with a nursing degree. Never mind that she has done two tours in Iraq and was headed for her third, she is not eligible according to their bylaws. I might add that the entire staff at this Veterans facility was all for Kris coming there, and the administrator was willing to work with us any way he could to make it happen. That particular board member first said two days ago he needed written proof in hand Kris’s insurance would pay for her stay, and her insurance had already been pre-approved for a week. When everyone jumped through hoops to get that information to him, then he trumped it all by noon today saying simply she is not a veteran. She is not eligible. I hope this isn’t indicative of the treatment all military get from the Texas State Veterans Homes.

So, forgive my grumbling. It’s a mother’s prerogative to fuss when her child is put through such stress and, because of Kris’s condition, it was irresponsible and unconscionable on the part of this board member as far as I’m concerned. I’m all for playing by the rules but rules must be revisited if they are unfriendly, uncaring and unworthy of the responsibility they carry. What this board should realize is that times have changed. We are fighting in a new era and on numerous fronts, and there are wives and husbands serving in our military together. If one is seriously wounded and requires long term care, are they not eligible until after they receive their full medical discharge? That could take months even years, and their care and rehabilitation could suffer.

Well, in any case, we are back to the drawing board. But there is a light: our first choice in the beginning of our search is a very beautiful facility called Air Force Village II. I’ve already made some contacts and the ball is rolling, but our time is running very short. We had so hoped to have Kris placed and settled in because we must leave here October 8th to return to Florida.

A bright spot came today when Dr. Richard Teff and a nursing associate dropped by to see Kris at RIOSA. As you may recall from numerous updates these past 18 months, he is the neurosurgeon who truly saved her life the night of the accident. We were so grateful they stopped because Kris was quite obviously very down from all the events of the past several days. She is always happy to see Dr. Teff, as well as his associate (who helped care for Kris, by the way, when she was at BAMC).

After two very grueling and heart wrenching days, we realize God evidently didn’t want Kris at the Veterans Home in Floresville anyway. We’ll let you know as soon as we know where she will be. Hold those cards and letters, and forgive a tired old gal her ranting... there’s always tomorrow. Please know that I don’t now what I would have done without your prayers nor without my husband standing faithfully by my side every minute. He has kept me together, and God has taken us through.

Blessings and much love,

Carol and George