Over the past 2 weeks, I've had the opportunity to work with patients from the Veterans Affairs (VA). I enjoyed listening to their life stories, many of the veterans transitioned straight from high school into the military, they candidly remembered the "good ole' days" when they were young, traveled the world, found love, and formed lifelong friendships. It was devastating hearing their experiences which followed their time in the service; many suffered from PTSD, struggled to find good work, became homeless, and turned to substance use. I have a newfound respect and admiration for veterans, their selflessness and commitment to the country speaks volumes and I'm glad there are organizations which support their needs beyond their time in the military.
