The Dallas VA

I am currently doing an internship at the Dallas VA Hospital SCI unit. For those who don't know what a VA Hospital is... it's where Veterans go to the hospital. The SCI unit stands for spinal cord injury unit. I mostly treat patients that are paraplegic, tetraplegic, or have multiple sclerosis, or ALS. Now, I come from a long line of Navymen and my sister is in the Navy so I have a lot of respect for those that serve-- ie. my patients... but sometimes I can't help feeling sad for them. Most of them are in good humor but every once in a while as they are rolling away in their wheelchair there's a twinge on my heart. These men and women served our country and most of them do not have anyone to take care of them. They live in nursing homes and assisted living facilities with no one to visit. They're missing teeth and sometimes even limbs. Some days it can be a sad sight, but there they are pushing through their life. I guess I've always imagined taking care of my parents, however best suited, when it becomes difficult or impossible for them to take care of themselves. Sometimes I feel sorry for them and sad in a way, but I could never show that.