You do such amazing work if no one tells you let me you are an amazing person with such a huge heart and compassion where very few do. I personally can't thank you enough for all that you do for families like ours. We consider you family.
I think the smileys are amazing and make me laugh.
I am aware I am approaching a dark place, I know I was the one crying at the end of the meeting without anymore resources than I came with. ... I know I'm only up against PTSD but it seems to be winning. Thank you for being there and guiding me to the right places for help.
Just wanted to thank you for what you are doing here. There isn't a damn thing I can do to help, but you ought to know that some of us pay attention to who helps and who don't.
Take care and please have a great veteran day. You certainly have served so many of us.
We care about you and everyone in VCG very much you all have touched our lives in so many ways and we can never repay all that you have done for us.
Thanks for checking up on me sometimes I get so pulled into his care that I forget to take a break. We did make some headway on making friends which will be good. I'm sure you can understand. Thanks again for all you do.
Linda, how did you know? I can't believe you sent the bear hug just when I thought I was done, leaving, cannot do it anymore! It was a light to me, and here we are, doing just a bit better because of your kindness. Bless you.
Seriously, this site and you especially, have been a life-saver for me. I know I was going down fast. I have no idea why I Googled 'Veteran Caregiver' when I did but I thank God that I found the site and also found you. You have given me such wonderful support and encouragement that there are no words to thank you.
The VA is never going to provide what is provided here. There is no way that they can. In the same way that people who have not lost a child cannot really know the pain, or a woman who has never been abused can know what abuse feels like, the VA, as a unit, cannot know. Only us, the caregivers, can know. This is why peer support is SO vital.
People on this site get it because we learn from each other. I've done more research than any of our VA providers. We live with and take care of our vets fulltime with no help from the VA or anyone else other than VCG to express my feelings. I am tired of the organizations out there that are supposed to help but make it so hard to get help. This one does.
You are my friend my sister. I'm blessed with the blessing of your wisdom and your strength. I learn and listen thanks very much.
VCG has helped me a lot over the past year. I've gotten stronger and less emotional when it comes to T's outbursts ... you and VCG has helped more than I can express. I felt lost and alone for so long as though no one would ever understand what I get put through.
Just wanted to let you know that I thought your blog today was amazing. Would you mind if I re-posted it on my facebook?
Thank you so much for reaching out today. It really helps, especially since it seems today things took turn for the worse. I never feel forgotten here on VCG.
Anyway, it is Sunday morning at 2 AM and I have been up most of the night pondering what to do. I guess I won't know until I either walk out the door or hide in my safe little house. Either way, I wouldn't still be here if it weren't for this site and the people here. Thought you should know.
I feel so welcome here. This site has been a great help. It's refreshing to see the amount of people that I can relate to. Even during the time my husband was on active duty I found it hard to relate to the other Army wifes [sic]. I was often secluded and picked on, because the other wifes [sic] didn't have the same issues I did. It was hard and I often look back at my early years of marriage and cringe. Feels good to know I didn't do anything wrong. Thank you for caring!
Thanks for caring and offering opportunities for J.
Ok, so can I just say how amazing it is to have someone in my life who listens and then follows through?? Thank you for taking the time to do that! Thank you again for emailing me...and guiding me to the right resources. We're going to be okay for now thanks to this site.
Just wanted to say hello. I really enjoyed our talk the other night... Your voice is as caring as your writings.
Thanks so much for the kind thoughts and all of your hard work. It's exhausting trying to keep life running smoothly and fighting the forces that work against us all the time. Too many of us settle for the unacceptable inadequate care or give up all together and pay out of pocket (only causing more stress.) Being able to come here helps me remember we're not alone in our fight and gives me the strength to push on and demand the service my husband is entitled to. It's comforting to know you're out there fighting with us too! :)
Again, thanks for all you do to support us caregivers! I hope your day is beautiful!
I am doing my best to stay here and fight the battle to live life. When I hear and read about suicide prevention, I realize from my own experiences that there is no such thing. Words here have saved me because I called for help before I lost control totally.
Thank you so much for all of the info. The lightbulb has come back on.
Thanks for the ear. I just needed to let some thoughts out. Feels better.
Thank you for your friendship. it has been a long hard journey but very rewarding as I have met so many wonderful people like yourself.... Friendship is welcomed for me. I need all the friends I can get.... I look forward to sharing and making new friends that not only understand but also go through the every day struggles I do. It does make life a little bit more tolerable... Please feel free to share my story as if it can help one person, then I have done something good in the world. I love my husband dearly and it pains me to see him go through the everyday situations he does now but life is as it is. I'm so glad I found this site!
Thanks for all your support. So very valuable to me and I hope I can offer you the same support in the future.
Again thank you. This site means a lot to me. And I take pride and joy in what I do. When I see my DH smile happy, relaxed it fills me with joy. It's rare therefore I do not take for granted. And its the drive that keeps me going and motivated. Which brings me here. To be the best I can be.
The site is looking great. Keep up the great work on keeping us informed not only through here but also on Facebook! VCG is definitely doing great things!
Many thanks for adding the [special] forum. Am having to deal now with R feeling like his life is not worth a bean. For sure he is of no value to the VA. Thank so much for you work here.
Thanks for all your help. I feel like if ever there is another round of this I will be much better prepared.
Thank you so much for all you do to advocate for our vets. What a blessing you are to all of us!!
GUESS WHAT?!?! I didn't even have a chance to do anything this morning and I'm not sure what you did or who you called but this morning early we had a voicemail from the VA saying to call them to set up an appointment with a new counselor. What?! I'm so excited I could cry. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!
I can't imagine life without VeteranCaregiver.com seriously....so thank you for all you do for all of us.
PTSD is a scarry [sic] place to be. I wake up some nights from dreams that are so real I want to release the pain. Thank you for giving me a place to hear and talk with others that feel the same way.
Sincerely, thank you. HUGE HUGS!!
Thanks for all you do for so many veterans. No one other than Family or other soldiers know what it is like to be hurt. No matter how it happens, it destoys a huge part of who you were.
As you talk to other veterans dealing with PTSD and MST, are we all having the same or similar issues? Do we all go up and down constantly and have problems with people and places? I guess I would like to know I am "normal". This site is a safe place to be connected for help because no one judges you; thank you!
Thank you for all the support that you have given us or me to be exact. It's truly appreciated.
Why do people treat each other so poorly. I am weak right now and tired. I feel like laying down and just quitting. If only I did not have a child. Thank you for VCG; I'd have nowhere else to go since I trust no one anymore, but I trust you and my friends on the site.
Thanks for listening and always having great things to say. I hope you know how many times your words have helped me to go forward. What you do really does make a difference.
So this has to be the best website ever, cause less than 24 hours i have already gotten a hug! I'm a sucker for any clip art or e-cards! Thanks hun.
I think you ought to know that I was so unhappy tonight that I was going to check out. In desperation, I Googled for help and found Veterancaregiver. Then I got a welcome message and responses to my post within an hour. You should know that this site saved me. Now I will reach out to others, so thank you.
"Great work. I scrolled through the information and see how it relates directly to me. I have registered and will further explore
the sight and the opportunities available in the near future. I will take this opportunity to share with others the power of
service - continued service. I have found that the opportunity or challenge to serve can have incredible impacts not only on the
life of the veteran, but also on the community surrounding the veteran... It's not what we leave "over there," it's what we do right now.
Thank you for the opportunity to share this message with others. It has saved my life and I will use that life to share it with others."
- Mike P., Mission Continues
"Thanks all for doing such great things for us disabled vets... My wife has been a huge rock for me... Just know it means so much to us... :) :)"
- Mark B., disabled veteran
"Here are ten Factlets for use on your site; and I will give you ten more each week. I want to do whatever I can to help."
- Walt S., disabled veteran and CVSO
"What a great idea to add the VSO's to your web site... It will be really beneficial to all. Thanks for all you do on behalf of caregivers of veterans."
- Kathy C., National Alliance for Caregiving
"We at CFHED wish to thank you very much for your work in helping our military veterans, as evidenced in your website www.veterancaregiver.com
and partnered websites that help veterans and their families. CFHED has been providing caregiver skills training for 7 years, and we know
from first-hand experience the very real and special caregiver needs of veterans and their families. We have trained almost 9,000 caregivers and
the cared-for (including many veterans), in our classes. We especially try to reach out in every county and location that we give the classes
to veterans groups, VA government entities, and individual veterans and their families to attend our classes.
However, with the advent of your
www.veterancaregiver.com you have opened a new door and reach-out to many who are in very dire need of all of real-time information, help, and
assistance in finding critical daily relief from a caregiver job that involves 24/7 attention. It is our sincere hope that
we may be of further assistance to you for our veterans, so please keep us informed of your progress in this critical endeavor. We stand ready
to assist in any manner that we are able for our Veterans and their families."
- Tom Z., Council For Health Education and Development (CFHED)
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