Letters to the Editor

From a grateful vet

The VA has taken a lot of shots lately on all the local and national news media. Now, I’m not saying that all this negative publicity is not rightly deserved sometimes, but remember, everything in bureaucracy begins at the top; the individuals in the trenches do the best they can with what they’re given. Sometimes, they even go above and beyond as I had the opportunity to discover.

I am a Disabled American Veteran (DAV) and recently underwent hand surgery in San Diego because, at that time, the Las Vegas V.A. was in the process of acquiring a hand specialist.

Luckily for me, the surgery and all follow-up appointments in Las Vegas that followed went smoothly and I was well on my way to recovery until the fateful day came for the pin to be removed from my hand.

Now, everyone knows infections are always possible in any procedure. If you cut your pinky finger, there is a danger of infection if not treated properly. So no surprise there. And, as luck—or Murphy’s Law — would have it, an infection is exactly what I got. A serious one.

I called my V.A. doctor in L.V. and was given an appointment immediately. At 9:30 a.m. he took a sample of the infection in my hand, realized the urgency of the situation, and walked me straight to pre-op. By 12:00 noon he had assembled a team and began operating.

Later I learned that this particular infection was of a very serious nature and had been traveling up my arm and towards my heart. An infection specialist identified the exact type of strain of infection and began administering the proper medication straight away.

I spent 4 days in the V.A. hospital with a 24-hour I.V. with around-the-clock care from everyone ranging from my assigned nurses to the infection specialist and my hand surgeon before I was sent home to continue the I.V. treatments for another 6 weeks assisted by home health care nurses.

Without all of this expert care I received, I could have lost my hand … or worse.

So, I suppose what I want to say is a tremendous “Thank you” to all those under-recognized and under-appreciated staffers in the V.A. medical systems both in Las Vegas (specialty 1 clinic, in particular) and our Pahrump V.A. clinic — and all over the nation — who are in the trenches doing a great job. Thanks VA. ’Nough said!

Angelo S.

In response to Ferrell

I see Jim Ferrell still gets preferential treatment by both of our local papers while he’s foaming at the mouth. When he can’t come up with a convincing argument he resorts to name calling.

Watching Fox News is akin to Hitler’s death camps is a stretch even for him.

When I want the truth and both sides I go to Fox News. When I want biased reporting I go to the lame stream media.

Based on Jim’s last letter, I came to the conclusion he’s a tax and spend democrat who spouts party talking points enough times to make them true like they do in the book “1984”.

Jim says Fox News spouts untruths, so I challenge him to tell us what they are, based on facts, not rhetoric.

R.A. Davis