Gerry Hecht, a 94-year-old veteran from Phoenix, expressed his frustration at being denied the care he requires from the Veterans Affairs.
Hecht, a former line officer in the Navy, bravely served in the combat zone of Korea aboard the USS Duncan.
According to him, he is unable to walk and relies on an oxygen tank for support. Currently, his 88-year-old wife, who also has her own medical issues, is the sole caregiver for him on a daily basis.
“You have two elderly individuals here, not just one but two, and we have to depend on each other, which can be challenging as we grow older,” expressed Hecht.
Every month, he insists that his children fly back to take care of their parents.
“His health problems are taking a toll on her well-being. He requires assistance to get up from his chair. As a result, my mother is experiencing severe back pain due to the constant strain of helping him. It’s a challenging situation,” expressed Dave Hecht, the son of the person in question.
Gerry recently reached out to the VA to seek assistance with his increasing medical expenses and the need for an electric wheelchair and respite care.
According to the individual, up until now, he and his family have had to cover all expenses themselves since his request for assistance from the VA was rejected.
Dave expressed his frustration with the VA’s response to their request for basic services. Despite submitting all the necessary paperwork, the VA simply thanked him for his service and stated that he makes too much money.
According to Gerry, the sole source of his income is his Social Security, which amounts to nearly $2,200 per month.
Unfortunately, his medical costs and other monthly expenses outweigh his current income.
Now, he and his family find themselves in a difficult situation, facing mounting medical expenses and deteriorating health conditions without any assistance in sight.
“America is known as the land of great opportunities and promises. It is crucial that we remember the significant promise we made to our veterans,” emphasized Gerry.
Arizona’s Family reached out to the VA for a response.
“Phoenix VA Health Care System is committed to providing high-quality, timely care to the Veterans we serve – and we’ll never settle for anything less. While we cannot discuss the specifics of any Veteran’s care without written consent, we are looking into this matter urgently and will take any appropriate action to address these concerns.”