Tom’s Story
Tom had always wanted to serve in the military. When he was drafted, he followed that call of duty, serving in Vietnam and later in Thailand at a Royal Thai Air Force Base. During his service, he handled defoliants, including exposure to Agent Orange, which would later make access to healthcare critical.
After his military service, Tom built a long and dedicated career with the postal service. “I am a career letter carrier with the postal service,” he said. For years, he enjoyed excellent retiree benefits, but suddenly, with ‘a stroke of a pen,’ the postal service terminated his coverage. This left him without essential healthcare at a time when it was crucial.
Even though he was eligible, Tom had never contacted the VA before. “I was perfectly happy. I didn’t want to take somebody else’s place,” he explained. He didn’t want to deprive other veterans of care, so he managed on his own as long as he could. But when he realized his health needs required proper medical attention, he decided to reach out for help.
Turning to Catholic Charities was a pivotal decision. “First of all, I’m impressed how nice they are. Janis is excellent,” he said. Through Catholic Charities, he finally accessed healthcare. “I wanted to try the network and see what would happen. Worst case, you get a ‘no.’ But when I went to see Carlos, I came home with an ID card and an appointment to see a doctor the same day. I got healthcare immediately.”
This support not only addressed his urgent health needs but also gave Tom peace of mind and confidence. Even as a veteran with legitimate healthcare needs, he waited to seek help out of consideration for others—until circumstances made it clear he could no longer manage alone. The combination of his determination and Catholic Charities’ support ensured he received the care he deserved.