Robert

Unsure of what to do with his life, Robert joined the Marine Corps and was stationed on the USS John F Kennedy aircraft carrier during the Gulf War. He was part of a small set of Marines on the ship and had difficulties navigating the social dynamics. He experienced unhealthy living conditions due to bad plumbing, poor-quality drinking water, and food prepared with the water that tasted “funky.” He was put in dangerous health-related situations, such as wearing bad protective gear and being exposed to asbestos and chemicals. “The joke used to be like, don’t smoke after you get out of the shower- you could catch on fire.” Robert also voiced concerns over the number of immunizations and pills they were given but knew nothing about.

Soon after returning from the Gulf War, Robert had symptoms of neuropathy and nerve damage, PTSD, vision problems, confusion, and memory issues. He described having difficulties attending school to complete his degree, “…it felt like I would go to the class, it was my first time there. Like so I wound up having to withdraw from that semester. And then I went to the neurologist.” While navigating these symptoms, he discovered a tumor on his pituitary gland cause by a condition where the body makes too much growth hormone. He has not received adequate care for his vision problems: “…my experience trying to navigate the VA…was always very difficult.”

Robert has never been told by a VA or civilian doctor that he has Gulf War Illness. More recently, a VA doctor told him that his health problems might be connected to exposures in the Gulf War. He is still researching and navigating this issue and said there are still a lot of unknowns. He has had the tumor removed from his pituitary gland and has received different treatments for his symptoms. He quit drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes several years ago and has focused on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Robert has feelings of abandonment and being let down by the military and government. He only went back to the VA after talking to other Veterans who convinced him to seek out VA care. Robert enjoys connecting with other Veterans and participating in activities for Veterans. He hopes that healthcare professionals can learn to “talk more in a language everybody can kind of understand.” He hopes in the future that Veterans can be better supported by the VA and government in terms of providing the benefits owed to them.