I have a story to tell you regarding one of your employees who has made an instrumental difference in my life, her name is Lauren Cano. For the better part of a year and a half, I had been experiencing symptoms of headaches, chest palpitations, cold and aching hands and feet, cold sweats, and tremendous amounts of fatigue. I state this because, for the better part of a year and a half, I had continually been told, by the WTX VA and WTX emergency rooms, these symptoms were a result of my social anxiety.

Enter Lauren Cano into the picture, it was roughly her first week as a nurse for PACT Team 1 when I met Lauren as a follow-up for some of these symptoms I had been experiencing. Lauren immediately noticed something was wrong with my vital signs (a low resting heart rate of 33bpm) and sought attention and care for myself that was desperately needed. As a result of Lauren identifying there were potentially more serious issues occurring than social anxiety, I was admitted to the Odessa MCH for further evaluation.

As a result of Lauren’s quick action and attention to my symptoms, I have finally been able to understand, via the help of some fantastic cardiologists in Alabama what is wrong with me. I have been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, frequent PVCs, and mitro valve prolapse. I am currently on medication to address these conditions while I await a VA scheduled appointment for a PVC ablation (again, I give all credit to Lauren for ensuring my case wasn’t dismissed and forgotten about as she has assisted me with all consultation requests needed and helped me navigate the VA processes to ensure I am provided proper medical care via quality physicians).

I am forever grateful and thankful for Lauren’s presence at the VA that day as I was personally beginning to lose all hope for myself as a person, husband, and father. My family life and work life were deteriorating rapidly because of my condition, and I personally was losing all hope in life (I made things right with God spiritually and had accepted that my time on this Earth was ending sooner than I had anticipated). My PTSD, TBI, and social anxiety were overtaking my life, and thanks to Lauren and some fantastic doctors along the way I am now working to regain control of my life so that I may be around to support my four young children and my wife for many years to come. I thank God every day for putting Lauren in my life and providing me with someone who embodies the core principles of selflessness, empathy, support, and caring for others! Without Lauren, I am not certain that I would be here today to write this email to you.

I pray that you will notice Lauren and present some gratification toward her (on my behalf, all Veteran’s behalf, and for her professional career working with the VA) for the work she is doing to better Veteran’s lives on a daily basis. As a Veteran I hear many horror stories of poor staff and inadequate support in some VA hospitals, however, I know that with Lauren’s presence with the WTX VA, all Veterans she encounters will be in great hands, respected, and always supported. Thank you kindly for taking the time to read this and understanding the value your staff provides to all Veterans! Good luck and God bless all of you working during these challenging times! We Veterans are counting on you and we greatly appreciate all of your support! Semper Fidelis.