Cupcakes, Veterans and Fun

Today was probably one of the most touching days I’ve had the opportunity to experience in quite some time. My stepdaughter (otherwise known as the Lady Bug), the hubby and I decided to spread some Fourth of July love by way of cupcakes to some of the inpatient Vets at our local VA Hospital. Usually, whenever there is a holiday, we gather together as a family to spend time with Vets that either don’t have access to their loved ones, or are too sick to leave the VA to celebrate on their own. This gives us the opportunity to spread a little joy, give honor to those that are truly deserving, and take time to break away from the day-to-day cycle that is PTSD.

First of all… how cute is this little lady bug? Um… so cute it hurts comes to mind.

 It’s always heartwarming to see the look on the faces of some of the Vets we encounter as we pass through the VA room by room giving away handmade cards, gifts, and treats, but today was by far the most gratifying and poignant experience thus far. Walking in to the breathtaking sound of a local woman playing the keyboard and singing Bridge Over Troubled Water  for a Vet struggling through the holiday, should have been the first indication that today would be different for me; my grandmother (Grammy as we all call her) would sing that song and play her keyboard all the time, and I loved sitting next to her taking in every moment second by second.

From the very first room we entered the Vets that occupied it were thrilled to pieces to know that someone thought enough of them to surprise them with treats and thank you’s. 

Some of the Vets were so excited they reached out to hug the Lady Bug, and joked around with her creating frosting mustaches and cookie crumble freckles.

Even the Nurses and Hospital Security decided to join in and make the day special by sharing their stories with us, and entertaining the Vets with jokes and laughs.

As we entered our last room on our way out we ran into a younger Vet that had been admitted after a serious motorcycle accident. He was having a very difficult time getting through the holiday and really wasn’t up for any celebration when we first walked in, but after just a few minutes of speaking with us he began to open up and thanked us for coming by to visit. 

The Lady Bug, for a moment actually began to cry as we walked out and turned to me to express that the Vet reminded her of her Dad after his motorcycle accident (ironically, they both had the same injuries). She instantly felt connected to the Vet, and asked to go back to his room prior to leaving just to check on him. When we got back to the room and explained to the Vet that the Lady Bug was concerned and wanted to ensure he was ok, he sat up and reached his hands out to her to thank her for being kind, and really began to open up a little to us about why he was having such a difficult time during this holiday. 

What he expressed to us, and seeing how moved he was to see that total strangers could be just as concerned about his well being as a close friend, was all together more memorable than any other visit we’ve made to the VA. We left feeling much more connected to our cause than we had ever been before, and more than that, we left knowing (not hoping) that today, we actually made an impact in someone’s life.

It was amazing. I’m looking forward to our next VA visit.