Having her husband deployed for seven years and facing the bureaucratic challenges of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in Montana, Dawn Longie took action to advocate for veterans' rights. Her journey began when her husband, Loren Longie, returned from Afghanistan and Iraq with both physical and mental injuries.
Dawn described dealing with the VA as one of the most challenging experiences: “Having my husband on deployment or dealing with the VA? Hands down, going through deployment is way easier than dealing with the VA.” Despite Loren's need for healthcare, he encountered neglect and misdiagnosis at his local VA facility.
Loren's experience included a nine-year wait for an MRI, which eventually revealed tumors rather than the initially diagnosed "old age" wrist pain. His mental health concerns were also dismissed by the VA. As part of his PTSD claim process, Loren was required to relive traumatic memories on a government form. He expressed frustration in writing: “Too many to list.”
Determined to secure proper healthcare for her husband, Dawn learned about Concerned Veterans for America (CVA) and its #VAFail campaign from Chris Enget, CVA’s strategic director for Montana. She discovered that under the VA MISSION Act signed in 2018, veterans like Loren had more choices over their healthcare.
“My husband, who fought so hard for this country, was not getting even the most basic things. It just didn’t seem fair,” said Dawn.
The systemic issue of denying referrals to community care affected many veterans beyond Loren. The VA often discourages such options to maintain control over veterans’ healthcare.
Now a grassroots engagement director with CVA, Dawn helps other veterans in Montana regain control over their healthcare. She joins hundreds working to hold the VA accountable and prioritize veterans' needs over bureaucratic interests.
If you are concerned about how the VA treats veterans like Loren Longie, consider taking action by signing a pledge and joining this movement.
