---

(Las Vegas, NV) — In March of 2015, William and Barbara Meehan received news no one ever wants to hear. “Bill was diagnosed with a cancer called multiple myeloma,” Barbara said adding, “They told us he was in the early stages of the disease and it was not yet considered ‘active.'” Barbara explained that there is no cure for multiple myeloma and that the current standard of care was to do nothing until the cancer became “active.” She said, “It was like being told you have a ticking time bomb and having to wait until it explodes before you can do anything.”  
 
Little did Bill and Barbara know, the fuse to Bill’s disease was lit a long time ago. Multiple myeloma is one of the presumptive illnesses due to exposure to Agent Orange. During the Vietnam War, Bill was exposed to the chemical while serving in the U.S. Army. Barbara said it never occurred to either one of them the illness now manifesting years later, could have its roots into exposure that happened decades before.  
 
 
She said this knowledge from the beginning would have been very valuable, but she adds no one, from the pharmacists, physical therapists, social workers, doctors or chaplains Bill saw through the course of his treatment ever connected the dots. She said she discovered the connection quite by accident and that knowledge, prior to Bill’s death, was significant to his care and her life after his death.  
 
According to the American Cancer Society, multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells, found in bone marrow and important to the immune system. Barbara said most people think it’s cancer of the bone but she said, “It’s actually a cancer of the blood, “adding, “A lot of people people discover they have it after an unexplained bone break. The cancer actually weakens the bones by pushing out the calcium, making them weak and vulnerable to breaking easily.”  
 
Because they didn’t know Bill’s illness was service related and with the clock ticking, the couple set upon a course of action that did not initially involve the Veterans Administration. The couple decided on treatment at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, a pioneer in stem cell transplants. At the time, the couple lived in Seattle. Barbara said, “A stem cell transplant can often give a multiple myeloma patient 24 to 36 months longer to live.”  
 
She said, “Bill’s job was to get well and my job was to find out what treatments were available and to try and keep up on all the research and clinical trials.” While there was a lot Barbara felt she didn’t understand about Bill’s illness, she said she did not let that intimidate her.  
 
It was at this point Barbara said she decided, on a whim, to do some research on the VA’s website. While she was there she looked at benefits and discovered by accident that exposure to Agent Orange was a presumptive condition for 15 different illnesses, including multiple myeloma. A presumptive condition means that, absent other extenuating circumstances, the illness is presumed to be linked to military service.  
 
Initially Bill was reluctant to apply for VA benefits. He felt it “would take too long, be too hard to do and that other veterans probably deserved it more.” But Barbara persisted eventually getting him to agree to think of the VA as backup. “It really wasn’t that hard to apply,” Barbara said. We just followed the instructions on the VA website. A Veteran Service Officer (VSO) looked over the paperwork and said it looked good to go. But, he added “Don’t be surprised if you don’t hear anything for 6 months.”  
 
Barbara said even with Medicare and private insurance, the medical care and the medications were expensive. At one point, they weren’t sure their insurance for pay for a chemo drug that cost $12,000 to $15,000 per month on the open market. Barbara said, “I knew Bill would never do it. He just wouldn’t spend that kind of money and deplete our resources.”  
 
Fortunately, two months after applying for VA benefits, the couple received a big surprise. Barbara said, “Bill came into the room with a huge grin on his face, so I asked him what was going on. He said the VA had just transferred $36,724.20 into our bank account.” The VA rated Bill 100% disabled and made his rating and disability payments retroactive for a year. Barbara said, “It really did come at a time when I was feeling very discouraged about the cost of the drugs.” She added, “This all came about because I just decided to look on the VA website. I really don’t remember how I decided to check. It was just luck, or God or the universe.”  
 
From that moment forward, the VA provided $3,068.90 each month. Barbara said, “The money helped in unexpected ways. When Bill was too weak to climb stairs, it paid for an apartment with an elevator and the costs of moving to the apartment.” She said when doctors told them the chemotherapy was doing more harm than good, the additional money paid for their move to Las Vegas where Bill wanted to spend his final days. She said, “When Bill was so weak that I worried about trips and falls, the additional money helped pay for new flooring in our retirement house in Las Vegas which was perfect for a walker and wheelchair.” Barbara said the additional money also allowed them to travel to see distant family members. It paid all the medical co-pays.  
 
Barbara described the VA as “amazing.” She said, “Medicare will pay for a nursing home for a short period of time, but if we had exhausted those benefits, Bill could have gone to a VA nursing home.” ” Our VA social worker was incredible too. He got us all the adaptive equipment we needed to allow Bill to remain at home. Really, anything Bill wanted, I could give him, thanks to the VA. We both felt that the VA had our back.” “Dying,” she said ” is a very lonely business and knowing that someone has your back makes a huge difference.”  
 
Bill’s cancer became active on August 5, 2015. He died on July 21, 2016 just 17 months after his initial diagnosis. Barbara said, “I still can’t believe he is gone. We had such hope that with an early diagnosis and treatment Bill would be ok.” She added, “He never had any pain. He just got weaker and more tired. We just thought we would take a break from the chemotherapy and start again in a few weeks.” His death was a shock to us all.  
 
Following Bill’s death, Barbara learned the earned benefits were there to help her too. She said it provides her with health insurance (ChampVA ) as well as Commissary and PX privileges, educational benefits, and $1,250 a month. Barbara said, “I now stand in the vet’s shoes for things like VA loans, legal advice, employment services, etc. ” She added, “I did not know I had any benefits benefits aside from the Commissary and PX.” She explained, “It was only when I went to get an ID that the Veteran Service Officer I was working with helped me apply for dependents indemnity compensation (DIC). I guess I was under so much stress I didn’t even consider I would be eligible for benefits as well.”  
 
Because of this experience, Barbara wants to spend her time honoring her husband by sharing their story so others may learn from their experiences. Upon Bill’s death Barbara donated Bill’s camper to the VFW in her hometown of Ridgecrest, CA. She recently spoke before the VFW’s Board of Directors and was invited back to talk to a larger meeting this summer. She is willing and able to share her experience with Veterans groups and individual veterans or their spouses.  
 
Barbara’s new “mission” of spreading the word about veterans benefits is a labor of love. She said, “I want to honor my husband’s sacrifice by making something positive happen for other veterans.” She remembers the things Bill loved and embraced in his life including fast cars, trucks, mountains, target shooting, photography, even Roy Orbison. She said he also enjoyed being a husband, dad and grandfather. She said at one of my lowest points he advised me, “Stay strong and believe. That is my motto now.” Without skipping a beat Barbara added one more thing, “Oh yes, I read my list of things Bill loved to my sister-in-law and she said I had to add that Bill loved me. Yes, he loved me, adding, I miss him every single day.”  
 
If you would like to learn more about military service benefits earned, make an appointment to see a Veterans Service Officer. For one nearest you, Click here: http://www.veterans.nv.gov/page/veterans-service-officers