Cotton office response leaves veteran ‘at a loss’

I’m writing on behalf of my husband, Richard A. Cerasale, and as his fiduciary. Richard is a 100 percent permanently disabled combat veteran. He served 30 years in the Marine Corps and was highly respected in the field.

Richard is now 72 years old and I’m 74. Both of us have back and leg problems. One of Richard’s main problems is PTSD as well as a tumor in his head. Due to the PTSD, he often goes upstairs in our home to be alone. He has fallen down the stairs several times. I am concerned he’s going to be hurt badly. His Veterans Administration and civilian doctors both think he should have a stair lift. However, the VA hospital in Fayetteville declined the prescription from his doctor at the VA. We then started to look for assistance in obtaining the chair lift and turned to our senator, Tom Cotton. We were never able to talk to him personally, but were referred to his office in El Dorado.

When we reached that office, Richard talked to a woman who was impatient with my husband, which in turn riled his PTSD. The woman evidently had never dealt with a PTSD veteran. She hung up on him and called the Rogers police. They told us she had called and was concerned for my safety, which was never brought up during their conversation. I have been married to Richard for 47 years and have never been in any danger from him. The next thing we know, we received a letter from Sen. Cotton’s office threatening to report us to the Capitol Police if we did not “cease and desist.”

I must admit I was surprised as I thought being a veteran himself, he would be more in support of the veterans.

I am now at a loss as to who to turn to for help for this man who gave so much for his country.

LINDA J. CERASALE Rogers