in Herron’s eye put a halt on her involvement, requiring “In January, we got a notice from the county that if emergency surgery to repair a detached retina. Though we didn’t pay our back taxes by March 1, the house was the surgery was successful in saving her vision, the going to be confiscated and sold,” said Herron. “We anesthesia caused painful burns to her mouth, tongue were having a rough time. I tried to pick up as much and esophagus, making it difficult to eat or drink. After work as I could, but when I got sick there was no way.” several weeks, Herron was so badly dehydrated that As soon as the members of the chapter caught wind, her kidneys began to fail. Worse still, routine follow-up they mobilized an effort to keep Herron in her house. appointments led to another devastating diagnosis. “When it got to the point where she told me she “I found out that I had multiple myeloma, which is might lose her house, that’s when I made a phone an undetermined cancer and it’s in the bone,” Herron call to Gary Busch and I told him about it,” said Zielke. said. “I’m now in the process of getting kidney dialysis as “He said he’d call a special chapter meeting, vote on well as chemotherapy.” it and get it taken care of.” For Herron, spending “Our DAV mission is nearly every weekday in to help veterans and their “ There was, in the back the hospital undergoing families, and that’s what we of my mind, the question … treatment, though do,” said Busch. “There was was there gonna be a physically draining, never a moment of hesitation.” isn’t the hardest part— “We’re a family,” said problem with me it’s the inability to stay current Chapter Adjutant transitioning and the Ricky Sowders, who described chapter accepting me. feeling “heartbroken” by the news of Herron’s diagnosis. But there was “I treat her as a sister, I love none of that. her as a sister, and I’d do I came here anything I could to help her.” Though Herron’s com-and it was promised immune system just like I has kept her from spending time at the chapter, she had belonged.” an emotional reunion with a —Sharon Herron, room full of friends in March. Vietnam veteran “It’s a chance you’ve got to take,” she said. “They mean Sharon Herron looks at photos taken during service in that much to me, that I want Vietnam. She transitioned from male to female in 2005. to be here. It bothers me a lot that I can’t be here and can’t be around them.” As for the support she’s received from her fellow involved with those she’s closest to. veterans, Herron said it’s simply what veterans do— “I love the guys; they’re like family to me,” she said. creating a community of brothers and sisters that “This is like home. And when you can’t go home it hurts.” connects across social identifiers. Just as things seemed like they couldn’t get much “When someone was down and out like we were, worse, life dealt Herron and her spouse, Bobbie, yet they all cared, and that made all the difference to me,” another blow. National Service Office Supervisor Jason said Herron. Zielke was able to help Herron get her VA disability claim “I think it has a lot to do with how each veteran has for cancer approved within a matter of days, but the suffered over the years. We’re all just looking for a place financial strain had also put Herron’s home in jeopardy. to fit in.” ■ 12 DAV MAGAZINE | MAY/JUNE 2019 DAV.ORG