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Now, just 17 months later, Gomez can walk again, lives independently, and has his own apartment in a brand-new Veteran’s community in the Antelope Valley, Danny’s Home for Heroes. This

remarkable recovery was the result of hard work, persistence, and the CLC staff never giving up on him, he said.  “They are complete angels over there,” said Gomez. “I wasn’t the easiest guy

to work with when I got there because everything hurt. But they worked with me and worked with me. I can’t give them enough praise.” OVERCOMING HARDSHIP When Gomez joined the Navy in 1969,

he said his background as a musician led to a stint in the Drum and Bugle Corps. He also trained as a dental technician in the service, and when he was discharged in 1973, he started working

with dentists in the San Diego area. Life went on, and he said he got married and had two children. A divorce followed 14 years later. Things started changing in his life, he said, which

led to spending some time in prison. “I got myself there, nobody else to blame.”  After he got out, Gomez said he used the experience to get his life back on track and started playing drums

professionally in San Diego, opening for popular groups like the Ohio Players.  When his father, an Army Veteran who served in WWII, fell ill, Gomez dropped everything to take care of him.

“I wanted to be close to him. I would take him to his visits at West LA VA. We enjoyed spending time with each other until he passed away,” said Gomez.  After his father passed, life took a

turn for the worse. “I was losing hope,” he said. Over the next several years, he said he sustained multiple injuries that put him and in out of the hospital, including a broken back. When

he got sick again, a VA representative recognized that his health was failing, and he wasn’t able to properly care for himself. That’s when he was admitted to the CLC. EMBRACING AGE-FRIENDLY

CARE Most of the Veterans who live at the Sepulveda CLC are older, and Geriatric CLC Attending Physician Dr. Mai Pham said she is particularly passionate about providing what’s known as

“age-friendly care.” The CLC is an Age-Friendly Health System — Committed to Care Excellence, meaning they’ve received recognition for their dedication to caring for older Veterans like

Gomez. Pham said that this approach to care played a large role in his recovery. “It is so important because it brings together all of the elements that are required to improve the quality

of life for a Veteran,” she said. Age-friendly care is based on the 4Ms: * What Matters: Focusing on each Veteran’s unique goals and care preferences. * Medication: When medication is

necessary, using those that don’t interfere with the other 3Ms. * Mentation: Preventing, identifying, treating and managing dementia, depression, and delirium. * Mobility: Ensuring the

Veteran can move safely and do what matters to them. At his intake, when Pham asked Gomez what mattered to him, he said he wanted to live independently again in the Antelope Valley. “At the

time, with his condition, you would have said that was almost impossible,” she said. But knowing what Gomez wanted allowed his providers to work towards that goal, and ultimately help him

achieve it.  ‘HE WAS REALLY ANGRY’ As an Occupation Therapist at the CLC, Air Force Veteran Paul Hardy helps Veterans regain their ability to perform the activities of daily living, i.e.,

“everything you would do from the time you wake up until you go to bed.” Hardy was new to VA at the time – fulfilling a lifelong dream to work there – and Gomez was one of the first patients

on his schedule. “He was in bad shape,” Hardy said. Despite Hardy’s best efforts to engage him, Gomez didn’t show any interest and seemed frustrated and withdrawn.  But one day, Hardy said

he had some art kits on hand and thought to ask Gomez if he’d like one. Gomez lit up at the idea.  From there he started doing art regularly and struck up a passion for making Native

American dolls. “It had me getting my motor skills back together and kind of reviving who I am,” said Gomez.  Hardy said he and Gomez worked on many other activities together, including

practicing on the piano, bringing Gomez back to his years as a musician. And addressing the stiffness in his neck.  “The more he engaged in some of these activities he used to do before, a

light kind of came on,” said Hardy. “He started taking care of himself better, getting himself dressed. Step by step he was able to do more and more.” MEETING VETERANS WHERE THEY ARE There

were many teams working together to coordinate Gomez’s recovery, said Pham. The CLC dieticians, for example, explored what kind of foods he liked and made sure they were included in his

meals to help him gain weight. The CLC nurses worked round-the-clock to provide care and ensure his comfort. Physical therapy was another key component. CLC Physical Therapist Joey Huynh

said he worked closely with Gomez for more than a year.  When Gomez arrived, he could barely sit up. “He needed maximum assistance from me just to push up and get centered on the bed,” said

Huynh.  Together the two worked on an array of exercises over the course of 50 to 60 sessions – far more than Huynh would ever be able to provide in the private sector, he said.  He said the

first step was working on Gomez’s ankle flexibility, strengthening his legs and core. Once he was able to stand with a walker, his posture improved. His next milestone was taking a few

steps.  Once Gomez started walking, things really turned a corner, said Huynh. “He became really motivated, compliant, and did everything he could.” Gomez described his care team as “strict

when they had to be,” but “very warm and loving and caring of everybody.” “They stuck with me, and showed me some discipline, which I needed,” he said. “They worked really hard with me, like

angels do.” Despite obstacles including COVID-19 and later, shingles, Gomez said he and his care team pressed forward and never gave up.  ‘IT’S AMAZING’ Fast forward to his discharge, and

Gomez walked out of the CLC at 135 pounds. He said he’s healthy, has a vehicle, and loves living at Danny’s Home for Heroes.  Danny’s Home is one of many properties throughout greater Los

Angeles that houses Veterans through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program, which pairs subsidized rent vouchers with

on-site supportive services from VA.  “I have a beautiful apartment, it’s a state-of-the-art place,” Gomez said of his new home. “I’m really happy here.” Danny’s Home is holding a grand

opening ceremony in the coming weeks, and Gomez has been asked to be the keynote speaker.  The CLC team is delighted to see Gomez doing so well. From time to time he stops by to visit and

express his gratitude. “He really blossomed, he really changed,” said Hardy. “Now he’s out in the world, it’s amazing.”  Through the creativity, flexibility and compassion showed by the CLC

nurses, Huynh, and Hardy, as well as Pham's focus on what mattered most to him, the team was able to help him achieve an incredible outcome.  “They helped me see what mattered to me

more than what I saw what mattered to me,” he said. “I was in such a down place, I just felt like nothing was going to work out for me. They proved to me that things do work out.”