Since 2021, Zeel has been providing medical massage therapy as a fully covered benefit to Veterans with VHA health benefits, thanks to our membership in the VA Community Care Network. To date, Zeel has delivered over 100,000 medical massages to Veterans across the U.S.—and counting every day.
This program is powered by the extraordinary massage therapists providing to Veterans, many of whom have never had a massage before and are experiencing a reprieve from pain, and a return to normal life, they never could have imagined. Many of these these therapists are Veterans themselves, like licensed massage therapist Traci Stewart, a former Marine in Jacksonville, FL, who has treated dozens of Veterans since joining the Zeel Provider Network in February of 2024.
Zeel Co-Founder Alison Harmelin spoke with Traci to find out what it’s like to contribute to this program as a Veteran herself.
Alison Harmelin: First and foremost, thank you for your service. Can you tell me about your time in the military?
Traci Stewart, LMT: I was in the Marine Corps from November of 1984 to December of 1991. Four of those years were served at Camp Lejeune. I held primarily administrative roles, sometimes working at a very high level alongside the Colonels. The camaraderie is unlike any other. You learn discipline and patience. The military teaches you to have pride in what you do—to keep moving forward and to never, ever give up.
AH: What initially inspired you to enlist?
TS: I just wanted to make a difference, and I do feel like I made a difference.
AH: What later inspired you to change career paths and become a massage therapist?
TS: I enjoy helping people and had gone to school for nursing, but I didn’t do so well in math. I still wanted to help people! I’ve just always liked doting on people. I fell in love with the idea of being able to help people to feel better.
AH: Tell me about the full-circle moment last year when you started treating Veterans in pain, through Zeel?
TS: It was actually another Veteran who told me about Zeel, and I connected well with them. I am now treating up to fifteen Veterans a week. My patients definitely say that after treatment they feel better—not only physically, but psychologically. From one Veteran to another; we can understand one another. We speak the same language. They have a safe place with me. We all have shared experiences.
AH: Is there one case that stands out to you?
TS: There is one patient who I’ve actually known for twenty years. He is actually the one who introduced me to Zeel. He has ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease) and truly looks forward to coming in for his treatment. After the massage he’s a little more stable in his gate and not as stiff, and he doesn’t have as many spasms.
AH: Tell me what it means to be a Veteran helping other Veterans.
TS: We shall always be there for one another. That’s “Semper Fi.” It means always faithful. We stand on that. We stand on that forever.
AH: Traci, thank you. That really says it all.
Learn more about Zeel’s work treating Veterans—and the broad successes we’re seeing!—in Massage Magazine, and watch one VA patient’s extraordinary personal testimonial. Happy Veteran’s Day 2024 to all who have served!