Readers' views
Medical wonder
Greetings, my name is Seniya Diane Fleming. I came here five months ago but spent most of my life in the hospital. April 21, I was born with multiple abnormalities and needed an emergency airway. Not only was I a surprise to my mom and dad but also I was a "mystery" to all the doctors. According to them, I am the only known such case in the world. I was only home for a month before my triple bypass heart surgery Wednesday, Sept. 24. The doctors said I made a remarkable recovery because I am home already! I'll be back at Johns Hopkins soon for several other surgeries and studies on my fingers, jaw, ears, elbows and possibly my left kidney (yeah, I'm a tough girl).
I wanted to take the time to thank the many people who have helped my family while I was gone. Thank you for giving my mom rides all the way to Baltimore to visit me, it made my days so much better knowing she was there. Thank you to all the people who gave her gas money to get there or catch a ride. Cornerstone Assembly of God, thank you so very much for praying over me when I came home, and all the cards and well wishes. Whitehall Elementary School, thank you so very much for making life easier for my dad while my mom was at the hospital with me. The Safeway gift card and dinners helped so much. Mrs. Baltimore, thank you for preparing those delicious meals and dessert every day for my family. Mrs. Fox, thank you for watching my brothers after school and checking their homework while I was having surgery. I know they can be a handful.
Thank you all for all the cards, drawings, prayers and love you have shown my family and me and checking on my brothers. I am so very grateful to be a part of such a caring community. I can't wait to get better and meet you all. I have a wonderful story to share that I hope will encourage and inspire many.
Once again, thank you, Bowie, for being our extended family. My family is so grateful for all you have done and it is most appreciated. I couldn't think of any better way to say thank you.
SENIYA FLEMING
Bowie
Unpaid vacation
The powers that be, in Upper Marlboro, have decided that to make up for a deficit in their budget, all employees of Prince George's County should take unpaid vacation. I would like to propose a better alternative. Start at the top with the county executive, include the County Council and all the other politicians and political appointees and put them on unpaid leave for as long as it takes to make up the deficit, even a year or two if needed. This would serve several goals, it would retire the deficit, the safety and welfare of the county citizens would not be put at risk because police or firemen were on leave, county employees would not be penalized for something they were not responsible for, the county government politicians would be more realistic in their future budgeting and possibly the greatest benefit of all, there would be no one in Upper Marlboro for the duration of the layoff doing anything to cause any more grief or discontent to the citizens.
DAVE WARNICK
Bowie
Teens thanked
We are so grateful to the Mt. Oak Ministry Teens and their adult supervisors who swarmed over our yard and worked so hard to correct the many problems. We could never have done it ourselves. When they finished, there were many bags of yard and other waste at the curb, and the highly efficient city crews picked up all of it.
As this country goes through some of its toughest times, it is comforting to those of us of the World War II generation to know that the generations that follow have such wonderful people who will continue to keep this city and this country great.
CONNIE YOUNG
Bowie
Help needed
A longtime Bowie resident is in dire need of financial assistance from our community. A group of friends and church colleagues are organizing a fund raiser in her behalf and we are asking for support.
Dee Dee Sisson lost her husband, Fred, to pancreatic cancer two-and-a-half years ago. During Fred's final days, Dee Dee was diagnosed with an aggressive type of leukemia. Dee Dee has three daughters, two of them in college and the oldest about to be married. Dee Dee has been in and out of the hospital since her diagnosis, receiving chemotherapy, radiation and a stem cell transplant. It has recently been discovered that their home has serious termite damage, requiring significant demolition and rebuilding. It has cost over $50,000 to remove and repair the termite damage. We have a goal of raising at least $10,000.
The fund raiser will be held Saturday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Matthew's United Methodist Church. This is USA magazine's "Make a Difference Day" and we would like to make a huge difference in the lives of Dee Dee Sisson and her family. The fund-raising event will include creating greeting cards, a kids' card-making corner, silent auction, door prizes, lunch sale, bake sale, costume jewelry sale and the opportunity for community members to make monetary contributions. Participants may attend for any length of time between 9 and 1.
All community members are invited to attend. Call 301-805-6754 for phone registrations and for information.
Monetary donations may be mailed to: Dee Dee Sisson Fund raiser, 13310 Overbrook Lane, Bowie, MD, 20715. Please make checks payable to: St. Matthew's UMC, fund 207 on the memo line.
LORI KRONSER
Bowie
Supportive citizens
I have lived in Bowie 44 years. I want all the citizens of Bowie to know what a great town this is. I have to use a cane when walking. There is always someone kind enough to open doors or assist me in carrying packages.
Recently my husband Robert was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He needed transportation to Johns Hopkins once and sometimes three times a week. The response from the following was overwhelming: David and Maxine Russell, John and Cindy Lovell, Libby and Faris Kahwajy, Mary Nusser, Jeanette Harris, Jeanne Binney and Jonathan Miller (formerly of Bowie, who now lives in Rockville).
The love and support from all my colleagues of the Music Teachers' Association of Bowie, the BRAVA board, my neighbors and my students, their parents and grandparents is overwhelming.
How very fortunate I am to live in such a caring, supportive community.
I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to all these wonderful, caring people.
SYLMA GOTTLIEB
Bowie
Postal problems
My husband and I thank Bob Thompson, Cindy Freland and Alison Ning for their thoughtful letters. We also had seven of eight business checks, mailed from the Bowie Post Office front drop box, Aug. 4 not reach their destination. We reported the problem to a Bowie postal supervisor on Aug. 22, who said they received a few other reports of lost mail and were investigating locally and at the Southern Maryland facility. I spoke with the postal inspector, after speaking with Mr. Thompson, who recommended that we and others report incidents on the USPS Web site so that specific data, such as time and date, can be documented. We also want to thank Jeff Fluharty, Bowie branch manager for Chevy Chase Bank, for his efforts and recommendation that we close our bank account and open another account, to prevent further fraud. We concur with Mr. Thompson that we all need to help the U.S. Postal Service to end these unconscionable crimes.
CAROL & RONALD BERG
Bowie
Episcopal Schools Week
The week of Oct. 5 marks the celebration of Episcopal Schools Week. There are more than 1,000 Episcopal schools in the United States, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the Pacific Basin. Over 800 parishes and cathedrals in the Episcopal church have a school as part of their ministry. Together, we serve an increasingly inclusive school population, with significant socio-economic, racial, cultural and religious diversity. This year's theme, Last of All and Servant of All, is drawn from Mark 9:35.
This gospel charge reminds us that as educators we are helping lay the foundation upon which our young students can shine and grow to serve God's vision. We are committed to teaching our students about humility, sacrifice, and service to one another. As we recognize the achievements and contributions of Episcopal schools, we express our deepest thanks to the Bowie community for its constant support of Holy Trinity and all our area schools as we work together to provide environments that nurture the special gifts of each child entrusted to our care.
MARCY E. CATHEY
Head of School
Holy Trinity Episcopal
Day School
Preparedness praise
Saturday, Sept. 27, I had the opportunity to attend the Get Prepared for Emergencies and Disasters event at St. Matthew's United Methodist Church. This event turned out to be one of the best and most informative events I have ever attended. Thanks to Dan Blades for all his hard work in preparing and presenting this workshop. And thanks to St. Matthew's for hosting this event and for all the work they have done in initiating and supporting a disaster response team to travel wherever needed.
The event started at 9 a.m. with an introduction to St. Matthew's Disaster Response Program by Dan Blades. If you are not familiar with this program, you should be. What a wonderful job this program is doing - traveling to Louisiana, West Virginia and many other states that are in need of help after an emergency/disaster. A greeting by Mayor Robinson, a speech by the keynote speaker, Mr. Herron, director of Homeland Security for Prince George's County, and a talk by the American Red Cross on "Preparing for an Emergency" followed his talk. They were all quite informative.
In the afternoon, participants broke into groups of their choice to hear talks on different topics. I chose Bowie Emergency Response, Pet Survival Preparedness and Senior Safety. Some other topics to choose from were Home Gas and Electric Safety, Insurance Preparedness, and Using Weather Information. There were 10 seminars to choose from and all were most informative and helpful.
Bowie Emergency Response seminar reminded everyone to sign up for Bowie Alert to keep informed of all situations in the area that might affect Bowie residents. This is a free service and messages can be sent via e-mail or text messaged. At the Pet Survival Preparedness seminar, representatives distributed a list of motels/hotels that are pet-friendly and also reminded pet owners to have an emergency kit for pets. The Senior Safety seminar was most helpful. I was not aware of the Project ID program in the county whereby seniors with handicaps/disabilities can register with the county to be listed as needing help in times of emergencies.
Saturday turned out to be a learning experience for me. I came away with an enthusiasm to share the knowledge that I learned. I hope if St. Matthew's puts on another program of this kind that everyone in the community will fill the fellowship hall to attend. It is an event that no one should miss.
JANELLE DIETRICH
Bowie
Chuckled at Levi
I read with a chuckle the column written by our distinguished representative to the Maryland Legislature. In the column Rep. Gerron Levi stated the state of Maryland was the wealthiest state in the Union. I suppose so, Rep. Levi, since you, the governor and the rest of the Democrats raised our taxes in the midnight raid on the taxpayers' pocketbook. When you all convened at the governor's request, not one of you asked the governor for a budget. All of you just went along with the governor's requests and did not ask any questions.
What a way to run a government. It is my sincere prayer one day the taxpayers in the state will wake up and throw the lot of you out of office. Already the governor is looking for new funds to support programs we really don't need. The current legislature spends like drunken sailors. Wake up fellow Marylanders and let's send the legislature a message this November.
WALTER HOGUE
Bowie
