Some Dispatches from Canada's 'National Sacrafice Areas'

[John]

Dear Friends,

 

When ever I lose heart and feel like giving up in the struggle for environmental justice, I re-read these four letters and it makes me stand up again and continue the battle. Never surrender! Grassy Narrows and Tl'azt'en are not the only 'National Sacrafice Areas' in our country. All the very best to you.

 

For Land and Life,

John H.W. Hummel

 

A Letter from a Tl'azt'en Chief from B.C. who's people lived close to a Mercury Mine. I have known many Tl'Azt'en people from the days when we opposed Alcan Aluminum Company's Kemano Completion Project.

 

Link: 

http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=758#p977

 

 

Three Letters from my Dear Friend Sherry Fobister at Grassy Narrows First Nation in Ontario. I have known Sherry since she was a very small girl. Ten Tonnes of Mercury were dumped into her river system in the 1970's by a Pulp Mill at Dryden, Ontario. Her people ate the fish in which that mercury bioaccumulated. That Mercury bioaccumulated in other friends at Grassy Narrows too. This is one result of that situation.

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> From: "Sherry Fobister"
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> <namesf...@hotmail.com>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> To: <jhwh...@shaw.ca>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sent: Friday, November 03, 2006 10:03 PM
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Subject: Hello John Update on my life
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> John,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I have read every email you have sent me, it's
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> been a breath of fresh air for me to set aside
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> what been happening in my life an read about
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> what's happening with the world.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I myself is in a delima, Not me I'm fine well
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I try to be. I set aside my problems to be
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> strong for my daughter Catherine.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I took Catherine to see the Mecury Doctor in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> October. I was overwhelmed of what they have
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> found about her condition. Catherine has a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> seizure disorder which i have already known,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> she takes medication and sees her doctor every
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> month. She has speech problems which she has
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> been going to speech therapy every monday
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> since she was 3 years old.which i have already
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> known, She has cognative problems with her
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> movements, and i have seen her have struggles
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> doing the simpliest things we do, for example
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> botton her shirt. My daughter always falls
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> asleep three times a day besides retiring for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the night because she said her head hurts.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> After her examination which i was told would
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> only be a half an hour, turned out that we
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> were there for 3 hours. The Mercury doctor
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> told me she had found Catherine to have many
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> signs of Mercury Contamination. She also look
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> at Catherine Ct scans and MRI's she had as an
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> infant, and told me she had a cyst growing in
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> her brain which is attached to her spine, and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> concluded it was a sign of Mercury which also
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> explains for the migraines she's been
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> complaining about having a sore head. She also
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> told me that an Operation is not a option
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> because the doctor do not want to touch that
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> area of the brain, therefore will try to find
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> a treatment plan for her such as radiation
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> treatment to shrink the cyst. I sat there for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> another 1/2 an hour so they can schedule other
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> specialist to see catherine. Still i sat there
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> in shocked, But little Catherine was there
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> playing like any other child over-whelmed with
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> joy playing all the toys that was in the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> doctor's office.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I still feel in shocked, My daughter is going
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to get the maxium benifits for Mecury
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> contamination and also the best medical
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> treatment available. I feel saden abouthe fact
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> she is sick, but one memory i have of her
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> gives me hope she's going to pull through.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> This past summer, during Track and field day
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> at school I went to observe the meet. I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> watched as Catherine competed in every event.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Like the running part she was slower than all
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the children and she fell down on the jumping
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> event and she didn't throw far enough. But the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Look in her eye she was very determined and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> sweating trying wt all her might at every
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> event. Every event she tried at the end she
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> got a a purple ribbon. At the end as the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> judges gave out awards for best athlete,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Catherine had a dissapoinment look in her face
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> because her name was never called up. Then the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> other children were showing off their awards,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and Catherine watched and observe the'r little
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> throphys, She then look at her pile of purple
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ribbons and fanned them out. She smiled and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> look up at me and said "Mom, Look I don't care
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> if i only got ribbons because i don't want a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> small naked doll (throphy) and as she fanned
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> out her purple ribbons, i looked at them they
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> all said "Participation" she said with pride "
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> At least mine is shinny and pretty and would
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> look nice on my wall. and the other kids will
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> have their naked shiny doll that breaks easy.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I laughed with Joy and I took Catherine by the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> hand and hugged her because i was proud of
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> her. We went Home and i treated her with her
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> favourite supper dish.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> This memory came into my mind as i left the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hospital that day. I thought to myself, I'm
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> not not going to let this problem bother me
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> because My daughter is a strong person, she's
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> smart at other things, like she can real in a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 5 pound fish by herself and she can sing
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Johnny Cash songs and she dances real well at
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> pow-wows and Ballet. and she's only 7 years
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> old. I know with this new information and the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> help she's going to have is a good thing. My
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> little girl is a strong person and i know
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> things will be Ok.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> i thought i would share this with you, Since I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> never send you any emails, But i just wanted
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to tell you how I was doing. Little Catherine
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and i I are happy and we are doing fine. Hope
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to hear from you soon. until next time Bye!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sherry
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> _________________________________________________________________
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Say hello to the next generation of Search.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Live Search - try it now.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.live.com/?mkt=en-ca
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

John,
 
Hello it's me Sherry. I just received bad news about my little boy Cashis. But anyways I'll tell you how it all began.
 
A few months ago I woke up in the middle of the night to find that Cashis my son was making wierd noises, it sounded like he was chattering but he was somewhat crying. I turned on the light to find him shaking vigourously on the bed he was pretty much looked wide awake but he wasn't responding to me. I immediatly got help for him, We called the hospital and they sent the Helicopter to pick us up. When we got to the hospital the doctor had to practically overdose him in order to stop his seizures (3x the regular dose). 5 days later he was released.
 
My Son was sent for additional testing in Winnipeg Health Science Center last month. I received his results today.............He has been tested positive for Adnormalities in his EEG which means it has been proven he has siezures. This is awful news for me for he is my second child to be diagnosed with a seizure disorder.
 
Right now I feel so overwhelmed with hurt and sadness, but I do feel relieved to know this right away so he could get treated before it gets worst.
 
Cashis is seems to be fine, he's a smart, strong ,active little boy. I know with my prior experiance dealing with little Catherine's sickness I could once agian be strong and think positive for my little boy Cashis.
 
I'll write back and keep you posted on his progress.
 
Sherry
 
P.S I think you met my son, He was only a week old when I brought him home from the hospital.   

---

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Hello John, I received your email about April
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and Betty and your questioned about the $25 a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> day is it enough for taking care of someone
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> living with Mercury?.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I thought about this for a long time..... and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> i thought about April. I know April and I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> know a few things about Betty. i usually Talk
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to April about our daughter's conditions and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> some of the things we encounter with caring
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> for them, such as medications our daughter's
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> take, Medical appoinments   just to name a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> few things. Basically April and I have
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> something in common when it comes to our
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> daughter's. We both have daughter's affected
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> by Mercury.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> My daughter Catherine received Mercury
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Compesation, but i don't receive her money
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> nor do I get paid for looking after her from
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the Mercury Board. Catherine's money is
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> locked in a trust fund with INAC and she'll
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> receive it when she turns 18. With that to my
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> relief i know she'll have some money to look
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> forward to when she gets older. I work at the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> band office as a Band Clerk and i do receive
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Disability payements for catherine's care on
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> her behalf from COMSOC. That's pretty much
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> how I'm able to care for Catherine. In the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> meantime I budget myself to the very last
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> cent to make sure I'm able to take my
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> daughter to all her scheduled appointments.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sometimes i have to boworow money from family
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> or from money stores just to have enough to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> travel. Yes it is stressful having to deal
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> with money problems but to me that's the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> least of my worries for i want the best care
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> for Catherine.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I was in Winnipeg in January for a week
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> because I had to take Catherine to see her
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> specialist appointments. It was a very
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> stressful time for me, for these appoinments
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> is about the cyst in Catherine's brain. I was
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> very worried for my daughter and what i was
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> going to find out about her condition.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The first day I was at the Health Science
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Centre we were scheduled to have 4
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> appoinments that day, we started very early
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> in the morning about 7:30am to 3:30pm in the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> evening. I had to coax Catherine to attend
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and cooperate with the doctor's when we were
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> there for she was very unsure what to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> expect.And plus i couldn't be with her while
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> her testing was being done i usually was told
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to leave the room. I felt bad i had to leave
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> her all the time and having to look away from
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> her while i walked away from the room. I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> basically didn't know what to do with my time
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> while i waited for the testing to end so
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> usually sat in the Lobby feeling sad and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> wondering how catherine's was holding up.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> When i would return Catherine was angry with
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> me cause she didn't like me leaving her with
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> strangers. She was also tired and had a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> headache but I had to keep her awake because
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> our day wasn't done yet. She some Lab testing
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to do, Catherine's is not fond with needles
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> like anyother child, agian i had to coax her
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> like bribe her to cooperate, I felt really
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> stupid and ashamed of myself for doing that
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the her but these tests needed to be done.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> She cried through the whole procedure and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> after it was done she was even more angry
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> with me for agian i didn't warn her what she
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> was to expect. Our next appoinments were the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> same way and Catherine was getting more and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> more angry with me. Basically her whole
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> experiance at Health Science Centre was
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> tramatizing to her and she doesn't want to go
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> there agian. But unfortunley we have return
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> in May agian.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Back to the question about if $25 a day to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> look after a child who is affected with
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mercury is enough? My answer is NO. i don't
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> feel there can be a set limit of money what
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> you have to go through all the stress and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> worry of having to care fora child who has to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> live with this condition. Basically i can be
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> showered with all the money in the world but
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> it wouldn't do me any good for my child's
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> condition could never be reversed. I was told
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> that my daughter was born with her condition
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> therefore i passed it on the her. My Late
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Grandmother Magaret Land had Mercury problems
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> which in return she passed it onto my father
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> and it passed to me. Basically My daughter
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> had no chance of not being affected.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> With all this money you recieve from the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Mercury board cannot buy you relief from the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> pain it causes.all the sleepless nights
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> worrying about your child, having to rush to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the hospital to get your child to the doctor,
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> having to spend time in the hospital with
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> your child and to comfort them while they are
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> sick. I would give all the money i have to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> pay to give releif to my daughter's headaches
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> or even for me to have an extra hour to sleep
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to so i could care for her.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Money is not important to me, if i recieve it
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> or not. $ value is not enough these days. The
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> set amount that the government gives out for
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> treaty or compensation is not much today as
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> it was 20 years ago. I receive $5 a year from
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the goverment for my treaty day I'm lucky to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> even to find something that cost $5 these
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> days everything is so expensive. And when
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Catherine get her money when she older I
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> wonder how much a vehical would cost her so
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> she can travel to her medical treatments.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> What I would like to see is the goverment
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> doing is reviewing at the compensation
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> agreements and making adjustments to the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> amounts because the cost of living and gas
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> prices are rising everyday.And the Mercury
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> problem is not getting any better nor it
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> looks like it's no end to it either. I would
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> also like them to pay all the medical bills
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to have more people tested and even the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> children, so they can see how bad the problem
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> really is.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I would also like to add, April's daughter
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Betty condition is far worse than
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Catherine's. I know the April must have dealt
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> with more then I have. But we are both
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> mother's and we love our daughter's just the
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> same. There's no end nor hope that our
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> daughter condition could be reversed. But
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> having my daughter with me everyday is a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> blessing and i cherish eachday with her. And
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> i'm grateful of the good news i revieved from
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the HSC about catherine's cyst, the good news
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> is that it's not cancerious, thank god!, but
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> the bad news is that they can't do nothing
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> about removing it, basically she's going to
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> be monitored yearly and if it starts causing
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> problems in the future they will do something
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> about it then. In the meantime Catherine and
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I are doing fine, and Catherine is growing up
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> to be a big beutiful girl. unitl next time
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> later!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Your friend Sherry