The Editor:
I generally enjoy the newspaper. I just don’t get it sometimes, though. The latest issue has a half page photo on the cover, a headline: “Big turn-out ...” The caption below tells the date of the event and that it was run at different distances. Nowhere else in the issue is any more information. Who won? How many participants? How was the weather? Who sponsored it?
You often push large photos and leave us wondering as to the story behind the photo. Journalism is who, what, where, when, how and why. All you give us is a huge photo and you leave out the story. Reduce the picture size and please tell us something.
John Kwiecinski
Blaine
The Editor:
What a pleasure to read in the April 10 issue of the Lynden Tribune about Ross Black and his successful business. He figured out, with maturity, that business is not about self-centered interests and getting rich, but an opportunity to serve. He grew to understand that going through difficult circumstances makes it hard to focus on loved ones and the things that matter most.
The same day, the Seattle Times reported about Pete Buttigieg, the presidential candidate who reclaims faith and values in his campaign. What kind of candidate unabashedly talks about Jesus’ message of compassion and faith, addressing what scripture says about protecting the stranger, the prisoner, the poor and disenfranchised? He feels that it is his obligation to be “useful to others, and serve,” just as Ross Black discovered.
The Northern Light carried a letter of thanks from a couple who had a flat tire. When the husband, tugging on a lug nut fell backwards, knocking himself out, a stranger called 911 and waited until the paramedics arrived. The gas station attendant gave permission to leave the car, another stranger came and changed the tire.
Three reports of positive expressions of humanity in one day’s reading! Perhaps there is hope that our nation can come together in tending to something besides self-interest, power, money and fear of “others.”
Donna Starr
Blaine
The Editor:
In 2011, my husband’s cardiologist reported, “Good news, Bill, PeaceHealth has hired a palliative care specialist.” The downside was the services were in-patient only. To reap the benefits required hospitalization.
Bill had decided to forego all further advanced medical interventions for his incurable congenital-induced heart disease. He received “one-man” palliative care from his cardiologist for years, which kept him out of the hospital. As his caregiver, my time was limited to advocate to increase out-patient palliative care. When he died in 2013, I committed my time and efforts to raise awareness about this urgent need, coupled with advance care planning (ACP).
In 2019, surrounding National Healthcare Decisions Day, April 16, many activities have been organized throughout the month. We are fortunate that WWU’s Palliative Care Institute, Whatcom Alliance for Health Advancement, Health Ministries Network and countless other organizations and individuals support ACP.
To sustain the momentum on ACP and increase access to out-patient palliative care, it is time for healthcare systems to expand the reach of palliative care professional expertise outside of end-of-life care. The basic skills required to deliver a palliative approach must be provided for all staff in healthcare settings for people with chronic illnesses. Will the small cadre of trained palliative care specialists already in practice spend more of their time teaching and mentoring? There is still resistance to upstream palliative care by some clinicians – and many employers.
We need consistent, clear information given the demographics we face and the widely acknowledged stresses on public funding of healthcare. The time is here for a substantial shift in the way healthcare is delivered. It would be irresponsible not to change – the sooner, the better!
Micki Jackson
Bellingham
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