Medical care was top notch

Medical care was top notch

Recently our daughter was hospitalized for an acute condition of blood clotting in both her lungs and legs that created a potential critical situation requiring evaluation and procedural care. Fortunately, with many prayers and the exemplary performance of the staff at Forum Health Center, a crisis was averted and the sun is shining once again for our daughter, her husband and their infant son.

The competency, compassion and care of Dr. Michael Chiccillo, head of vascular surgery at Forum and the entire Forum staff — in particular the Surgical Intensive Care employees — provided a degree of care that we feel could not have been any more responsive or effective. Over the past few years there has been a great deal of controversy involving the sale and ownership of Forum Health Care, but we are proud to say that the care provided to our daughter has been of the highest quality expected and the staff at Forum remained focused on the primary responsibility of providing excellent services for those in need.

The Mahoning Valley can be very proud of the great assets available to our citizens and we need to support our excellent medical staff and facilities.

Charles & Miriam Holden, Austintown

A couple starts out right

We hear a lot of negative comments about the young people in our Valley. We had the pleasure of attending Brian and Heather Landgravers’ wedding reception Dec.11. Instead of the traditional bridal dance, this young couple decided to have the bridal party go around and collect for the Toys for Tots program for needy children. They collected over $450.

I applaud this young couple for their unselfish and good deed during this holiday season. I wish them many years of merry Christmases together.

Andy Pappagallo Sr., Mineral Ridge

Unsung heroes walk among us

The word “hero” has been and continues to be overused and in some cases misused. One definition of the word is “an illustrious warrior.” This definition describes Laurie Paul, an academic adviser at Youngstown State University.

I am 65 years of age and my wife is 53 years of age. We both are full-time students at YSU. We started in January 2008. Mrs. Paul was the adviser we were assigned. This we would find to be a great blessing for us. Mrs. Paul has gone beyond the call of duty to help schedule classes for my wife that would make it easier for her to travel the campus. My wife, Darlene, would rather try to walk than be wheeled around. In June 2009, Darlene had her right knee replaced, and in May 2010 she had her left knee replaced. Mrs. Paul, as usual, helped with a schedule to make walking less painful for Darlene.

Darlene had “test anxiety” and Mrs. Paul suggested to her where on campus she could get help. There have been times that I seriously was thinking of calling it a day as far as college. I then drop by to see Mrs. Paul and she always encourages me and also my wife to keep trying.

Students at YSU are not just numbers but real human beings who appreciate help and guidance when needed. Mrs. Paul displays genuine concern for the educational as well as personal welfare for my wife and myself and for this we will be forever grateful.

Harold I. Brown, Youngstown

Community support appreciated

I sit, trying to figure out how I could thank my family and this wonderful community for easing the burden that my family and I face in the coming months as I battle breast cancer.

Whether you let us use your facility for our fund-raising event, or whether you were the person who spent hours on the phone and walking around town for donations, or you were the person who sold tickets, donated baskets, food, linens, tents or other items, I thank you.

Please know that while I wasn’t feeling the greatest, it did not go unnoticed how hard everyone worked that evening. Whether you were standing all evening selling tickets for raffles and other items or if you were the person who placed a beautiful pink bracelet on my wrist or a healing token in my pocket, I thank you. If you came from out of town to spend the evening with me — or if you were unable to attend and made a donation — I thank you. If you sent prayers and cards and flowers to my house, I thank you.

My only regret is that I was not able to personally speak to each person who came out to support me, but if you were anywhere near this event you couldn’t help but be proud to see how this community comes together to help someone in need. To my family, I love you all and appreciate each and every one of you more than you will ever know. I will win this fight.

Julie Wilson Charles, Girard