We will be forever grateful
To the editor:
When accidents happen life can sometimes spin out of control. As hard as we try, we cannot always calm the chaos on our own. We are so humbled and grateful for the outpouring of support so many people have shown us since Chris’ accident.
We would like to thank Chief Naldo Gagnon and all the sergeants, officers, and staff members of the PIPD for their limitless acts of generosity and continued support. We would also like to thank the staff of Crown Ambulance, the PIFD, the faculty, staff, and students of SAD 1, the members of the Key Club, the 13th BLETP, and the staff at TAMC and EMMC.
To all of our friends and family, we hope to have the opportunity to thank each and every one of you for all of your kindness, concern and prayers. You have eased the burden we have been carrying and for that we will be forever grateful.
and Mackenzie Hayes
Mapleton
I would like to give a very personal thank you to Dr. Hank Ford and his staff at Northern Maine Oral & Facial Surgery, PA for their compassion and love during the most difficult trial of my life. I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue in February, 2009. The surgery ended up with the removal of two-thirds of my tongue and a neck resection to remove lymph nodes, tissue, etc.
The word cancer is not a word anyone wants to hear but Dr. Ford is a straight shooter, tells you like it is, and doesn’t leave anything out. His encouraging words spoke of life and a positive attitude. He and his staff hugged and comforted me and they didn’t rush out of the room to see the next patient. It was more important to spend that extra time with me. From the moment of diagnosis, Dr. Ford and his staff treated me not just medically but also from the heart with such love, kindness and compassion that words cannot express my gratitude.
So if you have been sitting in Dr. Ford’s waiting room and he’s late in seeing you, keep in mind the patient he and his staff are with might have just got the same devastating news I did.
Because of their awesome care, I decided to have the surgery done locally and be able to be home to recover. To some this may not be a big deal but to me it was the only option. God truly answers prayer. This was the second cancer surgery for me. The first time, I was diagnosed with malignant melanoma and was nine months pregnant with my daughter Ashley. When I got the news from the doctor, there was no compassion, no hugs, no comforting, no tissues, no staff. A compassionate doctor and staff make a big difference in patient treatment. I know it did for me.
It has been a long road but each day gets better and better. I am once again a cancer survivor. I thank God for putting Dr. Ford and his staff in my path and pray God’s blessing every day on each one of them. I want Aroostook County to know that you have a champion in medicine in Dr. Hank Ford.
Fort Fairfield
