New No Parking Signs
Dear Editor: For myself, a person with a chronic mobility disability and discomfort while walking, I always take into consideration my choice of parking space based upon how many steps away from my goal my vehicle can be parked.
These new ‘‘no parking’’ signs on Lincoln Street between Cathedral Way and American Street further exacerbate my situation.
Gail Ferris, Sitka
Unintended Consequences
Dear Editor: One of the unintended consequences of the closing of home health will be fewer openings at the doctor. Even if there were only 30 people who received home health, this multiplies to less availability of doctors and other medical professionals.
We were receiving home health during a time of rapid change in my husband’s ALS. We were seeing a home health nurse one or two times a week, as well as a physical therapist. This translates to six less openings per week for other people because we would have needed to seek medical care in the doctor’s office.
This easily multiplies to 180 less slots a week for people to see a doctor, PT or OT, in a time where many medical people are leaving the profession because of burnout. I think that this should be very concerning to everyone in the community.
I would also say that dismantling a service before there is a replacement leads me to distrust the intentions of the people who made these decisions. These are not the actions of a reasoned decision, but rather a decision based on cost without understanding its consequences, many of which I do not touch on in this letter.
Receiving a diagnosis of a debilitating condition is hard enough. As the choices for care in Sitka become less, it increases the burden for caregivers and families. As a caregiver I can say that it is hard to be thrown into the middle of a sea of ignorance about what care is going to be needed. We chose to stay in Sitka because we thought we could get the care we needed. One of the services I relied on was my ability to have help in the form of home health when I was facing another new ongoing health care issue. This is another life line gone.
All of us are only one diagnosis’ or one accident away from needing help with caregiving from someone in our home. I do not believe that the only answer should be to institutionalize someone. We all want to live life in our own way. If that means staying in our own home, surrounded by our family, our community and especially by the medical community, then that decision should be supported.
Connie LaPerriere, Sitka
Thank You, Sitka
Dear Editor: Sitka, you never disappoint. Thank you, thank you, for giving my recently released book, ‘‘What Water Holds,’’ such a generous reception at last week’s reading. While these stories reflect my lens as a seasonal Sitkan, they are born of Southeast.
Personally delivering them to Lingit Aani – to you – was important to me, and a number of people made that possible. Deep appreciation to the following:
Margot O’Connell and the Sitka Public Library for event coordination and hosting.
Ashia Lane and Old Harbor Books for giving ‘‘What Water Holds’’ a home on their shelves, and Bobbi Jordan for selling copies at the reading.
Cathryn Klusmeier for, with minimal notice, agreeing to join me to make this reading a conversation.
The Sitka Sentinel and KCAW Raven Radio for their book review coverage and event promotion, including Shannon Haugland, Brooke Schafer, and the Library Show.
Lisa Teas Conaway for truly remarkable cover art: no book could’ve gone into the world more beautifully dressed.
Above all, my love and gratitude for everyone who came out on a rainy night to give ‘‘What Water Holds’’ such a warm welcome home – all of you who have lived your own books’ worth of stories. Thank you for holding space for this one.
Tele Aadsen, Sitka/Bow, Washington
