Community should support caring health professional

In 1994, I was a photojournalist working in Kalispell when I was called to a story: A health clinic had been firebombed.

Coincidentally, I had been in the medical office days before with an ear infection.

When I arrived with my camera, Susan Cahill was standing in front of the smoldering ruins.

She offered me a hug, and asked: “Are you feeling better?”

That is a perfect illustration of Susan Cahill’s caring nature. Her entire life’s work was literally up in flames, but her first thought upon seeing me was the health of her patient.

Twenty years later, I still see Susan for health care. Not long ago, she stopped by my house late at night to deliver medicine that I needed. How many doctors do that? She nearly always spends an hour with me during annual exams, patiently asking questions about my life and family.

So I am heartbroken and outraged by the destruction to All Families Healthcare and the violence directed at Susan. This is not only an attack on Susan, but also on me, her patients and our community.

Susan is respectful of people with differing views. That is why this attack is so heinous and heartbreaking. Susan says she has lost trust in our community. And that is tragic. Many people, like me, have trusted Susan with our health care and come to care deeply for her.

We in Northwest Montana are a community of people with varied beliefs and perspectives, and I think we generally respect our neighbors’ differences and engage in civil conversations. This attack was designed to terrorize and intimidate good people and violates our community values.

Please join me in support of All Families Healthcare and against such acts of violence in our community.

Nichols is a resident of Kalispell