Letters to the editor Sept. 23

Dear Flathead Valley

Tonight I weep for you, with you. We see you. We hear you. We are here to fight for you.

I’ve been where you are. Lost. Withdrawn. Scared. I can’t pretend I know each and every one of your stories, but I’ve been in your shoes.

Suicidal thoughts plagued me for most of my young adult life. But I fought through, sought help, became the me I wanted to be. I’m glad I chose to live because I’d of missed out on some truly remarkable gifts.

There are no words to comfort you in these trying times but know you will never fight this battle alone. We’re here. We’re in your corner. We’re your parents, teachers, counselors. We’re your team and we want to help. Please reach out and asks for help if you’re struggling. Call a friend, call the suicide prevention hotline. Just chose to live.

Life is such a beautiful gift. And you’ll regret all the things you’ll miss if you leave. So please stay. You are not a burden, the world is a better place with you in it.

— Tessa AuClaire, Kalispell

Immeasurable harm

I understand there are medical and religious reasons for not taking the Covid-19 vaccine. For those that do not fall into these categories and are still not vaccinated, I urge you to consider our story.

On the morning of July 27, I took my husband to the emergency room at a local hospital with a life-threatening (and ultimately terminal) condition. Because of the resurgence of Covid, the hospital was extremely overcrowded. It was necessary for us to wait in a curtained cubicle in the emergency room until the late afternoon when a bed became available in a hospital ward.

By its very nature, the emergency room is noisy and chaotic. Can you imagine making life and death decisions, or coming to the realization that you are going to die (or going to lose your spouse) in such chaos? My husband’s condition was so dire that we had a very short timeframe when we could still communicate with each other, and that time was lost.

I do not fault hospital staff at all for this situation; the hospital was unnecessarily bursting at the seams with patients. I do fault the people who decided against or failed to get their Covid vaccines. These individuals filled the hospital rooms that should have been available for other sick, wounded and dying patients.

Please consider that, in choosing not to be vaccinated, you may inflict immeasurable harm on others.

— Denise Vernon, Kalispell

Nurses union

I was pleased to read of Logan Health’s agreement to ratify a new contract with SEIU Healthcare 1199NW in Kalispell. Perhaps, we may all now have more confidence in the Logan Health system in the Flathead Valley.

At this time where adequate health care is especially important, it is imperative that our health care workers are well represented and cared for. Thank you to the members of SEIU Healthcare 1199NW for sticking to your beliefs. I wish you all the best going forward!

— Skeeter Johnston, Whitefish