To the Editor:

 

“I will bless the Lord at all time, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Ps. 34:1

 

I am an inmate here at Hyde Correctional Institution, and for the past several months, I’ve been watching from time to time, the ongoing situation concerning the fate of Vidant Pungo Hospital in Belhaven. Well, besides the occasional conversation from a Christian volunteer who formally worked there as a respiratory therapist, my interest in the whole situation wasn’t’ much more than offering prayers for those who may lose their jobs … until I needed the services of that hospital and its caring and professional staff. One the week of March 7 through March 9, I was being treated for an extremely painful bout with kidney stones. It was only then that it became personal to me. How could anyone not understand the vital importance of competent emergency health care is beyond me. It’s quite obvious that money is the issue here. But as I looked upon and observed the pain and suffering in the faces of other patients and their worried families, it became painfully clear to me that there are just some things money cannot quantify. And that’s the need for competent emergency health care that’s accessible in a reasonable way to the poor and needy. I pray that common sense, decency and a sincere care and concern for humanity will win out in this situation. To all of those who are in the position of authority, make the right decision. So many innocent lives are dependent upon you all.

Sincerely,

Leon Val Finkley Jr.

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