Ms

March 26, 2012
Dear Editor:
I feel I must speak for a good person who cannot speak for himself.
You see, just yesterday we cast our friend’s ashes into the bay – the bay he loved dearly. We mixed his ashes with those of his little son’s who died at 7 years of age while undergoing a heart transplant several years ago.
It is a tale of what I call “slipping through the cracks”, being a victim of a society that doesn’t seem to care about those of us who, for some reason or another, really needs real help perhaps for the first time in our life. Please don’t confuse my friend with the vast majority who firmly believe the world owes them a living. He worked, paid taxes etc., for many of the 45 years of his life, became ill and was unable to make a living, lost just about everything and looked into getting help as a last resort here in Cape May County where he resided for most of his lifetime. If you have ever had to resort to this – if you ever had to ask for medical or financial help in our area you might have an idea of what this is like for some people. I hope it never happens to you – but like my friend, it most surely could.
While he didn’t have a clue as to how to go about getting the help he desperately needed, he did receive some help, like food stamps and a place to live which wasn’t much better than being a vagrant in his case. Thank God for the “mild” winter we just had because the room he was assigned had no heat for the better part of it.
My friend’s health deteriorated over the winter. He sought medical help and when you are sick as he was everything is a great effort. His friends helped in whatever way they could, when they could. He was liked by everyone who knew him. I have never heard of even one person say a negative word about him.
He was hospitalized for several short periods and was seen, also, by those doctors who are on the County’s list for the people who have no insurance. These doctors are undoubtedly overworked and underpaid so it is understandable that they can’t give their patients the time each needs to address everyone’s health problems. The last hope for him was when he was informed that he would be seen at Our Lady of Lourdes. He was given an appointment here, made the trip in his painful and weak condition only to be informed there that they had no paperwork on his being treated at their facility and sent him home. It wasn’t long after that disappointment that our 45 year old friend expired in his room – alone.
Let’s pray he is now happy, healthy and content and with his adored son – both with their favorite fishing pole in hand, And the sunsets that my friend loved so much sits eternally and majestically on his horizon for always. Rest in Peace, Gary K.Helen Lyon
21 Lehigh Avenue
Del Haven, NJ 08251
609 886 3187