First look left lasting impression

7/21/2009

My compliments go to The Blade for the fine coverage you gave the very unfortunate things that happened to Bob Brundage.

The fact that he died at the hands of a 15-year-old who said he has no reason for the attack on Bob sickens me beyond comprehension.

I knew Bob casually, as he attended many meetings of the Greater Toledo Housing Coalition and I had a few chances to speak to him. I remember my wife and I attended a festival or something at Toledo Botanical Garden and there was a man with suspenders, wearing a flower pot on his head. That was my first glimpse of Bob.

I was astounded at his many accomplishments and educational achievements during his years growing up in Toledo and all that he did every day without a complaint for the citizens of Toledo.

Ironically, if I could have looked into a crystal ball on June 21 and told Bob, please don t ride your bike the next day, he would have looked at me as though I were crazy and ridden off. If I could have said to Bob, look, move to Sylvania, Maumee, or Holland and get out of the Old West End, he would have dismissed me as though I were paranoid.

Bob Brundage lived his unique and very special life his way and those of us who knew him are more richly blessed for it.

Larry Wagner

Georgetown Avenue

In reference to Jack Lessenberry s July 3 column concerning Michigan s Medicaid costs, he bemoans the fact that Medicaid would no longer pay for routine eye exams or glasses, or routine dental exams. Ohio should follow this example.

Why in the world should taxpayers pay for anyone s routine exams? He quotes an optician who laments the fact that people who need glasses to drive to work won t be able to get them. If they are working, they should be able to buy their own glasses.

How many of these people have unnecessary cell phones, iPods, cigarettes, and so on? It is a matter of priorities. Now we are in bad economic times. How many of these same people were receiving these services during good times? I believe the optician is thinking more of himself than those on Medicaid.

I have been fortunate enough to have routine dental care and still have had to have three root canals over time, so routine exams could not prevent them as indicated in the article. I grew up in poverty, and when I needed glasses, my folks didn t really have the money for them but got them anyway. And there was no taxpayer help available. Priorities.

Mr. Lessenberry states that the Medicaid dental program was a mere $2.9 million. Wow only $2.9 million. It is time people started taking care of themselves and their families without relying on someone else to pay for them. Easy welfare is a bad thing for everyone.

The best thing the government can do for health care is leave it alone.

Kenneth N. Wiley

Findlay

The death of Robert Brundage is more than a loss to Toledo. It is a loss to mankind.

While I had seen him around town and at various meetings, I only had to meet him once to know he was a simply amazing person. It is unlikely there is another, at least within our community, with so many positive traits who would also be so humble.

In fact, I sincerely believe if just 1 percent of Americans would strive for Mr. Brundage s ideals, our society would be 10 times better off. We can only hope that a few of those who met him will be inspired to aspire to just a few of his traits with such a positive attitude.

And, while I can t be sure, it wouldn t surprise me if Mr. Brundage would hope that the boy who caused such a senseless tragedy would be shown forgiveness. Toledo has been blessed by the energy and compassion of Mr. Brundage and if anybody should be classified as indispensable it would be him.

Alan Cox

Reinwood Drive

As a registered nurse case manager at a local hospital, I ve seen many patients using the emergency room for all of their health care, as they have no insurance. They do not receive any preventive care; they do not have a family doctor.

Our current system is inefficient. People are not receiving care for chronic illness until things are out of control. Is it fair that some of us should have easy access to health care while others have to be embarrassed they are not covered by insurance? Is it appropriate that they wait until it may be too late, since they didn t get that preventive exam for cervical, breast, colon, or prostate cancer?

Should it be a matter of money, or should we all have access to at least basic services?

I am a breast cancer survivor. I lost a friend a year ago who might be here today if she had received routine breast exams and mammograms. She didn t have insurance; she died 18 months after her diagnosis. How would you feel if she was your friend? Does this present health-care system seem logical?

President Obama has asked Congress to facilitate health care reform. He has three basic principles. 1) We need to reduce costs by improving efficiency and by providing access to preventive care. 2) Every American has the right to choose their plan, and doctor, and 3) Ensure quality, affordable care for every American.

Let s stand by President Obama and encourage our congressmen to pass health-care reform in 2009. I don t think you want your friend or family member to be the one who waited too long because receiving a preventive exam was going to cost them more than they could afford.

Sue Badas

Perrysburg

President Obama and many others want medical records put on computers because it would be more efficient.

What if a doctor has a very ill patient and the computer is down and the physician is unable to get the necessary info to save the person?

Couldn t you see it in the headlines all over the world? Patient dies of computer failure!

Will the insurance companies pay the death benefit with a cause of death listed as computer failure ?

Medical professionals already do not talk with each other, so do not give them another reason not to communicate.

Sue Alheim

McGregor Lane

Bob Brundage, a sweet, gentle man who cared about and fought for social justice, has died, evidently from injuries he received when a confused 15-year-old child knocked him off his bicycle.

Someone in the prosecutor s office wants to try Dailahntae Jemison as an adult.

That is not something Bob would have wanted.

Steve Miller

Scottwood Avenue

I pass Maplewood Cemetery on my way to and from work each day. I would like to thank the city workers who are responsible for planting the flowers around the sign at the corner of Airport Highway and Byrne Road.

Each year, this flower bed adds beauty to that corner, starting with blooming flowers in the early spring along with the calla lilies well into the fall. In these stressful times, it helps to look for the small things that can brighten your day.

DEBRA BUCHMAN

Sylvania