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Reform does right by area seniors
I thank our representative in the 11th District, Paul Kanjorski, for standing up and voting for real health reform.
I am proud to tell my grandchildren that the passing of this historic bill is a victory for them, as well as the more than 130,000 seniors in this district on Medicare who will get full prescription coverage.
 What a victory! I always have said a country as great and as diverse as ours should have been ashamed that we hadn&rsquo;t done better for our seniors and the 32 million uninsured Americans.
Writer admires Carney for vote
Congratulations to U.S. Rep. Chris Carney on his courageous vote to reform the health care system.
Despite being &ldquo;targeted,&rdquo; both literally and figuratively, he stood up for what was best for this district and his country. I expected nothing less, considering his military background.
Geisinger staff  gets high marks
This Valley should know that Geisinger is a great hospital.  Jim took us right in when we arrived at the emergency room. I was treated as if I were the only patient there. Someone was with me constantly.
 Dr. Slimmer, the resident, said he has the same blood type as me and would donate some blood, if needed. Dr. Behm is very nice. Chris Matys is a very caring ER nurse. Jason, Stacy and Jennifer were all great.
Doctors Zoba, Neizgoda, Deivert, Conklin, Long and Maynor were so helpful. And I don&rsquo;t want to forget Jason and Susan in nuclear medicine.
Dave Kabata is a nurse who is on the ball. He was in there with my roommate and me all the time, making sure we we had everything we needed.
When I told Chris from food services that I liked coffee and had two cups with a meal, she sent me three. Nurse Laura Waxmonsky set me up as I was prepping for some testing. When I rang for help a little later another nurse came in, but Laura was right behind her and said she would take care of me, even though she was on break.
Nurses Jeanne Junuszko, Marcy Roberts, Annette Silverstein, Anisha Newton, Jessica Klemick and Candy were all wonderful. Rose Cooney is like a ray of sunshine. Jotanna, Wendy and Meagan are great student nurses.
And I can&rsquo;t forget Mike, a transporter who always had a smile on his face. 
I feel so bad if I haven&rsquo;t named everyone. I want to thank them all and let readers know what wonderful care I was given.
Pottsville SPCA happy for help
 Many thanks to the Valley with a Heart for extending its kindness south to Hillside SPCA in Pottsville, where I serve on the board of directors.
Hillside is known for thinking outside the box and is currently featured in Cesar&rsquo;s Way magazine.
 If you have a chance, visit us at &ldquo;the Hillside&rdquo; and join with us in celebrating 25 years of service and care to homeless pets.
Celebrate life by aiding others
I say a heartfelt thank-you to the wonderful, caring, thoughtful people in Ashley and surrounding communities, including Hanover Township, Sugar Notch and Wilkes-Barre, who helped me and are still helping me fight cancer.
The most important thing when fighting this disease is faith and a strong attitude. You all helped me with an overwhelming abundance of prayers, cards and phone calls. Special thanks to the churches that still are praying and helping me to heal.
As the American Cancer Society&rsquo;s commercial goes, &ldquo;We help birthdays happen.&rdquo; It surely does. Its workers helped me so much, and they are always here to make our lives much easier.
Every day is my birthday and a gift from God.
Thanks to my friends, neighbors and my beauty shop customers who never failed to call and are still here for me. To my doctors at Mercy Hospital of Scranton, Dr. Baikadi and Dr. Hyzinski, who gave me a new beginning, and their terrific staffs. To all the very caring nurses (I call them God&rsquo;s healing angels) who take care of me. Thank you especially, Dr. Jon Olenginski, and all your staff.
Most of all, thanks to the bravest and most courageous people I have ever met, my cancer friends. You have a special corner of my heart. Thank you especially, as we help each other on a road to recovery just by talking and really listening to each other.
 I now try to live each day being a better person, and I&rsquo;m here for anyone who needs me. It&rsquo;s so sad that we sometimes need a life-threatening situation to turn around our lives and teach us what really is important. I want to see people get along with each other. I really do believe if people don&rsquo;t always agree, we should still talk and try. It seems it&rsquo;s easier to say something negative about each other than to say positive things. We need to change that. If more people can care for others as much as you have all cared for me, maybe we can slow down the animosity and build a stronger bridge of working as friends, to create a better community.
So let&rsquo;s get busy. Remember, actually every new day is your birthday, too. Don&rsquo;t wait for a life-threatening situation to change. Celebrate life; help someone today and every day.
Mountain Laurels

Mountain Laurels is a regular series of letters from readers conveying thanks to individuals or groups for their support, help or kindness.

Reform does right by area seniors I thank our representative in th