People often remarked that Marilyn and I seemed to be handling this crisis very well. The truth is that the people who were caring for our child were handling things well. Their knowledge, commitment and compassion gave us the strength and emotional support needed to meet Faith's challenges. We want to express our thanks to the following organizations and individuals.

We will be grateful forever to Teamsters Union 25 and the TeamstersCare Insurance Program for the important role they played in Faith’s life. As most of you know, Marilyn was Rh-sensitized during Faith’s pregnancy, a rare medical condition that threatened our daughter while still in utero. The Teamsters ensured that we got the best care available then — they did so again this time. This support gave us peace of mind and allowed us to focus on the most important thing of all: loving our daughter. As the name says, the Teamsters care.

Our blessings and thanks to:

• George W. Cashman, Union Trustee, Co-Chairman
• Joseph C. Conlon, Union Trustee
• William H. Carnes, Union Trustee
• John J. Shaughnessy, Sr., Employer Trustee, Co-Chairman
• John J. McCarthy, Jr., Employer Trustee
• Burton C. Trebour, Employer Trustee
• Rodney G. Smith, Executive Director
• Daniel J. Sullivan, Associate Fund Director – Operations
• Carol A. Blanchard, Associate Fund Director – Clinical Services
• All of the employees in the TeamstersCare Member Services Department and the TeamstersCare Pharmacy

Between our many Clinic visits and our inpatient stays, we spent a lot of time with the medical teams at Duke and New England Medical Center. Both Dr. Henry Friedman and Dr. Lawrence Wolfe have assembled teams of outstanding professionals who deliver expert and compassionate care. When they examined Faith, they were as interested in her well being as her vital signs. Marilyn and I were always touched by the attention they showed to Faith because we saw that they loved our daughter so much.

These professionals have a difficult job, dealing with serious medical problems confronting so many wonderful children. I don’t know how they do it. Whenever people told me they were praying for my daughter, I would tell them to include the wonderful doctors and nurses who were treating her. I would encourage you to continue to pray for them so that they can always continue to face their daily challenges with a clear mind and a loving heart.

Our thanks to:

• Sri Gururangan, MD
• Edward Halperin, MD
• Henry Friedman, MD
• Melanie Bonner, Ph.D.
• Melody Ann Watral, RN, MSN, CPNP
• Beth Lippert, RN
• Anne Fitzgerald, RN
• Karen Lewis, RN
• Jerilyn Reid, RN
• Julianne Jaski, RN
• Shelia Boyd, RN
• Joanne Woodard, RN
• Nancy Butters, CCLS
• Jean Hartford-Todd, CCLS

Our special thanks to:

• Lawrence Wolfe, MD
• Cynthia Kretschmar, MD
• Howard Grodman, MD
• Anne Marie Conroy, MSN, PNP
• Cathy Downing, MSN, PNP
• Mary Jo Gonzales, MSN, PNP
• Linda Mazzola, RN, BSN
• Christine McEleney, RN, BSN
• Molly Tower, RN
• Jeanne Hampton, CCLS
• Carol Farwell, CCLS
• Katie Blake, LICSW

• The residents and nursing staff of Floating Hospital, especially:
  — Alisa Crim, MD
  — Gary Fanjiang, MD
  — Linda Fu, MD
  — Tamara Katy, MD
  — Donna Kerr, MD
  — Lauren Kondev, MD
  — Laura Koweek, MD
  — Claudia Lavin, MD
  — Jessica McGovern, MD
  — Marcella Millan, MD
  — Sandrjin van Schalk, MD
  — Alice Tholany, MD
  — Rachel Weinstein, MD
  
  — Carole Bennett, RN
  — Sandi Fenelon, RN
  — Linda Goodman, RN
  — Karen Hubbard, RN
  — Eileen McDonagh, RN
  — Rhonda McIntryre, RN
  — Jamie Owens, RN
  — Kathie Peuser, RN
  — Heather Robb, RN
  — Carol Stephansky, RN
  — Darlene Stowell, RN
  — Chris Wood, RN

I have mentioned elsewhere that Faith had an abiding trust in her medical caregivers. While part of this was just her nature, it surely had something to do with her special relationship with the doctors and nurses at Dowd Medical who cared for Faith throughout her life.

Our special thanks to:

• Howard Rashba, MD
• Eileen Kirby, RN

Faith attended a very special elementary school. We are so grateful for the administrators, teachers and parents at Barrows. It was not easy when we had to pull Faith out of kindergarten to go to Duke. However her class, in fact the entire school, sent cards and gifts to cheer up Faith.

When she began first grade, things were especially difficult. She had to miss a lot of school because of treatments. At times she was physically unable to keep up, or even participate, in activities with the other children. The radiation treatments she received created specific learning disabilities. Sometimes the tumor would affect her emotionally, causing separation anxiety or unexplained fits of weeping. But she was supported at all times by the wonderful staff of this school. Faith's tumor worsened during the last six weeks of school, leaving her debilitated and unable to attend. Her class sent cards and gifts to show their love. Throughout the summer of 2001, parents of Faith’s schoolmates cooked meals for us.

Lately we have read a lot about performance-based measurement of teachers and school systems, e.g.. the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment Test (MCAS). Yet there seems to be no thought given to the importance of compassion as an important quality for a teacher or administrator. Let me tell you: Barrows has it all — great teachers, great administrators and a whole lot of heart.

We would especially like to thank:

• Dr. Harry Haratunian, Superintendent
• Karen Callan, Principal
• Nancy Bronson
• Lynn Dunn, RNC
• Cathy Giles
• Lois MacElhiney
• Gary Nihan
• Colleen Sullivan