Cindy McCain

Thank you for the article about Cindy McCain in the May/June 2010 issue. Chronic daily migraines have cost me my job, my health insurance, and my 401K. I have tried more than a dozen different medications, none of which work for me, partly because of other conditions I have (including epilepsy).

Mrs. McCain is correct that the "mother of four in a small rural community" might not be able to afford doctors like she can. So, I continue to live my life in the hopes that someday researchers will find a cure. - Sherry Watson, Greenwood, SC

Brain Death

I just finished reading "Making Sense of Brain Death" from the May/June 2010 issue and found it comforting—almost. My son was born not breathing and unresponsive 2.5 years ago. We were informed by the neonatologist that our son was severely brain injured and told that there was a "small window of opportunity" to withdraw support and provide only palliative care so that we would not be burdened with a special-needs child. Sadly, it just isn't true that families are never asked to "pull the plug" on someone who is alive. A neurologist told us that the tests indicated brain death, but he was not definitive about it.

At seven days of life our baby pulled out the vent himself and cried. He's a wonderful boy with a vibrant personality who just happens to have quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

It is encouraging that the guidelines described in the article exist. I hope they will be used. - Angelia Mercer, Troup, TX

Driving and Dementia

I read your story on driving and dementia with interest. In the last few years, both of my parents' ability to drive declined. My father's was due to Alzheimer's, my mother's due to other health problems. Three doctors chose not to report my father to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Finally I did, and his license was revoked.

In my state, doctors are required to report to the DMV any patients who are diagnosed with dementia. Even with this requirement, many doctors refuse to report patients out of fear that it will upset them. - Sheryl "Rustie" Rothstein, Encino, CA

Speak Up

Sari Friedman's poem "Advanced Life Skills" from the May/June 2010 issue captures so much of what I and many other traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors experience. She is very courageous to write and share her poetry. My TBI was in 1999 and I've been writing poetry for 10 years. I appreciate Sari's talent, struggle, and joy. - Bernie Greenberg, The Villages, FL