I wrote to her yesterday. I believe she receives thousands of e-mails every day, but one never knows!!!!

Melody

I just finished a one page letter. I am going to mail it to everyone I can think of. Do you think e-mail or US Postal mail is the best way? Thanks for your encouragement!

I used the following information as a guideline for my letter. Just personalized it to fit each individual person. I hope more of you will be encouraged to write:

Letter writing is an effective way to persuade legislators to support your position. State legislators receive an enormous amount of mail each day, so give careful thought to your letter. If you know the legislator, make that clear in the first paragraph. This will alert the person opening the mail to give the letter special attention. Write your letter on your business letterhead. Some legislators downgrade the importance of a letter if it is obviously part of a letter writing campaign. Therefore, avoid form letters. Mass-mailed postcards are a waste of your time and money. Make your letter as personal as possible.

Try to keep your letter to one page in length. Use your own words and cover only one issue per letter. In the first paragraph, ask for the action you want the legislator to take. Identify the legislation clearly by name and number. Chances are good that the legislator is aware of the political fallout of not voting for your issue, so do not mention it. Be certain your legislator receives the letter before a vote.

Thank legislators who support your positions and let legislators who do not know of your disapproval.

A Checklist for Letter Writing

Letters should be on personal or business letterhead with a return address on both the letter and envelope.
Each letter should be about only one piece of legislation and should identify the bill by its number and author. Make sure you tell the legislator how you want them to vote.
Immediately reference the bill number, author, and action you want. Restate what you want in the last paragraph.
Legislators discount pre-printed form letters, even if the wording is the same. Make sure you copy the letter on your own letterhead in your own handwriting.
Stress how a particular issue would affect people in the legislator's district - namely you.
Try to keep your letter to one page, but bear in mind the reader may not be familiar with the subject matter.
DO NOT include anything you would not want quoted on the evening news!
Ask for a reply indicating the legislator's position.
Use the proper form of address:

Its a good idea. I actually just saw Montel on a talk show talking about his ms and not giving up but learning how to function through. I wonder if these stars have issues with docs too? That is my huge issue right now. I will write a letter too. I agree that they get a huge amount but will see. In the past I wanted to write about eating disorders and insurance. When I was in one of my programs it costed 1600 a day and not covered. I was on deaths door mentally and physically. Its hard to educate the public/gov when the issue doesn't effect the mass if that makes sense? It can't hurt to write it and if anything will help us to use our voice.

Rose,
I was not aware that MS was painful! My sister does not have the painful type of MS. I apologize for making an uneducated comment and hope that anyone with MS can forgive me for assuming that "all" people with MS are like my sister.

Sorry my comment was abrupt. I didn't mean it that way.

I think most people would recognize your sincerity!

rose

I missed it sorry been to 6 Dr.s in last 2 weeks. My daughter also mentioned
how many medical problems that lead to PN. For instance people with
aids get PN problems from the meds. they must take. Or my Diabetes2,
as well as Sjogren's Syndrome. Which now i found out this week will
put me in Cancer hospital on July 2nd for Lyphoma tests and
i think a few prayers would always come in handy (thanks). Lip
Biopsy's make you drool. Iv'e seen Montell cry alot when he first found
out he had MS,i would to. I believe he get's most of his health problems
taken care of in Sweden.

One thing if our Mel said she wrote a letter,we know she did,i know
sometimes these posts get a little confusing. I had a Dr. ask if i was
sure my PR wasn't from the truma of being a nurse for so long,or
perhaps the headon collision. D has even questioned her yrs. of
eating habits,this is not the first time i've heard that. My childeren
and there many friends are writing about it on there many Websites.
It may be a little at a time,but we or our families,or our neighbors,
I guess what i'm trying to say we who have it,should speck up,to lead
perhaps someone who is suffering in the right direction. I don't want
anyone to have to see 1 Dr. let alone 6 in in less then a few weeks.


I got my new shoes yesterday and so far i haven't thown them out the
door and my cmpression hose feel fair,oh and the shoes are cute. More
then anything i don't want our grandchildren to go though this. And it
was so odd when they told me i was going to have to go to the cancer
hospital,i didn't cry,when a Dr. Swan tells me i will be seeing a Dr. Doll
it made me laugh,but i had to hug a 1st yr. med. student he had a tear
in his eye, welll maybe that's good. We must never give up. Sue

Shiney Sue,
I'm so sorry to hear your news about the hospital. Lymphoma, that's another of the silent gifts Sjogren's gives you.: I hope Dr. Doll is really good to you. I admire your courage and the way you stand up to things. Good thoughts are going with you from me.

Billye

Sue:

Sending you lots of hugs and good energy.

Don't give up.

Melody

I hope it is not lymphoma... just focus on that.... IT is NOT Lymphoma...etc.
Consider it a rule/out procedure!

I agree with MrsD - it is simply another step in ruling out OTHER issues!

Really a Dr Swan and Dr Doll? Golly that's neat, far better than the Orthopedist where I grew up was - Dr Bump! No kidding here!
I also had an adopted GP years ago who was really a heart surgeon - Dr Romeo.

When I started having vision issues [since diminished] my neuro-opthomologist sent me thru what must have been the entire Cardio-route...not the stress tests tho...didn't get that far. Came out all clear - He flat out stated 'At least, that's one more thing OFF the list!'

Six docs in two weeks is a LOT! Amazing how our lives seem to revolve around those dratted appointments? I've gotten lucky..I don' have any for about 2-3 weeks [aside from infusions]...I've been going so often that I now feel like I'm on vacation!

Keep heart - - j