Dear Editor:

The loss of our hospital beds and ER leaves an awful hole in our community. A sadness remains and, for some, a nearly debilitating anger. Like so many, I have many memories of time spent at St. Andrews Hospital over the last 10 years, most of that time at bedsides with sick, recovering and in some instances, dying parishioners, all of them grateful to be there.

Knowing that shifts in medical care are happening all over the country is no consolation. Knowing that a worsening shortage of every type of doctor in this country will continue to drive changes in medical services doesn't help. Knowing that increasingly sophisticated and expensive diagnostic equipment is creating a demand for larger medical centers only makes what has happened more frustrating.

My heart goes out to all those volunteers and givers who have invested countless hours and dollars in order to create and improve St. Andrews and next to the amazing staff of nurses, doctors, therapists and administrators, some who continue to work on the St. Andrews campus.

My heart also goes out to those who, with passion and hope, did what they could to save what might have been saved and to those who continue to work, some behind the scenes, to improve medical services.

The need for healing in the community is real and will take time. In the meantime, wonderful people who continue to work on the St. Andrews campus and on the Miles campus are being asked, “How could you?!” Such comments are hurtful and unfair. Like many of you, I try to live the prayer attributed to St. Francis, the first few petitions of which are:

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is error, truth;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light.

Sometimes it is challenging to live this prayer. To live it as a community means letting go of the hatred, the injury, the error, the darkness and more.

Rev. Dr. Sarah Foulger
Boothbay Harbor