Dear Editor:

Four consecutive winters have come and gone, chasing four different medical issues with my husband. If it were not for our primary care physician, Dr. Alamo, with his watchful eyes and expert knowledge, I am not sure I’d be writing a letter of success.

It was one surgery after another for four separate issues, one which included the dreaded diagnosis cancer. He beat it and is doing well. I repeat: What would we do without our primary care doctor at the Family Care Center, and for the expert referrals to specialists and surgeons who are skilled, who helped mend my husband.

Here we are on the other side of the chase, at least for today. But what needs to be mentioned as the “crowning glory” of my hubby’s rehabilitation as a cancer survivor is the the Livestrong program at the Boothbay Region YMCA.

Livestrong — 13 weeks of all manner of help, support, exercise, eating well, kindness, encouragement, care, cancer support specialists and even a graduation luncheon before Christmas with gifts. A celebration of life. Abby Jones, the program facilitator, is the perfect addition to all who come to learn how to “live strong” while dealing with cancer.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to the Boothbay Region YMCA for bringing this program to our people. Clearly, the experience my husband had with Livestrong has brought a new sense of living to his being.

If any of you reading this are dealing with or have conquered cancer in any form, I urge you to connect with our Y and get yourself enrolled in the next program starting in March. Feel the love — you owe it to yourself.

With gratitude to all who have helped us through our journey — you are a huge blessing to our family.

Bill and Sue Burge

Boothbay