Dear Editor:

I was so pleased to ride on the "Save St. Andrews" float in the Windjammer parade. I jumped on at the last minute and I'm so glad I did. I have not had a lot of time to help the effort to save the ER so this was one small thing I could do. I feel very strongly about keeping St. Andrews open.

I had a heart attack almost four years ago and will be forever grateful that Dr. Carter was there in the ER to get me stabilized and shipped off to Maine Med for surgery. I am just one of hundreds of stories of lives changed by the wonderful care of our little hospital.

The day of the parade was cold and rainy, freezing really, but the streets were lined with hundreds of visitors and natives. It was a joyful and emotional ride as people clapped and cheered and offered a thumbs up for the group with the red hearts trying to save our little hospital.

I do have to confess that I still don't understand why we can't keep our ER, rehab, and end of life care beds. All three towns voted in huge numbers to keep the emergency room open 24/7.  The people living in this community want to keep St. Andrews the way it is now. Will you tell me one more time why we can't have that, please?

Susan Endicott
Southport