Letters to the Editor -- Dec. 15, 2016

Dear Smoke Signals:

I need to thank Susie Lash for doing the cooking of a wonderful meal and all the girls who helped out in the kitchen for our annual Veterans Day meal. Thank you to all who stayed and helped out with the cleanup.

Thank you to all those who made giveaway baskets for us: the Elders, Claudia Leno, Kathy Soderberg, Reina Nelson, Susie Lash and Connie Bobb.

Thank you to the Royalty girls for their help taking plates of food to the elder veterans. And a big, big thanks to the members and volunteers of our Veterans Special Event Board for all their continued commitment to serve veterans: Alton Butler, Ray Petite, Al Miller, Wink Soderberg, Rich Vanatta and Dennis Kleffner.

Also, we would like to thank Tribal Council for their continued support of the Veterans SEB and the things we do.

Steve Bobb Sr.

Roll #38

Dear Smoke Signals:

My name is Joshua D. Haller, Roll #1994. I am the first-born son of James D. Haller, Roll #898, grandson of Harvey D. Haller, roll #222, and the great-grandson of Adeline Menard Haller.

Currently I am incarcerated in a California state prison. The choices I made that brought me to this place are choices that were driven by my addiction to drugs and alcohol; none of which I am proud of.

So this time I have here I am using to the best of my ability utilizing the resources available here at the prison. Currently I attend college by correspondence provided here. My goal is to acquire my associate degree before I am released. I am also attending classes in a vocational training program provided by CDRC called Building Maintenance. Things are going well for me in both of these subjects.

The reason I am writing this letter is because I feel that I must also grow spiritually. So I have chosen to embark on the “Red Road.” I attend ceremonies here at the prison. The fellowship with the brothers is good and strong.

The problem I am having is the songs I am learning here are not the songs of my people. I would like to learn the songs of my people, the ways of my people, and the language and the history of my people. If there are any Elders or Tribal members who would be willing to assist me in this area of my rehabilitation and my recovery, I would very highly appreciate your help.

Please feel free to write me at Joshua D. Haller, BA0383, H.D.S.P.-B1-106, P.O. Box 3030, Susanville, Calif. 96127.

Joshua D. Haller

Roll #1994

Dear Smoke Signals:

We just found out Saturday, Dec. 3, that my granddaughter Amelia, who is 1.5 years old, has cancer on her left hip that extended into the bone and is protruding against her spinal cord.

My daughter, Samantha Cunningham (roll #3630), also has two older daughters, Jazmine who is 5 and Lena who is 3. She is also pregnant with my grandson, Gavin, who is due Feb. 10. They are a family of five soon to be six.

They have been trying to figure out what is wrong with my granddaughter for the past month and a half. Amelia had stopped walking around Oct. 10 and was very fussy and said “Ow!” a lot. They took Amelia to the emergency room several times. The first time she saw the doctor they said Amelia was constipated and told her to give Amelia fiber. When that did not help, they took her to one ER and waited five hours with a crying baby without any assistance. Then they took her to another ER that finally saw her and found out she had a massive urinary tract infection. Even after the antibiotics, Amelia was still not walking and we could see that her legs were limp when you picked her up, and when she did try and stand with assistance from furniture, her legs were very wobbly.

She was finally seen by her pediatrician on Dec. 2 and they referred her to the children’s hospital where they diagnosed her with Ewing Sarcoma and began chemo treatment.

My daughter and her husband will miss quite a bit of work and have to remain in Seattle instead of being able to come home to Olympia, Wash. The doctors do not want Amelia to be more than 45 miles from the hospital in case she gets a fever or has complications from her treatment, and they live 75 miles away.

Unfortunately, Samantha and Todd were already struggling to keep the bills caught up and with missing work and Christmas right around the corner, it will be very difficult for them financially as they have to stay in Seattle for the next eight months. The cost of living is quite higher in Seattle than it is in Olympia.

I am hoping that you will find it in your hearts to help my daughter, her husband, my granddaughters and my soon-to-be grandson.

It would mean the world to me to be able to relieve some of the stress that my daughter and her husband are facing during this difficult time. That way they can focus on helping my granddaughter get better rather than worrying about how they are going to take care of the rest of their family.

I appreciate any prayers, sharing the Go Fund Me page (www.gofundme.com/amelias-medical-fund) and/or assistance you can provide.

Melinda Bonson

Roll #2110