Letters to the Editor 06-24-1998
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Letter From Monica - Loving Care - Generous Community
Letter From Monica
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to share with you a letter to Heather Florey from her 6-month-old baby, Monica Hatfield.
Dear Mom,
I know you'll be very happy to know that I came home from the hospital with Grandma (Pam Hiers) and Aunt Michelle today. They have to be very careful holding me since my skull was crushed in the back and my kidney was damaged. My brain swelling has gone down, but they say I'm very fragile. I don't move my head very much since it hurts so bad. I just move my eyes to see things. My blindness is gone. It was only temporary.
Grandma and Aunt Michelle bought me some dresses and shoes today. Grandma Hiers is going to file for custody of me. I know all my grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles will take very good care of me. They love me so much. But I really miss you and always will. I loved the way you held me tight and told me you loved me so much and took me with you everywhere you went. People say you were a young mother, but a very good and responsible mother. I know you were, and I know you wish you were still here to love and care for me. I'm so sorry that we never really got to know each other and share birthdays and Christmases and all those other special times together. My great aunts tell me you were so kind to children and had a smile and laugh that brightened other people's lives.
People say that there were hundreds of people who came to see you and Daddy and Tyler at the viewing and that it was so sad seeing all of you there, knowing that all your lives were taken away from you and all of us left behind to feel such terrible pain.
I'm going to miss Daddy so much. I loved him so. I know you're probably together, but I wanted to be with you both and grow up as a family.
Mommy, Grandma misses you so much. She cries a lot, but is strong for your friends. She still calls you her baby girl. Grandpa Florey cried for you and wishes he still had you here with us.
The boy who hit you was drinking and driving and ran the stop sign, Mommy. They say he is being charged and may get up to eight years, but that doesn't seem like a very long time for the lifetime I'll not be spending with you and Daddy and for the lifetimes you both lost.
Some people say he's been in trouble for drinking and driving before. I'm not sure that you want to hear that since it might make you angry like it makes us here. I'm just hoping that some other young people in our families and in the community will realize that when he or she drinks and then drives, he chooses to cause the possible deaths of other people. I hope, Mommy, that your death, Daddy's death and Tyler's death will never be forgotten in our community and that there will be strict law enforcement for drinking and driving.
Love you always,
Your daughter,
Monica Hatfield
Written by your Aunt
Debbie Scharf
Warsaw
Loving Care
Editor, Times-Union:Joy's dad, Paul Hainline, came here to live last fall, very feeble and in declining health. He died recently in Kosciusko Community Hospital. During his time here he was treated with love and care, respect and sensitivity by the many people he had contact with.
We want to thank all who made his last months bearable. We think fondly of Jim Close and Doreen Rosbrugh, the staff at Grace Village Health Care, Multi-Township EMS, and the members of the First Baptist Church of Pierceton, for the loving concern they showed. And in his final days there was an outpouring of love and care from the associates at Kosciusko Community Hospital - physicians, nurses, aides, housekeeping, maintenance and especially Chaplain Randy Packer.
Dad was a quiet man who loved the Lord, loved his family, was faithful to his church, and always had a ready smile. We thank God for all who ministered to Dad in like spirit.
Ken and Joy McGarvey
Pierceton
Generous Community
Editor, Times-Union:Tuesday evening, May 28, 120 Warsaw Community High School students from the class of 1998 were honored through various awards and many, many community-based scholarships, more are added each year.
We have a wonderful community that cares about young people and excellence. I often joke about our local fanaticism with sports, (in my case fanaticism begins at home,) but the more I think about it I believe that Warsaw and the surrounding communities simply believe in their young people, and want to provide the best opportunities possible in sports, academics and many other areas as well.
Recently I spoke with a local banker and he estimated that $250,000 in scholarships and interest-free loans are provided to Kosciusko County residents each year. This is a mind-boggling figure and I take my hat off to this community. Thank you, Warsaw, I am proud to be a member of such an outstanding team.
Rick Swaim, WCHS
Awards Night Coordinator
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- Letter From Monica - Loving Care - Generous Community
Letter From Monica
Editor, Times-Union:I would like to share with you a letter to Heather Florey from her 6-month-old baby, Monica Hatfield.
Dear Mom,
I know you'll be very happy to know that I came home from the hospital with Grandma (Pam Hiers) and Aunt Michelle today. They have to be very careful holding me since my skull was crushed in the back and my kidney was damaged. My brain swelling has gone down, but they say I'm very fragile. I don't move my head very much since it hurts so bad. I just move my eyes to see things. My blindness is gone. It was only temporary.
Grandma and Aunt Michelle bought me some dresses and shoes today. Grandma Hiers is going to file for custody of me. I know all my grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles will take very good care of me. They love me so much. But I really miss you and always will. I loved the way you held me tight and told me you loved me so much and took me with you everywhere you went. People say you were a young mother, but a very good and responsible mother. I know you were, and I know you wish you were still here to love and care for me. I'm so sorry that we never really got to know each other and share birthdays and Christmases and all those other special times together. My great aunts tell me you were so kind to children and had a smile and laugh that brightened other people's lives.
People say that there were hundreds of people who came to see you and Daddy and Tyler at the viewing and that it was so sad seeing all of you there, knowing that all your lives were taken away from you and all of us left behind to feel such terrible pain.
I'm going to miss Daddy so much. I loved him so. I know you're probably together, but I wanted to be with you both and grow up as a family.
Mommy, Grandma misses you so much. She cries a lot, but is strong for your friends. She still calls you her baby girl. Grandpa Florey cried for you and wishes he still had you here with us.
The boy who hit you was drinking and driving and ran the stop sign, Mommy. They say he is being charged and may get up to eight years, but that doesn't seem like a very long time for the lifetime I'll not be spending with you and Daddy and for the lifetimes you both lost.
Some people say he's been in trouble for drinking and driving before. I'm not sure that you want to hear that since it might make you angry like it makes us here. I'm just hoping that some other young people in our families and in the community will realize that when he or she drinks and then drives, he chooses to cause the possible deaths of other people. I hope, Mommy, that your death, Daddy's death and Tyler's death will never be forgotten in our community and that there will be strict law enforcement for drinking and driving.
Love you always,
Your daughter,
Monica Hatfield
Written by your Aunt
Debbie Scharf
Warsaw
Loving Care
Editor, Times-Union:Joy's dad, Paul Hainline, came here to live last fall, very feeble and in declining health. He died recently in Kosciusko Community Hospital. During his time here he was treated with love and care, respect and sensitivity by the many people he had contact with.
We want to thank all who made his last months bearable. We think fondly of Jim Close and Doreen Rosbrugh, the staff at Grace Village Health Care, Multi-Township EMS, and the members of the First Baptist Church of Pierceton, for the loving concern they showed. And in his final days there was an outpouring of love and care from the associates at Kosciusko Community Hospital - physicians, nurses, aides, housekeeping, maintenance and especially Chaplain Randy Packer.
Dad was a quiet man who loved the Lord, loved his family, was faithful to his church, and always had a ready smile. We thank God for all who ministered to Dad in like spirit.
Ken and Joy McGarvey
Pierceton
Generous Community
Editor, Times-Union:Tuesday evening, May 28, 120 Warsaw Community High School students from the class of 1998 were honored through various awards and many, many community-based scholarships, more are added each year.
We have a wonderful community that cares about young people and excellence. I often joke about our local fanaticism with sports, (in my case fanaticism begins at home,) but the more I think about it I believe that Warsaw and the surrounding communities simply believe in their young people, and want to provide the best opportunities possible in sports, academics and many other areas as well.
Recently I spoke with a local banker and he estimated that $250,000 in scholarships and interest-free loans are provided to Kosciusko County residents each year. This is a mind-boggling figure and I take my hat off to this community. Thank you, Warsaw, I am proud to be a member of such an outstanding team.
Rick Swaim, WCHS
Awards Night Coordinator
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