Munchausen moms; Alzheimer’s disease; Guide dogs; It’s a flood plain
Munchausen moms
On the Sunday before Christmas, many mothers are either euphoric awaiting the arrival of children and grandchildren or harried with last minute chores still undone for the same reason.
It was a real bummer to read about the reality of this miserable world that we try to hold at bay with as much light we can find (“Moms to Monsters,” Dec. 20)
I’m sorry this comment has to be negative especially in this season of joy.
Audrey Vanderhoof, Fort Worth
What a touching report on motherhood to share with our families this Christmas!
I guess this is a better time than Mother’s Day.
Raymond Regal, Bedford
Alzheimer’s disease
Included in the spending plan adopted by Congress last week was an additional $350 million in funding for Alzheimer’s disease research by the National Institutes for Health.
This brings the federal government’s annual research budget for this disease to nearly $1 billion — an important step toward the Alzheimer’s Association’s vision of a world without Alzheimer’s.
Kudos to U.S. Rep. Kay Granger and the Appropriations Committee on which she serves for understanding how important this research is to the 6 million Americans who suffer from this disease today — and all of us who are at risk to get this disease someday.
Paul Morgan, Fort Worth
Guide dogs
I enjoyed Marty Sabota’s Dec. 19 story about guide dogs for the blind, and I commend the students at Byron Nelson High School for raising these puppies who will grow up to help blind people become more independent.
After Vietnam, I used a guide dog when I worked at Xerox.
My job required travel to places such as New York City, Washington, D. C., and San Francisco. Nutely, my guide dog, kept me safe in the bustle of subways, airports and traffic on the street.
Raising these puppies is an invaluable prelude for the situations these dogs will face in real life.
I remain grateful to those who raised my dog and to the service-oriented students from Trophy Club who prepare these puppies for their future job of helping blind people to travel safely.
Bruce W. Rider, Grapevine
It’s a flood plain
It was interesting to read Julie Amendola’s Friday commentary (“Thanksgiving floods took a toll downstream in east Fort Worth”), whining about her equestrian center flooding during the November rains.
As she pointed out, the center is in a flood plain. What should one expect in an area designated to be under water during big rains? That’s why the city won’t let anyone build a home in a flood plain.
People locate in flood plains because the land is cheap. Maybe next time she may want to pay more and be on higher ground.
Bob Cosby, Fort Worth
This story was originally published December 22, 2015 at 5:57 PM with the headline "Munchausen moms; Alzheimer’s disease; Guide dogs; It’s a flood plain."