PD Opinion

August 30, 2009

All our children

We love the photo of little Maddy Leftkowski, especially her engaging smile, on the front page today but we would have preferred not to publish it.

Or to have published a photo of her for another reason.

Maddy was honored at a junior football game between the Exeter Panthers, for whom she is a cheerleader, and the West Pittston Rams. The game served as a fund raiser for her and her family. You can tell by her smile, she enjoyed the occasion.

Maddy, a student at JFK Elementary School, suffers from a cancerous tumor in her brain. We’ve been running stories about her throughout the past year.

We look forward to publishing the one announcing she is cancer-free.

We’ve also written and published several stories about little Liam Schulze, 18-month-old son of local native Michelle (Slezak) Schulze.

Liam has been diagnosed with a rare blood disorder. He must have a bone marrow transplant but finding a suitable donor has been thus far fruitless.

He doesn’t know it, but Liam’s won the hearts of most everyone in Greater Pittston.

So, too, has Bobby Drummond, the 26-month-old from Hughestown who is battling leukemia.

Bobby and his family were the beneficiaries of a fund raiser sponsored by St. John’s Lutheran Church, Pittston, Friday night.

We all wish we had a magic wand to make these three children, and all others in similar situations, better. But the best we can do is offer our prayers and, when possible, our financial support.

Families dealing with severely ill children should not have to worry where the gas money is coming from to drive them to an out-of-town hospital or pay for a motel room while there.

In the case of Bobby Drummond, St. John’s Lutheran has attained a Trivent grant that will match dollar-for-dollar the money raised locally.

The Friday event was termed a rousing success, but we can help push the total higher by sending a donation. Make checks payable to St. John’s Lutheran Church, mark them for Bobby Drummond, and mail or drop off at the church at 9 Wood St., Pittston, PA 18640.

And keep the prayers coming, too.

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