In response to April Coles’ letter (News-Times, Dec. 10), regarding the woman jumping off the bridge:

I agree with you that this is a heartbreaking story; maybe more could have been done. However, I am not sure if this is something that can be blamed on the Navy. I have had an altogether different experience than what you have apparently had with regards to Navy support. I do not believe it is true what you said in your letter that military families do not stick together anymore; far from it! There are many programs available and much more empathy regarding the families than ever before. My own life-threatening experience last month proves it.

If it were not for my husband’s boss and co-workers coming to my rescue to get me to the hospital on time, spending 7 days in the hospital recovering from an E. coli infection while my husband was halfway around the world, I truly do not know what I would have done or if I would have survived. They not only whisked my child to one of their homes and made sure she got to school on time and helped her with her homework, but they had time to visit me in the hospital and provide meals for me while I recovered from home. The Navy brought my husband home from his deployment, feeling that my situation was dire and it was more important for him to be with me than to do his duty.

I am forever grateful to those people who helped my family when we were in need. It was I who initiated that one phone call for help that produced such an outpouring of compassion and assistance from my friends and the sailors who work with my husband, some of whom do not even know me. I now know they are there for me whenever I need help and, believe me, I will always be there for them. Sometimes all it takes is a phone call to ask for help.

Janette Sweem

Oak Harbor