Editor,

Five generations of my family have been blessed with excellent care at Whidbey General Hospital. I would urge you to think about all the folks you know who have been treated successfully at our own Whidbey General Hospital since its inception in 1970.

“I was misdiagnosed eight years ago,” my friend tells me. And I am so sorry she suffered that overwhelming experience.

But that medico has been long gone and retired. Blaming WGH for that is punishing today’s patients and visiting “the sins of the father” upon today’s children.

Not voting for the WGH bond is punishing the patients of today and tomorrow.

It is denying them the best care and help they need now. Now is the time to bring WGH into the present and future of great medicine for Whidbey Island.

Some say, “I can just go to Skagit.”

That is the same as letting the person, a stranger, at the table next to you in the restaurant pay for your meal.

The voters of Skagit County stepped up and are paying for all the upgrades to their hospital. Are we so miserly as to let others pay our way?

I hope not.

We need to have a grownup conversation and look at the facts. We need to remove personalities and old wives tales and grudges from the equation.

Do you tip your waiter, barber or hairdresser? Or do you walk out and let the next client pay for you?

We need to reward and assist today’s doctors and staff at WGH by voting “yes” and giving them the facilities and equipment they need to do their job of helping and healing our families on Whidbey Island.

Sue Tingstad
Coupeville