Dear Editor,
I picked up the paper this morning (July 20), and noticed the
kids keeping cool by throwing water on each other and using the
garden hose. I remember doing the same thing when I was growing
up.
Dear Editor,
I picked up the paper this morning (July 20), and noticed the kids keeping cool by throwing water on each other and using the garden hose. I remember doing the same thing when I was growing up. I scanned down and saw the cute caption “Garlic City Roasting”; I also caught the second picture in this article, of the young boy with his head in a 5-gallon bucket. Do you realize by putting this picture on your front page, other kids will do the same thing to keep cool? Did you realize a child could drown in a 5-gallon bucket?
Last year I also wrote to you regarding being responsible in what you put in the newspaper, especially in regards to pictures. Last year it was children playing in the Uvas Creek unsupervised. Please especially when it comes to front-page coverage think before you do it.
Yes, I have a personal interest in keeping children from drowning, and I have written to the Gilroy Dispatch regarding it many times.
I have a grandson Jaevan now 5 years old, he “lives” at Sub-Acute Saratoga Hospital a children’s facility in Saratoga. On August 15, 2002, Jaevan fell into a pool. My older grandson Tristain was 2 1/2 years old, he got out into the street and found a neighbor that pulled Jaevan out of the pool. To make a long story short, it changed our lives forever, our Jaevan died that day, and when he was revived at the hospital later, a new Jaevan was born.
We mourn the loss of our old Jaevan, but rejoice in the fact that we have our new Jaevan to hold and love. He will never be able to do the things our old Jaevan was able to do, he can’t talk to us, and he can’t walk. He looks at us and sometimes has tears roll down his cheek. He will sometimes squeeze our fingers, or blink his eyes in response to questions. He has a Trach to help him breath, and a tube in his stomach for feedings. We sometimes take lollipops and put them on his tongue hoping he can taste them.
Please don’t encourage irresponsible behavior especially on your front page. Did you happen to notice what is printed on the side of that bucket? I do not want any other family to have to experience a drowning, and yes it can happen in a 5-gallon bucket. Please help the community by doing a story on water safety, and help to keep our children safe.
Lynn Hennessee-Cordia, Gilroy
