React

LETTERS ON THE JUNE ISSUE

A Cover Worth a
Thousand Smiles
Your June cover is so inspiring—
I posted it in my office. I can’t help
but smile whenever I see it.
B a rba ra Ry berg, Noblesville, Indiana

I’m sure you’ve received a lot of

letters like this, but every time I
see your cover, I’m reminded of the ence”). She is correct in noting that

phrase “Oh, cheer up! Things could
be worse.” I cheer up … and sure
enough, things get worse!
K el l y Reed, Phoenix, Arizona
Love the cover! I didn’t even have to
open the magazine and read the
jokes to be cheered up. Thanks for
caring enough to lighten our burdens.
Chery l Yonk ma n, Oak Harbor, Washington
Your cover is a great way to help
America. Humor is good medicine.
Barbara Singer-Boocher, Bonita Springs, Florida
(BABY ) JLP/JOSE L. PEL AE Z / CORBIS; ( WASHINGTON) HENRY LEUT WYLER / CONTOUR BY GET T Y IMAGES
many well-designed studies have
found no link between vaccines and
autism and that there’s a growing
body of evidence that suggests a
genetic cause of the disorder. And
yet myths about vaccines promul-
gated by celebrities like Jenny
McCarthy are causing children to
suffer diseases that could have been
prevented with vaccines. Parents
need accurate, scientifically sound
information to make decisions
about their children’s health.
Dav id T. Tayloe, Jr., MD, FA AP,
President, American Academy of Pediatrics

Celeb Rx
Anne Underwood succinctly ex-
poses the dangers of depending on
celebrities for health information
(“The Trouble with Celebrity Sci-
Celebrities aren’t the only ones
giving unreliable medical advice.
After I was on hormone therapy for
ten years, the medical profession

We Want to Hear from You!

If we publish your letter—whether it’s to comment on our content, sing our praises,
or take us to task—you’ll receive a free Reader’s Digest book or CD, courtesy of our
Books and Music division. Send your submissions to letters@readersdigest.com.
6 readersdigest.com 0/09
changed its recommenda-
tion for menopausal
women. I had been told
that it was good for my
health, but I kept question-
ing why I needed it. Then
the medical establishment
changed its mind and long-
term hormone therapy was
now dangerous. Is there
any authority we can trust
for good medical advice?
Susa n Hod ges,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Editor’s Note: You’re right.
Doctors and medical re-
searchers alike deserve to
feel sheepish for jumping to
conclusions about hormone
therapy (HT). Yes, there
were plenty of clues suggest-
ing that it could keep women
healthy, but when random-
ized studies were finally
done, they showed that HT
failed to deliver expected
benefits and brought unan-
ticipated risks. Yet this expe-
rience has helped fuel a push
toward evidence-based med-
icine, which relies more on
randomized, controlled trials
and less on gut feelings developed
through clinical experience. The situa-
tion is still far from perfect. Stay tuned.
We’ll be doing more on this topic soon.
Going for It
I agree with Jacquelyn Mitchard:
Kids should dream big (“Why Pas-
sion Matters”). My son has had one
Our Readers in Action
Bren Bataclan, who gives away his quirky cartoon
art in exchange for a “promise to smile at random
people more often,” was featured in our March
Make It Matter, “Grin City.” He writes:
Your article about my Smile Project has been
one of the best things that have happened in my
life. I’ve received e-mails from folks all across the
country. A school in Seward, Alaska, flew me in
to teach drawing to kids. The $1,500 grant you
issued in my honor was awarded to an elemen-
tary school in Lowell, Massachusetts, where the
kids and I will paint hopscotch boards and other
games on a playground surface. I’ve received
donations and commissions as well. For a full-
time artist, this experience has been a blessing.
Plastic surgeon Geoff Williams, also featured
in March (Make It Matter: “Rays of Hope”), flies
all over the world to repair children’s facial
deformities. His mother, Beverly Williams,
shares his news:
Since you featured the work of my son
with his International Children’s Surgical Foun-
dation, we have received many donations and
favorable remarks. One donation alone was for
$26,000! Last week, Geoff saw 100 patients in
the Philippines, and a recent mission included a
nurse from Pennsylvania, a dentist from Califor-
nia, and a maxillofacial surgeon from Idaho—all
of whom volunteered because of the article.
Thank you, Reader’s Digest!
plan since he was 12 years old—to
design and write video games. He
knew not only what he wanted to do
but also where he wanted to go to
study—a rather expensive special-
ized school that’s 1,000 miles away.
I had my reservations, but I knew
that I had to support him.
Ka ren Harvey, Mansfield, Pennsylvania
7
 with promises, hugs,
and tears.
After my reentry
into civilian life, my
wife and I saved
enough money to
bring Soongook to
America. He gradu-
ated from college,
married, and had
two sons. Sadly, a
few years ago, Soon-
gook had a sudden
heart attack and
passed away. Coving-
ton’s story vividly
reminded me that
only through caring
are we truly attached
“Well, I have bad news for you too.” to others.
Irv in W. Brow n, Fresno, California
Mitchard suggests it’s better to focus
on your passion than to have a back- Time’s Up
up plan in place. This is ludicrous. As long as people keep voting for
Young people need to learn to be re- the same politicians year after year,
sponsible adults, and working extra greed and corruption are only going
hard to have a backup plan won’t to get worse (Outrageous! “We’re
hurt a bit. T homa s H a milton, Irving, Texas Done with Greed”). The two vital
words missing from the Constitu-
A Soldier’s Story tion are term and limits. The absence
Diane Covington’s story “Finding of term limits is one of the reasons
Gilbert” brought back memories we are in this mess today.
of a displaced Korean boy, Soongook Larry Snyder, Greenville, North Carolina
I L L U S T R AT E D B Y B O B E C K S T E I N

Choi, who came into my life while

I was serving in the military during Total Recall
the Korean War. Soongook followed Since the story about my struggle
me wherever he could and became with normal pressure hydrocephalus
my best friend. After two years, I (NPH) appeared (“Forget Some-
had mixed emotions about leaving thing?”), people across the country
him behind when I finally returned have called to share their stories. A
home. My departure was filled woman from Sacramento told me she
8 readersdigest.com 8/09
is being treated for Parkinson’s but,
after reading the article, thinks she’s
been misdiagnosed. Another man,
after learning about my symptoms,
believes he has NPH. I’m amazed by
the response, and I hope my story
helps these people get better.
D onna N a mma r, Cottonwood, California
Your advice about cutting one’s
risk for Alzheimer’s may not work
for everyone. Both before and after
my husband was diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s eight years ago, he
faithfully followed the rules you
mentioned. Cutting out junk food,
going for a walk, and socializing are
all good lifestyle choices, but there
is no guarantee against this disease.
M a zie C. Porter, Soda Springs, Idaho
Card Sharks
Janice Lieberman is right: Credit
card companies can easily take
away what they give (Here’s the
Deal: “Take Control of Debt”). I
had an American Express card for
years and always paid it in full and
on time. Last month, while I was
eating out with my husband, my
card was declined. Fearing identity
theft, I called AmEx right there. To
my surprise, my account had been
canceled—not because of my stand-
ing with American Express, which
was excellent, but because of infor-
mation in my credit report. To can-
cel a card out of the blue like this is
an extremely poor business practice.
Debra Van Wagoner, Midvale, Utah
100 Percent Mom
I was inspired by Becky Ziegel’s
determination to help her son, Ty,
who came back from Iraq with dev-
astating injuries (“Mother Courage”).
My son recently returned from serv-
ice in Afghanistan, and I’m aware of
the uncertainties and anxiety she
must have faced. As Ms. Ziegel says,
“You’re never done being a mom.”
Betty Ann Surratt, Fort Mill, South Carolina
Linda Kramer Jenning writes that
Ty Ziegel is a former Marine. His
title of U.S. Marine should get the
respect it deserves. Once a Marine,
always a Marine. Thank you for your
service and sacrifice, Ty. Semper Fi.
Da na Kittleson, Sawyer, Michigan

How to Reach Us We may edit letters and >> Customer Care

>> Letters to
the Editor
■ letters@readersdigest.com
■ React, Reader’s Digest,
Box 200, Pleasantville,
use them in all print and
electronic media.
>> Submissions
For short humor items,
please see page 67. We
regret that we cannot
Subscriptions, renewals,
gifts, address changes,
payments, account
information, and
inquiries:
■ readersdigest.com/help

New York 10572-0200. accept or acknowledge ■ 877-732-4438

Include your full name, unsolicited artwork, ■ Reader’s Digest,

address, e-mail, and day- photographs, or article- Box 7825, Red Oak,
time phone number. length manuscripts. Iowa 51591-0825 9