Dear Editor,

In September 2007, Janet's elderly mother (Lois Prewitt) came to live with us in Batesville following her diagnosis with stage-four lung cancer. Living alone on a farm out of state was going to make it next to impossible for her to get to her daily treatments. We believed that The Hansen Center and Margaret Mary Community Hospital would be the best for her.

Her local hospital and the nearby university hospital had not provided the care and treatment the family knew were needed. While she succumbed to the dreaded disease on Dec. 28, the time she spent in Batesville was the best that she could receive.

During her three months at our home while taking more than 30 days of treatment at The Hansen Center, 911 had to be called four times, and she was in MMCH on five separate occasions. During the final days of her life, she also spent time at both St. Andrews and The Waters nursing homes.

We cannot begin to thank everyone and every organization that did their best for her. The Hansen Center, MMCH, Dr. Mary Robertson and other doctors, the Home Health Care nurses, the nursing homes and our neighbors helped our family through this difficult time.

We are proud to be a part of this community and the people and organizations that make it a great place to live.

Fred and Janet Sagester, Batesville