Grateful For This Town

To the Editor:

As the mom of a child who is medically fragile, in a wheelchair, and who has more issues than I could ever post... life is challenging. The challenges are everywhere, medically, emotionally, and financially. Staying in Newtown is the biggest goal I have because we are raising our family here.

Two years ago this community rallied to help us renovate our home for Daniel. Daniel is 13 now. He is still at Reed in a special education program called STARR. He has scoliosis now to add to his list of issues. I just wanted to say thank you to Newtown for being so kind to us. Our life just gets more complicated. But since Daniel loves to swim we took him over to Treadwell Park, and to my amazement there was a covered, paved, shaded area which made it easier to care for him safely. I appreciate that... and so does Daniel. I never know from one minute to the next if we will be in the hospital or having fun. But being in a town that cares has really helped.

It’s not easy being that Mom at football or the pool with the kid in the wheelchair. But I also have two other children who deserve a normal childhood and the more open people are to Daniel... the easier it is on our family. Thanks for your help. Especially some anonymous folks who have helped us, too. I am grateful for this town and so is Daniel!

Julie Hasselberger

35 Bennetts Bridge Road, Sandy Hook                      August 8, 2011