I have been a nurse at Massapequa General Hospital for 31 years. I've witnessed and been part of many heartbreaking situations and quite a few miracles. I've seen the birth of ICCU and ASU, as well as the evolution of the ER from a single pantry size room to the state of the art ER it is today.

For many of our patients, their introduction to MGH was a matter of convenience ¬ nearby hospital to get a stitch or set a broken bone. For others it may have been a life-threatening situation where an ambulance took them to the closest hospital. But time after time, and year after year, our patients tell us it was the care they received that kept them coming back.

MGH is a small hospital, 122 beds all told. Its size gives us the advantage to know the patients and their families, and to provide physical care and emotional support to those who are in need. As a staff, we've provided winter coats for a hosptalized mother and her children after observing their lack of warm clothes on a bitter-cold day. We've fed the family of a young man on life support who could no longer provide for them. We've given a "candlelight" dinner to a critically ill man and his wife celebrating their 25th and last anniversary. We did this from our own pocketbooks and with our hearts. How could we give anything but the highest quality of care to those whom we cared so much about? Be assured that on the sad day when MGH closes its doors, it will be solely due to financial problems. The staff of MGH finds Emil Coppola's (president of the Joint Council of Civic Associations of the Massapequas) criticism of this care is hurtful, insulting, and ignorant. He won't be the first person in public office who doesn't know what he is talking about.

Our staff is proud to have been a part of the MGH family. We are all blessed to have served this community. We will always remember MGH as the little hospital with the big heart.

Barbara Chiesa