Stories

"I can rest easy…"
Recently, an island resident wrote to the Mission telling us how important Island Health Services is to her and her family. She observed that it was difficult to schedule appointments and expensive to go off island for a doctor's appointment. She said that, since using the Sunbeam's telemedicine services, she has a better relationship with her doctor and her children's doctors. "When I'm too busy and involved in my work and children, she [Nurse Sharon Daley] is spending the time scheduling my appointments and making calls to figure out what I should be doing for follow up care. Sharon definitely goes above and beyond the call of duty because she cares about so many different people when they don’t find the time to care for themselves. If she is doing all of these things for one family, on one island, you can only imagine the impact she has on hundreds of lives on all of the other islands. I can honestly say that, with this program, I can rest easy knowing my medical needs are being met by such a dedicated and successful group."

"A needed balm…"
This is a very belated personal note of thanks for your much appreciated presentation of the Mission’s work to the Beal’s Historical Society. As I then briefly mentioned, my mother’s mother in the 1930s was the recipient of the Mission’s medical services. My grandmother was transported by the Sunbeam II, at least once and most probably twice, to the Bar Harbor Hospital where (apparently) a bone specialist from Boston removed a portion of a diseased hip bone and replaced it with a metal rod. There was also an extensive rehabilitation period in a Centerville home which I assume the Mission also provided. And of course, who could forget the “trademark” gifts wrapped in white paper and tied with red string that most, if not all, Beals Island children received at Christmas. In the more recent past, I believe my daughter Carmen received one of the Mission’s scholarships. As long as there are humans inhabiting the islands, towns, and hamlets that hug the much loved rock bound coast of Maine, the Mission’s services will continue to be a needed balm to help soothe the hard knocks of life. I only wish the enclosed gift could be a hundred or even a thousand times greater.