To the editor:
As many of you are aware I have, as of late, encountered some difficult sledding.
I was on my way home from session in Augusta on Feb. 5th when I realized that I would be unable to complete the trip. I immediately drove to The Aroostook Medical Center (TAMC) in Presque Isle. When I entered the emergency room they immediately assessed the situation as a heart attack and went into action. The care was extremely excellent and within an hour I was on my way to the Cardiac Unit of the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. It is my firm belief that the decisive and prompt action of TAMC saved my life. In Bangor the excellent care continued and after doing a necessary procedure on me, I was stabilized. I continued onto Portland at the recommendation of the team in Bangor and continue to make excellent progress. I expect be in a rehabilitation center by the time you read this.
As many of you realize the road to recovery can sometimes be a long and lonely journey. I can specifically remember one night — my mouth being extremely dry and my back feeling like I was lying in hot sand. I looked at the clock and it was 1 a.m., what seemed like an hour later I looked at the clock again, but only five minutes had passed. I remember asking the Lord not to abandon me and was finally able to fall asleep. The very next morning my wife brought me hundreds of get-well messages, cards and flowers — from you the people of District 3. Through your letters and well wishes I found the strength to turn the corner and realized through you, God indeed did not abandon me.
I want to sincerely thank each and every one of you for taking the time to think of me and offer your support, your encouragement and your kind words which mean so much to myself and my family.
As always it is a great honor for me to represent you in Augusta on behalf of the great State of Maine. I look forward to thanking each of you in person and if I have learned anything from this experience it is the importance of humility and compassion for the weak and vulnerable in our society.
Caswell
