Dear Annie: I've never written before, but after reading your response to "President of an Assisted Health Care Service in Kansas" in the Wisconsin State Journal, I felt the need. He said handicapped parking spaces should be used only by those in wheel-chairs. Thank you for your response to this compassionless person.
My 80-year-old mother is probably one of those people he complained about. Mom has a collapsed lung, has had back surgery and is prone to blood clots forming in her one good lung. This makes breathing very difficult at times. Yet if you look at her, she seems fine. It's only when you watch closely that you realize she stops every hundred feet or so to catch her breath. There are days she can barely walk across the living room without stopping to rest.
Sure, the system gets abused, but let's have a little compassion. You never know what problems might be hidden from view.
— Madison, Wis.

Dear Madison: That writer said we could print his name, but we thought that might not be such a good idea. Read on for more reasons why:

From Arizona: My wonderful daughter-in-law has MS. She usually has no trouble walking, but at times she gets a tingling in her legs that tells her she only has a few minutes to find a place to rest. I'd like to kick that Kansas Health Care manager right
where he won't need a wheelchair, but will have trouble walking.

Southwest Florida: I'm handicapped but do not require a wheelchair because I can walk short distances. Once inside the store I latch onto a cart, even if I only need a loaf of bread, because the cart serves nicely as a walker - Those handicapped spaces make a huge difference to me.

Mississippi: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. As a nurse, I know of so many people who, like you said, need every ounce of energy just to breathe. My mother, while not in a wheelchair, is considered handicapped because of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident. She needs that handicapped spot.

Ferndale, Calif.: My best friend has rheumatoid arthritis, and every step he takes is painful. Another friend had major surgery and breathes through a tracheotomy. How could anyone object to shortrning the distance between car and building for these people? I find it appalling that a healthy person would begrudge the slightest favor to those unfortunate enough to need handicapped parking.

Tempo, Ariz.: There should be more handicapped parking, not less. We have over 20 casinos throughout this state, and every one of them has a huge parking lot dedicated to handicapped parking with double-width stalls. Most include an attendant who comes out and helps lift wheelchairs and provide assistance. No wonder so many handicapped people spend time at casinos.

Kansas: I used to wonder about people who parked in handicapped spots and looked as healthy as I did. My significant other just got his handicapped sticker. At the age of 45, he is a victim of MS. Most days he can hardly get out of bed, let alone get around town. On his good days, he can do a little shopping, but to see him get out of the car, you wouldn't guess he was sick.

Midwest: Many malls now offer parking for new or pregnant moms. I never needed to use this parking, but I certainly didn't care if someone else did. I have worked in the medical profession for 25 years, and "Kansas" made some valid points about abuses. I have seen family members use the handicapped spots without the handicapped person in the vehicle. But I disagree on his attitude. He needs a new job.
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