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I wrote and sent this letter to Ivan and Mr. Evans on Friday. Ivan has given me permission to share it with all. Dear Mr. Evans; I read with great appreciation that you were going to help Ivan Suzman, a person with Parkinson's Disease, fight to keep his home and get the taxes reduced or stopped due to his situation. Now I understand that the "heavy hands" of your corporation have caused you to cease and desist in this noble undertaking. I'm assuming that you have a family and must have a job to survive, as we all do, however, I would hope that your initial instincts to help another in dire straits was more than a passing fancy. If you haven't read John Grisham's book "Street Lawyer" I would recommend it to your firms partners as "required" reading as "food for thought". I don't expect you to give up what you have but perhaps with your contacts you could assist in finding Ivan legal counsel that does care and can and will fight for the down trodden. If you are not up on Parkinson's Disease and it's affects on it's victims you might take a look into the Parkinson's web site, www.parkinsonsinfo.com/about_parkinsons/, and learn just how this disease robs it's victims. Parkinson's can be slow or rapid in progression but steadily and eventually the effects of it will cause death. There is no cure as yet. The victims of this disease are not only the PWP but the families and caregivers as well. What is truly amazing, marvelous and wonderful is the Faith, Strength, Humility, Love, Spirit and Support they all have for others all over the world. They celebrate victories like being able to button a shirt, putting on their own socks and shoes, eating, getting out of a chair and walking across a room without assistance. Most are not people that are recognized world wide for great achievements, positions or for being celebrities. They are, however, hard working, as long as they can be, contributing members of society and family folks fighting a debilitating disease that is not as recognized nor as understood as others. They are rarely in the spotlight, don't get awards for heroism yet they fight, never give up hope and display a COURAGE that is rarely seen and almost never recognized. They are the true HEROS of the world. The cost of the medications that they must take to have any independence and relief from the disease are excessive. So funds become limited as earning ability is reduced or stopped and stress increases. Stress is the one thing that a PWP does not need in their life as it just increases the debilitating affects of the disease. I am not a PWP, but I can tell you I would be very stressed if I was threatened with the loss of my home. Think how Ivan must feel with the roller coaster ride the City of Portland and the State of Maine has put him through. How he has been taken to the brink of being helped and then abandoned at the eleventh hour. All those involved need to look deep within their hearts and souls and pray for guidance and forgiveness if they succeed in dislodging Ivan from his home. One must ask, is it greed and power that drives a society to reach conclusions instead of compassion and individual cases? We live in the richest country in the world, and it is sad and very disturbing that our elderly, sick and poor are treated with such disdain and cast aside by our City, County, State and Federal Governments as well as by companies and individuals that can and should help. As a former police officer and paramedic dealing with all classes of society I consistently found, and still find, that the truly grateful were those that have the least. Perhaps it is because they don't expect anything, while those that have much to be thankful for seem to believe it is their right or that it is owed to them. I sincerely hope that you will find it in your heart to at least try and locate a legal counsel who will be willing and able to help Ivan with his situation. In the mean time I want to extend the following to you and yours: The Spirit of the Season -- PEACE The Gladness of the Season -- HOPE The Heart of the Season -- LOVE Remember God said -- "What You Do For The Least Of My People You Do To Me" Please help Ivan find counsel. God Bless, Byrna D. Hylander PT/CG JRJO 78/6 (PT/CG=Part Time CareGiver, 78/6 Age/years afflicted) _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com