THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 18, 1995 TAG: 9511170012
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
When the famous and infamous alike blame ``the media'' for all ills that befall them, and cry ``misquote'' and ``out of context,'' baring our hearts to your reporter was a very frightening prospect. We believe that our experience needs to be shared, so we took the risk.
Staff writer Marie Joyce is a compassionate human being and a great talent. Those who know us and who read her account of our experience with our daughter's battle with AIDS (Daily Break, Nov. 2) said that as they read the article it was as if they heard us speaking.
Ms. Joyce captured the emotions behind the words. She seemed to know which facts were the most important to emphasize, and she consistently told our story exactly as we related it to her.
We cannot find words to express the degree of our gratitude for her sensitivity, insight and empathy.
We want to share the love we gave and received while caring for our daughter. It is our fondest wish that other parents who face the prospect of losing a child, of any age, to a fatal illness will take heart from our experience and learn to treasure each day their child remains on Earth.
We pray that these parents will find strength to give their child the most important thing needed - parental love and company.
Marie Joyce has given us the courage to continue to share as often as it is necessary. We are grateful to her and The Virginian-Pilot for having the courage to print the account of a tragedy in a climate of hope.
ARLINE and HAROLD JARASHOW
Virginia Beach, Nov. 5, 1995 by CNB