Phobia or Infection?

I have just finished reading “School Phobia,” Dr. Ray Guarendi's answer to T.O. in Lancaster, Pa., in the April 15 “Family Matters” column.

I wish to relate a similar incident concerning our son, who was at the time about the same age as the child mentioned in the question. Our son had just gotten over strep throat. Shortly thereafter, he complained about not feeling well.

We took him back to the doctor, who could find nothing wrong with him. He had a very low-grade fever and complained about his stomach hurting. We continued to send him to school. But when the school called and said our child was sick, we again took him back to the doctor. I really felt there was something physically wrong with him, because I knew him well and knew that he was an “open” child. If things bothered him, he told us.

The doctor could find nothing wrong and suggested we have him examined by another physician, which we did. However, I knew the minute we walked into his office and the physician began questioning our son about school (and totally ignoring me) that the physician thought it was all in his head and that Mom was a “hovering” mom. He felt his stomach and concluded nothing was wrong. We departed. I was furious.

Our son at one point said, “You do believe me, don't you?” Yes, I did. In my past I had been to doctors for years for not feeling well, only to find out from a neighbor that my symptoms sounded like someone she knew and that person was allergic to caffeine. And so was I. So I decided we would try an allergist.

Well, guess what. He listened to both my son and me and, after extensive testing, skin tests and other regular tests, he took a simple urine test, only to find blood in our son's urine. He suggested we go back to our family physician with the results and ask for further testing.

We did as suggested. Our doctor ran another urine test, finding blood a second time. He was a bit shaken up and said it was not a fluke. He did some tests and found out that our son again was suffering a strep infection.

I shudder to think about the kidney or heart damage our son could be suffering today, had I not listened to him. Instead, today he is a healthy 21-year-old junior in college. (I did write the consulted physician a letter — thought, perhaps, he might at least listen to a concerned mom and, perhaps, save the health of some other child.)

Now I'm not saying that every child who complains of not feeling well is suffering from a strep infection, but I am saying that every mom should listen to her child and that doctors should not be too quick to think the child is feigning an illness just because he doesn't want to go to school.

I'm not trying to play doctor here; it is just that whenever I hear of incidents like this I think of our son and thank God that we found the cause. Thank you for listening.

MARY MULLIGAN

Garden City, Missouri

Away With McVeigh

First off, when the Murrah Building was destroyed, I thought, like many people, that it was another attack by an Islamic extremist and, like you, I was appalled that it was one of our own. The question here is whether McVeigh deserves to die for his crime.

In “Does Timothy McVeigh Deserve the Death Penalty?” (April 15-21), you quoted No. 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which also states, “the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.”

I would think that Timothy McVeigh meets the definition of an “unjust aggressor.” As a Catholic I don't believe in the death penalty as a means of punishment as life in prison would be bad enough.

But what of the families of the victims? Are they willing to forgive McVeigh for his crime? It is an easy thing to say you forgive someone, but it is another to really mean it.

They [the families] are the ones who are hurting here.

Will this execution of McVeigh bring back their loved ones? No. But it might bring this whole nasty episode in their shattered lives to a close.

JOHN A. FRIEDLAND JR.

Eatontown, New Jersey

Editor's Note: For the Register's opinion on the matter of Timothy McVeigh and the death penalty, visit www.ncregister.com. Click on “Editor's Picks,” then “Editorial: Divine Mercy for McVeigh.”

Kudos All Around

I thought that Susan Baxter's column “To My Daughter on Her Confirmation” (April 15-21) was delightful and beautifully written. And while I'm at it, may I say that I look forward each week to reading the Register for its fine coverage of Catholic news.

MICHAEL MCBRIDE

Brooklyn, New York

Make Noise in the Marketplace

Doug Scott, president of Life Decisions International, has accomplished one of the most significant goals for the pro-life movement ("Targeting Corporate Sponsors of Planned Parenthood,” April 22). His approach is an example to many dioceses and parishes through the United States and the world. He goes to the corporations that supply our everyday purchases in retail, wholesale and industrial products, and asks that our money doesn't go to abortion.

A formidable effort could be launched if each parish were to use his lists of who supports what.

I write as a worker who services a Target Superstore and is proud to be of service to Target and all of its guests. Thank you for a fine article. We will support Life Decisions International as best as we can.

JIM VONDRAS

Florissant, Missouri

Hands Off Our Crime Control

The letter from Max Venzor poses the question: “Why is Gun Control a Dirty Word?” (April 22-28).

There are a number of suggestions to be offered on how best to address the culture of death. First, the statistics regarding elimination of firearms in Australia would be the place to begin. Gun owners in Australia were forced by a new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms in 1996 at a cost to the taxpayers of more than $500 million. Did the elimination of guns reduce assaults? Consider these statistics:

Australian homicides are up 3.2%, assaults are up 8.6% and armed robberies are up 44%. In the state of Victoria, homicides with firearms are now up 300%. Figures over the previous 25 years indicated a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms. This has changed drastically upward since criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed.

Guns in the hands of citizens save lives and property.

A second suggestions is that Mr. Venzor take action to stop the violence and gun-happy, so-called “entertainment” that is found not only in his home, but every home in America today. [T]he average teen watches 40 hours of violence and assault with guns. …

Mr. Venzor can begin an assault on gun violence by petitioning his neighbors and fellow church members to deluge TV sponsors with requests to reduce gun violence on shows they subsidize. The problem lies in his living room.

JOHN L. VOLANSKI

Painesville, Ohio

Editor's note: Reason magazine has investigated the statistics cited in this letter. The article took some exception with the homicide figure, but said the others are “on firmer ground.” The Reason article can be found at: www.reason.com/0010/ci.js.html.