I am writing to let you know of a good deed done by our Miss-Lou community.  My name is Margaret Shirey. Some call me Maggie.

In August 2010, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Doctors said it was the size of a small lemon and one of the largest they had ever seen. I am 63 years old with no health insurance. Two of my friends, Donna Herndon and Jonathan Weathersby understood my plight and started a fundraiser on my behalf.

I was treated at LSU Hospital in New Orleans. It is a teaching hospital and helps people with no insurance; but I still had to get there.

My surgery was Sept. 16. After two weeks in the hospital I got to come home. Although, I do have some physical problems the doctors say they are only temporary.

Everything was going fine for about two weeks, then fluid begin to build in my head, accompanied by severe headaches. I went by ambulance to LSU Hospital where another surgery took place. I stayed about three weeks in the hospital with two of those weeks in intensive care. I was released Nov. 19.

God has blessed me so much. The fundraiser helped with my trips to New Orleans; but most of all knowing of our community’s help did my heart a world of good.  Most of these people I do not know, but they helped anyway.

We live on tight budgets and in a bad economy, and still these people helped, young and old alike. I could not have had the help I needed without the community’s support.

I just wish I could thank them each personally.

I have had two surgeries to my head and one to my right eye. All this was within two months. The doctor removed 98 percent of the tumor and it is not malignant.

I don’t have to have chemotherapy or radiation.

What I am saying is God has been good to me; He let me know people in this day still want to help others.

Thanks, Miss-Lou. You did good.

Merry Christmas.

Maggie Shirey

Vidalia resident