Letters to the editor: Wife of Akron teacher who was assaulted years ago urges solutions
Head trauma changes teacher's life
Violence in our schools is nothing new (“In harm's way,” Nov. 6), but it must be addressed. My husband, John Wroe, was assaulted by a student at Akron's Garfield High School while breaking up an assault on another teacher across the hall. He was knocked unconscious from a blow to the head with a lead pipe and paramedics were called. The teens got what amounted to a slap on the wrist — they were juveniles.
A few years later, at age 45, John had a brain bleed (stroke) which the neurosurgeon said was due to head trauma. His left side was paralyzed. He learned to walk again with a left leg he couldn't feel. His left arm and hand useless and the left side of everything else not working — even his throat. He had to retire early from a job he loved. He endured his disability for 27 years. Every year he got older it got harder. His right side worn out from doing double duty.
He didn't complain much and chose to “get better, not bitter.” Not many people would do that. He was exceptional. John is in heaven now. On Sept. 19, God gave him his reward at the young age of 73. He is now whole and happy. We miss him terribly.
Violence in our schools and everywhere needs to get under control. God help us all.
Cyndy Wroe, Mogadore
Plan B increase makes no sense
Someone help me out here. We will now pay $170.10 for Medicare Plan B, according to the Nov. 14 article “Medicare premium to jump $21.60 a month in 2022.” The officials stated a new Alzheimer’s drug is responsible for the increase, yet this new medicine does not cure dementia. They are hoping it reduces clumps of plaque to slow the disease but that benefit hasn’t been determined yet. So what does the drug do?
Medicare has begun a formal assessment to determine whether it should cover the drug and a final decision may not be until spring. So I am paying for an increase that is not even approved yet.
More: Shopping for 2022 Medicare plans? Start here
Again, the people who rely on Social Security and Medicare the most will get hurt the worst. Not everyone will be getting the $92 cost-of-living increase that is projected as an average.
Patricia Ray, Akron
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Letters to the editor: Remembering Akron teacher who was left disabled
