I listened to her voicemail message and wrote down her number that she had left and intended to call her back the next day or so, but things have been a little busy in my house lately with my son getting ready to graduate high school, and it kept slipping my mind to call her back. Sometimes I would remember about calling her at night when I'm working the night shift, but you can't go calling people at 2 or 3 O'clock in the morning, and I would forget to call later in the day.
But finally, a couple of days ago, I called Pam one morning after I got off of work. The phone rang about 8 times and then her voicemail kicked in. I started to leave a message telling her that I was sorry I hadn't returned her call sooner, when a somewhat faint voice interrupted. "Hello"
I told Pam who I was and she said she hoped that I had gotten her message thanking me and she was afraid that maybe she had dialed the wrong number. I told her I had been meaning to call her. Then I asked her how she was doing, to which Pam replied, "Not so well". She then told me that she had just had a "minor" heart attack, and that she was not feeling very well. She had an appointment to see a cardiologist in a few days. She told me that she thinks the reason she had a heart attack was because of all the stress that she's gone through since the tornado, and then proceeded to recount how she had arranged for her and her mother to live in a FEMA trailer, only to later find out that, since she had found a place to live in the interim since applying for the trailer, she was no longer eligible for the FEMA trailer. She told me that she had put down $125.00 to have the gas turned on at the trailer, and she has not gotten that money back. This is very sad. If they ever give out an award for the Greatest American Hero, I vote for Pam Whitaker to receive this award. God Bless Pam and God Bless America! I am writing concerning Pam Whitaker, a tornado victim from LaFayette, TN, who was featured in a very poignant segment on CNN's American Morning. I spoke with Pam yesterday and I am sorry to report that she is not doing very well. She has received little, if any help from our government agencies whose job it is supposed to be to help Americans who are victims of natural disasters. Among other things, Pam told me that she contacted someone at CNN to request a CD of the segment in which she was interviewed (without shoes immediately after the tornado). She had been promised by the reporter who interviewed her that she would receive a copy of the segment. She was told when she called that she needed to send $50.00 for the transcript, to which she replied, "If I had fifty dollars.....". That is shameful that CNN would not follow up on its promise to provide her with a copy. She still has not seen the gripping interview she gave to CNN. It would be very interesting and fitting for CNN to do a follow up story on this poor woman, detailing the LACK of help she has received from government agencies. I hope very much that you will contact her to show the American people the devastating impact such a disaster can have on people. CNN's viewers need to hear and learn about "the rest of the story". I trust that CNN will do the honorable thing and hopefully serve as an advocate for this brave and selfless woman who has fallen on some very hard times. She recently experienced a minor heart attack which she attributes to the stress and ordeal of the tornado's aftermath and the lack of support she has received in her time of dire need. Thank you for focusing your network's attention, and ultimately the entire country's attention, on what is clearly an ineffective system of providing disaster relief efforts to deserving Americans.
She also told me that President Bush came to Lafayette, TN shortly after the tornadoes had ripped through. She said that Bush wanted to meet her, but she refused to meet him and shake his hand for the cameras. I told her I was very proud of her for doing that, since in my humble opinion, he is one of the most evil men to walk this planet. She said she was not about to go down there and shake his hand in front of a bunch of cameras. Pam told me that all of the town's survivors of the tornado each received the sum total of $1000 shortly after the tornado. She said that the Red Cross issued credit cards for victims to use, but as soon as all the camera crews and visiting presidents departed, the credit cards were inactivated.
This is pathetic! What do we pay taxes for in this country if not so that our government agencies can help those who are the most in need? This poor woman deserves to be treated so much better than she has been by a corrupt administration that is only interested in photo opportunities and cares nothing about those who are suffering.
I suggested to Pam that she write her Tennessee Senators and Representatives and inform them about the horrible treatment she has received. She replied that she was planning to do that hopefully sometime in the future, but for now she was focusing on taking care of her mother. I said she should travel to their offices and meet them in person. She said she would if she could afford the gas to drive anywhere and that if she were going to do something like that, it would have to wait until the first of the month when her disability check arrives, because at the end of the month, there is no money left for traveling expenses.
I am ashamed of the way my country treats its own people. I think it's great that we donate lots of aid to foreign countries, but I believe that charity starts at home. It is tragic how somehow we seem to expect nothing less than this type of behavior from our government 's agencies which are supposed to be helping those in need.
Today I sent the following message to CNN:
