Editor, The Herald:

My mother was recently hospitalized at Centra Southside Community Hospital, and I wanted to let the community know that the staff at Centra Southside are among the most professional and competent of any hospital in the area.

On December 17, my mother was discharged from Centra Southside Community Hospital. As we were unpacking my mother's things, my sister discovered that her personal journals, which she had been keeping for several years, were left in my mother's room at Centra Southside Community Hospital. My sister was heartbroken. These were years of her personal thoughts and ideas that were gone in an instant.

We returned to Centra Southside and spoke to Ms. Karen Hurt in the Environmental Services department. Ms. Hurt immediately gathered employees Patrick Ross and Hilton Mayton. We quickly proceeded to the rear of the hospital and Mr. Ross and Mr. Mayton climbed up the side of the dumpster and proceeded to go through the trash looking for my sister's journals! After approximately 15-20 minutes of sifting through bags and bags of disgusting trash, my sister's journals were found!!!

Ms. Hurt, Mr. Mayton, and Mr. Ross went above and beyond to help us, and we are so very grateful to them, and to Centra Southside for having the quality of staff that would work that hard to help a total stranger.

Lisa R. Smith

Cumberland