Letter: Generations of grizzly mothers

Published 9:51 pm Monday, August 28, 2017

There are few animals that are more dangerous than a mother grizzly with cubs. Stepping between a mother and her cubs is an invitation to death.

When I look over the room, where our Save Our Hospital group meets every Sunday night, I see three generations of grizzly mothers. Counting their children that marched at the rally and parades, four generations are involved

For most grizzly mamas, this is the the first time they have been involved in an activity of this magnitude. The first time they have attended a city council or county commissioners meeting. They called, emailed, wrote letters to a corporate chairman and their elected representatives — all firsts.

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They participated in a rally, wrote editorials, manned a fair booth, marched in parades, sold T-shirts and signs, asked for donations, navigated Facebook — all firsts. Most stepped far, far outside their comfort zone. They should be very proud of themselves.

Nurses get a special thank you. You were the canaries in the coal mine.

I sensed the outrage in the high school auditorium when Mayo officials made their presentation. But never in my wildest dreams did I envision this rage could be channeled into a force that could move mountains. I’m sure Mayo did not expect it either.

I watch as ideologies are parked at the door. By shear force of numbers and persuasion, we got the city council and county commissioners to act together — and quickly. Unheard of! We got the attention of our elected officials and our congressman and senators. Even Minnesota’s attorney general is involved.

As I look at the ever-growing crowd, I began to wonder, why do we have so many more women than men involved?

Slowly I came to a conclusion, it is the women who are the caregivers.

They give birth, nurture, care for and advise their children. Often they become the primary caregivers to aging parents and grandparents.

Women understand the need for a local hospital far better than men do.

They need to know that help is near when its time to give birth, when a child is sick or breaks a bone, when a parent or mate’s health begins to fail.

The grizzly male is every bit as dangerous, but we have far fewer men involved in this endeavor. The ones we do have are fantastic and committed.

However, as males, we often stand off to the side and let our mates do the comforting during times of crises. We do not have quite the same bond as a mother and child does. Empathy is genetically hardwired into a female’s DNA. For women the hospital is deeply personal.

Men are more likely to be pragmatic and see what the loss of a hospital will do to a community’s economy.

The Save Our Hospital group meets at 6 p.m. every Sunday at the American Legion in Albert Lea. Please come and join us; it’s an uplifting experience. Your support is needed. Together we shall prevail.

Don Sorensen

Albert Lea