[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 79 (Friday, May 12, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6589-S6590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         HONORING A COURAGEOUS YOUNG GIRL, AND CARING COMMUNITY

  Mr. KEMPTHORNE. Mr. President, I would like to spend just a moment 
talking about a courageous young girl in my hometown of Boise, ID.
  Nine-year-old Susie Hamilton, a bright, vivacious, and loving girl 
suffers from a rare and deadly form of leukemia. She has been in and 
out of hospitals in Boise, Salt Lake City, and Seattle for the past 8 
months. A bone marrow transplant is her last hope for life.
  Mr. President, Susie is blessed with two outstanding parents who are 
leaders in the community. Her father, Steve, is a Boise Fire Department 
battalion chief, dedicated to saving lives. I have worked with him 
personally on a variety of projects. Her mother, Becky, works at Boise 
Cascade Corp. Both have spent many long hours away from their jobs to 
tend to Susie's needs.
  There have been some rough times for Susie, Steve, and Becky. I would 
like to read from a newspaper column by Tim Woodward in the Idaho 
Statesman, who wrote about this family:

       Leukemia along is bad enough, but there were other 
     heartbreaks. When a match was found for a donor after 
     hundreds of tests, the donor turned out to have hepatitis. 
     Susie got it through a transfusion. Last month, she had to 
     have a lung removed. When a doctor praised her courage, she 
     whispered, ``What choice, do I have? I want to live.''

  The community has responded, raising over $12,000 to offset medical 
bills. Today there is a silent auction at Susie's school to raise 
money. Boise firefighters have switched shifts so Steve can spend time 
with Susie. Boise Cascade has given Becky as much time off as she 
needs, and has even given the family use of the corporate jet to fly to 
Seattle.
  This ribbon I am wearing, Mr. President, is just one more sign of the 
community's willingness to rally around their neighbor. Members of the 
police and fire departments, sheriff's department, workers at Boise 
Cascade, Susie's classmates and teachers, employees at city hall, and 
others in Boise are wearing these ribbons to show their support for the 
family.
  I would like to read this letter I just received from Susie's 
grandmother, Barbara Dennett:

       My Granddaughter, Susie, was diagnosed with adult leukemia 
     in October of 1994 and since then has endured prolonged 
     hospitalization for chemotherapy and several surgery's in 
     Salt Lake. Susie is now in Seattle undergoing preparations 
     for a bone-marrow transplant. This is her only chance to 
     overcome the leukemia--her only hope for survival.
       After searching for 8 months for a bone marrow match, isn't 
     it ironic that on this 50th anniversary of World War II's 
     death and horror, a German soldier will be the donor to save 
     the life of a little 9 year old girl in America. I believe 
     this to be a noteworthy occasion.
       This soldier was scheduled to go out on maneuvers, which 
     would delay the bone marrow transplant 15 more days, but 
     chose to make himself available for the draw instead stating 
     he did not wish for her to suffer a minute longer than 
     necessary. His bone marrow will be hand delivered from 
     Germany to Seattle. Hand carried, the transplant will begin 
     the minute it arrives.
       Thank you for your time and consideration in seeing that 
     President Clinton receives this information. When I told 
     Susie, that every one was praying for her all over the world, 
     she ask ``even the President of the United States?'' How 
     could I answer with anything other than ``yes, even the 
     President''. A card or call from him would go a long way in 
     helping her believe that we are all telling her the truth 
     when we say that there is always hope that she will be well 
     again and a bright future lies ahead.

  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to enter this letter into the 
Record. I also ask unanimous consent that the newspaper article be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

               Special 9-Year-Old Touches a City's Heart

                           (By Tim Woodward)

       If you've seen a Boise firefighter lately, you may have 
     noticed he was wearing a purple ribbon on his uniform.
       They're wearing purple at City Hall, too. The mayor, city 
     council members and other office workers all have purple 
     ribbons pinned to their clothing.
       Purple ribbons dot lapels at the Boise Cascade Corp., the 
     Ada County Sheriff's Department, Life Care Center, hospitals, 
     doctors' offices, Highlands School.
       The ribbons are symbols of support for a kid who has had 
     more bad luck than any 9-year-old deserves. Susie Hamilton 
     has a rare and deadly form of leukemia. She has been out of 
     hospitals nine days in the past eight months. A bone marrow 
     transplant is her last hope for life.
       Steve Hamilton, Susie's father, is a battalion chief with 
     the Boise Fire Department. Hamilton has dedicated his life to 
     saving lives. Now his fellow firefighters are helping him in 
     the fight to save his daughter's life.
       When Susie got sick, the firefighters donated shifts so her 
     father could be with her. When she needed a marrow donor, the 
     firefighters raised $4,000 and added 527 names to the donor 
     registry.
       Susie's mother, Becky Hamilton, works at Boise Cascade. The 
     company not only extended her leave time, it flew the family 
     to Seattle in a corporate jet when Susie needed to see a 
     specialist there.
       On May 12, the fire department, Boise Cascade employees, 
     the sheriff's department, Highlands School and civic groups 
     will sponsor a silent auction to raise money for medical 
     expenses. Businesses
      have donated raft trips, airplane rides, bicycles and other 
     prizes. The auction will be at Highlands, Susie's school.
       ``Everywhere we go, whether it's the hospital in Salt Lake 
     or the one in Seattle, the people we work with are just 
     amazed at the support network we have in Boise,'' Steve 
     Hamilton said. ``They say it's unheard of in this day and age 
     to have that kind of community involvement.''
       So far, Boiseans have donated more than $12,000 to the 
     Susie Hamilton Leukemia Account (200 N. 4th St, Boise, ID 
     83702). Velma Morrison dropped by last week with a check for 
     $2,500.
       One of Susie's grandmothers helped her write a children's 
     book. ``Lillie the Laughing Giraffe Loses Her Spots and 
     That's No Laughing Matter'' will go on sale May 12. Boise's 
     Legendary Publishing Co. donated its services. All of the 
     proceeds will be used for Susie's medical expenses.
       ``Boise is known as the City of Trees, but to me it's the 
     city of love,'' Susie said. ``. . . I've learned a lot about 
     love and friendship and caring since I got sick. I want to 
     thank everyone who has helped me--my friends, my family and 
     people I'll never get a chance to meet.''
       Leukemia alone is bad enough, but there were other 
     heartbreaks. When a match was found for a donor after 
     hundreds of tests, the donor turned out to have hepatitis. 
     Susie got it through a transfusion.
       Last month, she had to have a lung removed. When a doctor 
     praised her courage, she whispered, ``What choice do I have? 
     I want to live.''
       The search for a donor was worldwide. The winner: a soldier 
     in the German army. The transplant will be May 10, in 
     Seattle.
       Hundreds of people will be thinking about a brave little 
     girl that day.
       They'll be saying prayers, wearing purple ribbons, hoping a 
     miracle will save a life that has touched a city's heart.

[[Page S6590]]

     
                                                                    ____
  Mr. KEMPTHORNE. I have good news today, Mr. President. Susie Hamilton 
underwent 15 hours of surgery yesterday at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer 
Center in Seattle, receiving the bone marrow from that German soldier. 
I am pleased to say early reports are positive, and the prognosis is 
good.
  Mr. President, I will be sending a ribbon just like this to the White 
House today so that President Clinton can affirm to Susie through 
correspondence that everyone is praying for her speedy and thorough 
recovery so that we can all affirm that there is always hope where 
there is prayer, and that truly people all over the world are praying 
for Susie, and to acknowledge the support of the community of Boise and 
all of Susie's friends as they rally around a neighbor, which I think 
is the spirit that does bring about not only hope but the positive 
results that we want.
  Mr. President, I thank you. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the role.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that I 
might proceed now as in morning business.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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