Olive View Staff Saved Daughter’s Life

In response to Barry J. Gibbs’ letter of July 18, in which he stated that Olive View is a miserable hospital and should be closed down, I sincerely hope that Mr. Gibbs has lots of medical insurance and that no member of his family is ever stricken with a financially devastating, life-threatening disease.

Last November, my 26-year-old daughter was a senior at Cal State Northridge three weeks short of earning her degree when an acute form of leukemia was diagnosed at the CSUN Student Health Center. She had no medical insurance. She was admitted to Olive View Medical Center that same day, where she remained for 2 1/2 months, while the doctors and nurses fought to save her life by attacking the cancer with intensive chemotherapy treatments.

She received excellent medical care from all members of the staff.

This was our family’s first contact with the county system. All I can say is thank God for county facilities like Olive View. Close observation convinces me that my daughter would not have received finer care at any private hospital in the Valley. The medical staff at Olive View saved my daughter’s life.

ANN HOLCOMB, Sepulveda