I always wondered why I had such an easygoing life and everybody else’s seemed to have big ups and downs of bad situations happening to them.

Well, my turn came now. I have a daughter in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Her name is Claire Timmers, she is 40 years old and six months pregnant. I have not heard from her for 14 days as I write this letter.

So many things go through my mind when I see the news, pictures and videos about how devastated the island was left after Hurricane Maria. I picture her running out of candles and batteries for her flashlight, making her nights horrible. No radio, no TV, no music that can calm her down. No way to see where she is stepping if she needs the bathroom in the middle of the night. No water to drink, no water to flush the toilet, no water to bathe!

Food? Hmm, not much of that I imagine. As I take a bite of my food, I think that most likely, she has none. Her baby will be able to take from her body whatever is there, but not for long. Soon, she will get weak and perhaps need a hospital, which now is not in working condition and has no supplies.

I could go on thinking of other situations but I think you have seen them all on TV.

I just ask that if you find it in your heart to help these suffering souls, you donate whatever you can to the American Red Cross, Maria Hurricane cause. That much-needed help will go to them. Reconstruction will take years, so whatever we can spare will be well received.