In January, our 6-year-old daughter was hospitalized at Maine Medical Center with a rare and serious illness, bacterial meningitis. It was a difficult and emotional time for our family and without the support from family, friends and the community, our daughter’s ordeal would have been harder to bear.

We cannot thank people enough for the outpouring of support we received, the phone calls and meals, the prayers and get-well wishes, the cards, visits and gifts, which brightened our daughter’s days in the hospital (and ours, too!) and afterward.

In addition to family and friends, we would also like to thank teachers/staff and students at Eight Corners School, the priest and parishioners at St. Maximillian Kolbe church, students and teachers at Stardancers Inc., Wright Express and Bessworth Child-Care. We would like to express our gratitude to our neighbors who came to our aid that first night, when our daughter was admitted to the hospital, and to all the doctors, nurses and staff at Maine Medical Center who treated and cared for our daughter, including the Emergency Department staff who worked so quickly to diagnose and treat our daughter.

The volunteer staff in the children’s playroom were wonderful. When our daughter felt better, she looked forward to the playroom for games and arts and crafts.

Prayers for our daughter have been answered. She is home now, doing well and fully recovered from her illness. For this, we are especially grateful.

Lynne and Sam Rinaldi

Scarborough