And this has nothing to do with children's books, but since my brother, Tracy Young, is career Air Force and in the midst of various conflicts he can't tell me about (when he vanishes from our regular weekly emails, I know he's in a battlezone), I wanted to post this in support of all of our troops, may they come home healthy, whole, and soon. - Roxyanne Young

Phone Cards Connect Us With Wounded

Yellow ribbons tied around trees and red, white and blue stickers on the backs SUVs saying "Support our Troops" are things that make civilians feel good but do nothing for the men and women actually in uniform.

So please consider the following:

The number ONE request at Walter Reed hospital is phone cards. The government doesn't pay long distance phone charges and these wounded soldiers are rationing their calls home.

Many will be there throughout the holidays. Really support our troops -- Send phone cards of any amount to:

Medical Family Assistance Center
Walter Reed Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001

They say they need an "endless" supply of these -- any amount even $5 is greatly appreciated.

BREAST CANCER HOSPITALIZATION BILL

In honor of Linda Smith, and all the other children's writers who have died from breast cancer or are fighting for their lives right now, please act: 

There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the "drive-through mastectomy" where women are forced to go home hours after surgery against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from
anesthesia, and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.

Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support.  Last year over half the House signed on. PLEASE!!!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need not give more than your name and zip code number.

http://www.lifetimetv.com/health/breast_mastectomy_pledge.html

PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends and family. THANKS