Happy Monday!! I'm going to cut right to the chase. There's a big story on the wires today about the numbers of medical mistakes, medication mix-ups etc.. when kids are in the hospital.

Here's the full write-up from the Associated Press:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gTTpenmxHA38AS54_YVIKx0ZLTpQD8VSPQG83

And here is a link to the abstract of the study in the journal Pediatrics: http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/121/4/e927

Look, the bottom line for parents is this: Dennis Quaid , as the Associated Press quoted him, is absolutely correct-- when someone walks into the hospital room to give medication, just ask how much are they giving and why. The same advice holds true for older parents, spouses.. anyone, really.

On a different note.. WOW-- many, many.... many of you read Margie Boule's column on Sunday.

((Check it out here: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/margie_boule/index.ssf?/base/living/1207166109263440.xml&coll=7 ))

I got phone calls at home.. and emails.. and even a call here at work on my voicemail. It'll take me a while to get back to everyone. Thank you for taking the time. It's just so humbling and kind of you to let me know what you think. And I really want to thank Margie, too. I'm not often on the other side of an interview, but she was totally willing to spend the time talking to me which made me feel like I made the points I felt were important. She even included the snippet about Joe Coelho warning people to stay out of floodwaters in the aftermath of his wife's death. I could not have asked for more.

See you tomorrow!!! sstricklen@kgw.com