Letters to the Editor

RFK Jr.’s brain worm claim is latest in wild claims

I read the Tyler Morning Telegraph article: “RFK, Jr. says doctor told him a worm ate part of his brain” (May 9 issue). At first, I somewhat liked Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. That is, until I started exploring his presidential campaign and his qualifications more in-depth.

In his youth, he was arrested for marijuana possession. In adulthood, he has made wild accusations about vaccines. Some of the claims may have some merit; however, I firmly believe that benefits outweigh the costs in the mainstay vaccines such as measles and mumps vaccine, which I got in the 1960s and thankful I did.

RFK, Jr. is nothing like his father RFK, Senior nor his uncle President John F. Kennedy. He wants to ride on their coat-tails, despite a clear majority of the Kennedy family denouncing his campaign in 2024 as a “vanity project.” He has the gall to challenge President Biden to a ‘poll’ in which the loser would drop out. That would be a last ditch desperation pass for RFK, Jr.

His voice is hoarse constantly. He blames it on a neurological disorder. Let’s assume for sake of argument that this is somehow true. Now, he claims a dead worm ate a little of his brain. What’s next? RFK is seemingly trying to beat Donald Trump as a champion fibber.

RFK, Jr. is his own worst enemy. He isn’t fit to be president of anything.

James A. Marples

Longview

Do your part to help prevent cardiovascular disease

Did you know cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death in women, claiming more lives than all cancers combined? In fact, nearly 45% of women over age 20 are living with some form of CVD.

Women, especially Black and Hispanic women, are disproportionally impacted by heart disease and stroke and research shows heart attacks are on the rise in younger women. Yet, younger generations of women, Gen Z and Millennials, are less likely to be aware of their greatest health threat, including knowing the warning signs of heart attacks and strokes. All women must take charge of their heart health and encourage others to do the same.

I volunteered to serve as chairperson for the Tyler Go Red for Women this year because we’ve made tremendous progress over the years, but cardiovascular disease is still the No. 1 killer of women, claiming more women’s lives each year than all forms of cancer combined.

Myself along with 280 local women are relentlessly fighting to educate women on how to take better care of their heart health. But we can’t do it alone.

Women’s health affects everyone. We all need to do our part to help save the lives of the women we love and create a healthier Tyler. Please visit heart.org/TylerGoRed to learn more.

Lecia Bowman

Chief Nursing Officer at UT Health Tyler and UT Tyler Health Science Center