I would like to respond to the letter, “Reasons to be a Fetterman skeptic,” and another recently regarding John Fetterman’s stroke and his ability to serve as our senator.

This letter is written from a position of experience. During a surgical procedure in January 2003, I suffered a stroke that left me completely paralyzed on my left side and my left hand in a permanent fist, unable to uncurl my fingers. Friends and family who visited me then had little hope that I would recover.

Few people who see me today would suspect what I went through or would judge my ability to function when they see me working out at the YMCA, or taking an active role in the organizations I belong to now.

Stop worrying about Fetterman, he will make the state of Pennsylvania proud. His personality and professional values are the same.

He is a hard working, honest man with great integrity. He has tremendous compassion for all people who need help, especially the hard working people of the great State of Pennsylvania. He has problems hearing right now, which I suspect will improve with time.

I have listened to politicians being interviewed that did not have a stroke, and they were barely able to form a complete sentence or respond to the exact question. Fetterman will not be one of those politicians.

I am tired of the lies spread by dark money groups about Fetterman. He is not a radical leftist, he is an intelligent, measured, thoughtful political leader that will and does listen to all sides of an issue before rendering a decision.

We can and should trust Fetterman! Just because he had a tragic health event, does not make him a damaged political leader.

As you can see, I take criticism of his stroke as a personal affront!

Freda Pyles is a Russell resident.