Paralympics

Kudos to Dade Hayes and all who contributed to “Making Up for Losses,” Aug. 10, with Jill Connelly’s prize-worthy photo of Paralympics-bound teens who lost limbs in the Dec. 7, 1988, Armenia earthquake. That catastrophe took no less than 50,000 lives and destroyed Northern Armenia, leaving thousands disabled and dismembered. As a medical member of the USAID Relief Team, I witnessed the unprecedented international-humanitarian effort, which sadly was soon replaced by overriding geopolitical considerations. Let’s trust that these “phoenix,” limb-deprived athletes, symbolizing rebirth, will fare better in fairness in the Paralympics world.

VARTITER

KOTCHOLOSIAN, M.D.

Panorama City