I recently went through open-heart surgery at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center. While recovering in the ICU and step down units, I had the opportunity to meet and have many interesting conversations with the highly skilled nursing staff and other service professionals as they cared for me.

I was thrilled to listen to their stories of how they arrived at their profession and from where their journey began. Some examples include from Afghanistan, Yemen, Congo, South Africa, Belgium, several small African nations, Libya, Jamaica, the Philippines and, of course, America.

They were highly skilled, motivated and grateful for their opportunity. Without them, our health care system would collapse.

We are a nation of problem solvers. Immigration can be solved by serious and experienced people. But until it is removed from the political gaslight and fear-mongers the issue will only continue to fester and corrode our society.

Ken Maclean
Scarborough