November 13, 2016

Anne Record Bunting Houston, Texas

Dear Mr. President,

Thank you for saving my life. My name is Anne Record Bunting. In 2008, I was diagnosed with Heart Failure (HF) and had a pacemaker implanted. I was in the final stages of HF. I did well until 2012 when my heart began to fail again. By July, 2013, I was once more in final stages of HF. I was told I needed a heart transplant and was put on the list. That’s when we discovered that my individual insurance policy (I was self-employed) did not cover a heart transplant.

The only way to save my life was to implant a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD- like Dick Cheney). A few hours after that surgery, the doctors realized that the right side of my heart was dying. So they went back in and implanted a VAD on the right side of my heart. I was the first person at that hospital to survive this surgery and go home.

My heart was powered by 2 pumps run by computers and batteries which were attached to me at all times. I lived with those pumps for 9 months. Then in 2014, the Affordable Care Act came into being and abolished the restriction of pre-existing conditions. I was able to get an insurance policy that covered heart transplants and was put back on the list. 10 days later, I received the gift of life through a heart transplant. So, I tell everyone that you saved my life and I truly believe that.

You and the First Lady have both been wonderful leaders. Thank you both for what you have done for our country and its people.

And thank you again for saving my life.

Anne Bunting

December 9, 2016

Ms. Anne Record Bunting Houston, Texas

Dear Anne:

Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to share your moving story with me. It’s clear you have faced tremendous challenges over the last few years, and I am glad to hear the Affordable Care Act helped you to get a heart transplant when you needed it most. Your story highlights how the Affordable Care Act has been life-changing for so many Americans. And in some cases, even life-saving. As a result of so many more people having coverage, we’re avoiding an estimated 24,000 deaths annually. And countless other Americans are living better lives because they’re receiving the care they need and deserve. It is why I worked so hard to pass health reform in the first place.

Again, thank you for writing and for your support. Michelle and I send our very best.

Sincerely, Barack Obama

November 10, 2016

Mrs. Lauren Caruso Raleigh, North Carolina

Dear President Obama,

I feel like a kid writing a letter to Santa Clause; I doubt you’ll ever see this. But even if I’m writing into the void here, I want to express my gratitude to you for everything you’ve done for our country over the last eight years. You’re the first politician I ever really believed in, and I still do.

My husband, Josh, was diagnosed with a chronic liver condition when he was in his mid-twenties. A rare, not very well known disease, called primary sclerosing cholangitis. Over time, his body is actively destroying his liver, and without a transplant and life long medications and care, he will die. Currently, he is doing okay, he gets by and some days are better than others. We deal with his symptoms as they arise, and he is receiving excellent care at Duke. He has a good job and good benefits and insurance, but I always felt comforted by the existence of the ACA, and that if for some reason he lost his job, he couldn’t be denied care because of his preexisting condition. Now, with the recent state of events, I am afraid. I am afraid for my husband, and for all the people that will be affected if the ACA is repealed. I do not believe that health care should be a luxury for the wealthy.

But my current dread does not lessen my gratitude for what you’ve done for us. Thank you for trying to make sure people struggling with illness, whether rich or poor, are treated with kindness and dignity. It meas so, so much. Thank you for helping me sleep better at night for the past few years. You, and your charming and gracious wife will be sorely missed.

Thank you, thank you.

With warmest regards,

Lauren Caruso 

P.S. Please convince Michelle to run for office in 2020!!

December 9, 2016

Ms. Lauren Caruso Raleigh, North Carolina

Dear Lauren:

I wanted to thank you for taking a chance and sharing your story with me — I really did read your message personally! Everyone deserves the comfort of knowing they will have access to quality, affordable health insurance no matter what the future holds, and I am glad to know the Affordable Care Act helped your family gain some peace of mind during a difficult time. Your email reminded me why I fought so hard to reform our health system in the first place.

The Affordable Care Act has improved millions of people’s lives. 20 million more people are covered, 129 million people with pre-existing conditions are protected, and health price inflation has been at its lowest level in 50 years. But beyond the numbers, the work of health reform is really about people like you. Sharing your story with family and friends — and ensuring they, too, have the peace of mind that comes with having health care — can hlep make sure we build on the progress we’ve made, not go backwards.

Again, thank you for writing. Your story will remain on my mind. Michelle and I wish you and Josh the very best.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

November 9, 2016

Ms. Julie Ann Chamberlain Greenville, North Carolina

I am 55 year old woman, actually about two weeks younger than you, and I finally got my own health insurance for the first time in my life at the age of 53. I was able to do this because there is the ACA and ACA subsidies. I say thanks Obama, and I truly mean this with all my heart. I would like to know what I can do to help save the ACA ?It has given me a piece of mind to know that I have health insurance, finally , and that if I have the stroke at some point in my life, that as a migraine sufferer, I am statistically likely to have, that I will be covered. I don’t want to lose my health insurance. I plan on writing my senators and representative to let them know of my situation and how strongly I feel about keeping the ACA. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to help protect the ACA and I will do whatever it takes.

It has been an honor to have you as President. Thank you for all you have done for this nation.

December 9, 2016

Ms. Julie Ann Chamberlain Greenville, North Carolina

Dear Julie:

Thank you for writing. Serving in this Office has been the greatest privilege of my life, and I am glad to know the Affordable Care Act helped you finally get health insurance.

You asked how you can help. Right now, the most important thing for you to do is to make sure you, your family, and all of your friends and neighbors are covered for 2017. Anyone who needs to get covered should go to HealthCare.gov by December 15 to sign up for coverage starting January 2017.

In addition, I hope you will continue speaking out on the importance of the Affordable Care act to your life — whether that means expressing your views publicly or sharing your story with friends and neighbors. Perspectives like yours are critical to our democracy and will continue driving this conversation long after my Presidency. Engagement of people like you has and will continue to make a difference.

All the best,

Barack Obama

November 27, 2016

Mr. Thomas Joseph Errigo Scranton, Pennsylvania

Dear Mr. President

The end of your last term is nearing and I Just wanted to take a moment to say thank you.

I am a police officer in Pennsylvania and in this state particularly the region in which I live, full time police jobs are hard to find. Because of the difficulty in finding a full time police job I do not enjoy employer provided health benefits. Thankfully the affordable care act allows me to find a decent health care plan for a reasonable price. I don’t know what I would do with out it. My job is dangerous and anything could happen at any time. Thanks to you, with my health care I know that if I was ever injured I would not be burdened with outrageous medical bills which is one less thing I have to worry about.

When I turned 18 in 2008 I was very excited to participate in that years election. I had watched many speechs and interviews and although I was not old enough at the time of the primary election I knew that I would be casting my vote in your direction for the general election. You are not only the first President I voted for, my vote for you was my first vote ever.

Over the past 8 years you have shown me that the vote I cast was very much worth while. So thank you Mr. President. Thank you for caring, thank you for looking out for the little guy, and thank you for genuinely making a positive impact personally on my life.

Sincerely,

Thomas J. Errigo

December 9, 2016

Mr. Thomas Joseph Errigo Scranton, Pennsylvania

Dear Thomas:

Thank you for writing me. Police officers like you represent the best of America and deserve the best from it, and I am grateful to know the Affordable Care Act helped you get covered. The reason I fought so hard to reform our health system in the first place was so people like you could access the health care you deserve, and your story drives home the importance of providing people the peace of mind that comes with having coverage.

Again, thank you for your letter and for your service as a police officer. I wish you the very best.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

December 4, 2016

Mr. Gerald Schroeder Bay City, Michigan

Dear President Obama — As you near your time in office, I want to take a moment to thank you for your service to our country in your capacity as President. I want to commend you for your grace and wisdom and strength. You have inspired me to try to be a better human, a better citizen an hopefully a better person. I also want to thank you for your efforts to try to provide health care to more of our population.

I don’t want to live in a society that allows people to be destitute if they become ill. I was lucky enough to get my health insurance from my employer, but I don’t know what people would do if they didn’t have insurance and face a major medical problem.

I am about to face my second major cancer surgery, and, while my odds are good, I am not assured of my survival. I am, however, assured that, if God forbid the worst happens, my wife will not be burdened with unplayable medical bills. I hope that in the future, as a former President, you continue to advocate for those things that will lift up our society and our humanity. I admire how you were able to wade through the morass of politics and still maintain your dignity and the dignity of your office.

Please enjoy the remainder of your term and I wish you and your family the best of the Holiday Season and also I wish you the best in your future plans. God Bless you!

December 9, 2016

Mr. Gerald Schroeder Bay City, Michigan

Dear Gerald:

Thank you for writing to share your experiences with me — the stories that you and your fellow Americans share with me are what inspires me. I remain committed to working to ensure every American has the peace of mind you described in your letter — because everyone deserves the comfort of knowing that no matter what the future holds, they will have access to quality, affordable health insurance. That is why I fought so hard for the Affordable Care Act.

For the more than 150 million Americans like you who have coverage through their employer, the Affordable Care Act ensures that their plans have no lifetime or annual limits, have a limit on out-of-pocket expenses, and allow kids to stay on their parent’s plans until age 26. And thanks to the slow growth in health care costs under the Affordable Care Act, the average premium for a family with employer coverage is $3,600 lower in 2016 than it would have been if premium growth since 2010 had matched the decade before the Affordable Care Act. The Affordable Care Act has improved people’s lives. And we can’t go backward.

In the coming days, please know that you will be in my thoughts. I wish you and your wife the best.

God bless,

Barack Obama

Hello Mr. President, my name is Eugene Ammon. I am from Columbus Ohio. I am sending this message in regards to the growing concern in this country about addiction especially the growing number of people who die each year because of this. I personally lost my mother 18 months ago to a heroin overdose and will most likely be attending my sisters funeral, a mother of 3, by the years end as she is also an addict and has been diagnosed with heart problems and Hep C. Both i assume due to her addiction and her life style that has led her to being arrested for soliciting more times than i can count.

My concern is that this has opened my eyes as to how only those with an abundance of resources have steady and consistent access to the treatment necessary to actually treat themselves. My sister was recently released out into the world, again, without anywhere to go as waiting lists for facilities combined with over crowding in the jail system meant she would be put in a position no one could possibly succeed in.

There are facilities available but they need you to be insured. To be blunt but even with the expanded access to health insurance this is not something a prostitute with a heroin problem is walking around with.

Let me be clear that her decisions are hers and hers alone. They were my mothers decisions. However I cant help but wonder what kind of difference it would make if one could have access to this kind of help the moment they wanted it. I feel there are enough resources to make this a reality, I also think this would be cheaper over the long run than the countless unpaid ER visits that are occurring everyday from things like overdoses and infections.

Its too late for my family. Its too late for me. Its not too late for countless others.

I don't know what they policy answers are. I as an average american can only reach out to those who might with what i see as a problem and hope someone notices or cares. I do know this is health crisis not just a criminal one and i hope for a policy approach sooner rather than later that will deal with this as such.

If you or anyone happens to read this i thank you for your time.

Dear President Obama and Vice President Biden,

My name is Kathyrn Green and I'm a mother of a 14 month old daughter, a high school teacher in Los Angeles, and a wife of a husband who is battling brain cancer. While this is the first time I'm writing to offer my deepest condolences for the loss of the Vice President's son, his family was in my prayers upon hearing the news, and will continue to be. I read in the news this morning that the Vice President was visiting the Fred Hutchinson Research Center on Monday, and I wanted to thank him for continuing to bring this terrible disease into the spotlight, and thank you both for being that ever-hopeful light in finding a way to manage cancer with your Moonshot initiative. I sat with my daughter on my lap and listened to the State of the Union address, and at one years old, I was delighted that she clapped along as the audience applauded. There are so many problems and issues that need healing in this country, and I'm deeply grateful that both President Obama and Vice President Biden are standing with the patients, families, and communities who have been touched by this disease. I will continue to follow your administrations lead and support you in your endeavors, however they manifest over the next few months and years. It is with the most sincereity and humbleness that I ask for your office to continue supporting the institutes, scientists, and resarch centers, who will, no doubt. be the harbinger of a bright future in a diagnosis which sees only dark clouds ahead. Thank you again for all of the work you have done, and will continue to do. I will be cheering from the sidelines, and envisioning better days to come.

Warmly,

Kathryn Green

Dear Mr. President,

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for listening. Your administration's response and assistance, at your behalf, has shown us how agencies can work together to help families such as ours. When I first wrote to you last fall, about my grandchild's situation and our frustrations in getting the recommended care for her, I did so not just out of frustration but out of bitter anger as well. Since then I have learned a lot. I learned that the resources were already there and had been for quite some time. While it is true that finding these resources is more difficult than it should be, it is up to us parents and guardians to be proactive for our children from the very beginning, not after the fifth hospitalization and out of bitter frustration.

I blamed you and I blamed your healthcare policy for our struggles and i have since learned that wasn't fair. While I am not a member of your political party (no, I didn't vote for you) and have often been critical of this new healthcare policy, I am forever grateful to you sir, for taking the time to listen, to help, and to make my granchild's day when she read your letter.

Since becoming my grandchild's caregiver, and during being the primary caregiver for my parents before their deaths these past couple years, I have lost a lot. I have had to make the choice to give up a job (twice now), I am losing my car due to being financially unable to afford it, and we may have to move soon. Unfortunately. those choices have to be made because our system, both state and federal, does have many gaps. But they were choices that I made fully aware and the only thing that i have lost are just that ... "things", and can be replaced. I cannot replace the time I had with my parents, nor the joy in seeing my grandchild progress daily in learning to cope in healthy ways with her disorders whil still remaining here at home. I cannot replace the gratitude of having one of the best mental health support teams that I have ever had the honor of knowing. And I cannot replace the humbling realization that we can, and are often, wrong in where we place blame. That my government didn't fail my grandchild. My goverment stepped in and provided the professional support for us to help my grandchild.

Again, I thank you President Obama for what you have done for my family. I wish you and your family many happy years.

Sincerely,

Michelle R. McRee

Dear, Mr. President

It’s late in the evening here in Oahu, and the sun will soon be sinking behind the horizon onto the ocean. I sight that gives me comfort when times are confusing, and peace at the end of a long day. Sir, I was injured in Afghanistan in 2011 it was my first deployment, and my last. I was medically retired from the US Army, and after some discussion with my family moved here to help heal the wounds — it is slow in coming, but I remain hopeful. I started college when I arrived here it has been a difficult experience, but this summer God willing; I will be a college graduate. It’s a funny thing fear, I wasn’t afraid in Afghanistan, but I am horrified at the thought of my future. I want to serve my country, make a difference, and live up to the potential my family sees in me. I am scared I think, because I have no plan on what employment to pursue. It is something that is extremely difficult to me, and with my family leaving the island soon; I am truly lost. Sir, all my life I’ve tried to find what a Good man is, and be that man, but I release now life is more difficult for some. I’m not sure where I am going, and it is something that I can not shake. P.S. I watched your final State of the Union, and I thought it was well spoken. I too dream of a sustainable future for the next generation.

Sincerely,

Patrick A. Holbrook

The White House Washington Patrick —  Thank you for your thoughtful letter, and more importantly for your service and sacrifice. I can tell from your letter you are already a good man; you just need to find the calling that will express that goodness — or it will find you. So trust yourself, and remember that your Commander in Chief didn’t know what he would do with his life till he was in his thirties! Barack Obama

Dear Mr. President,

I admire you. The decision to become the president and take responsibility for an entire country requires courage far greater than I could muster. However, I have a few questions as to some of the problems in our country. I live in a rural community where half of the town’s population are farmers and the other half commutes to a city half an hour away or more. Our community offers many pros, but also many cons such as unemployment and poor education. How do you plan to fix these problems?

My family has been in farming for years. When I was young, I watched my father and grandfather work from before the sun came up to after I went to bed in order to provide our family with an income. Now, grain prices are dropping so low that farmers across the nation are beginning to question whether they will be able to make a profit. America produces food and products to be shipped around the world, yet often in our own small towns, many cannot even make a proper living without federal assistance.

As in many rural areas, the school system could be described as less than stellar. Our teachers are all dedicated to bringing us an education, but lack of funding continually diminishes their numbers and the classes available. When students in an area with few opportunities do not receive a proper education, they are unprepared for college. Students that do poorly in college or are unable to attend often have dilemmas when applying for jobs. Thus, the cycle of unemployment continues.

During your presidency you have been busy with controversial topics such as gun control, refugees, and health insurance, but what do you plan to do about the above addressed issues? The problems that affect the average men and women who form the backbone of America and work hard every day in our struggling workforce. What can we do to help the children who will grow up and take the place of their parents? We must fix these problems first Mr. President if we wish to maintain the United States of America.

Respectfully,

Chloe Carson

Dear Chloe,

Thank you for writing. Your note reached my desk, and I recognize the struggles your community is going through.

You’re right that rural communities are the backbone of our Nation, and I assure you I will continue to fight for investment in places like . I agree that a brighter future for rural America means guaranteeing every child has access to a world-class education. It also means creating more jobs, empowering workers with the skills they need to do those jobs, and building more ladders of opportunity into the middle class for anyone who is willing to work hard to climb them — no matter where they live. I hope you know that voices like yours are critical to this conversation because there is a lot more to do.

My Administration is pushing for rural schools to get the funding they need to support education worthy of their students. We are working to fight rural poverty, expand broadband access, and empower local businesses and communities so rural economies can more easily get back on their feet. We have also implemented the 2014 Farm Bill in record time so that we could expand and strengthen the farm safety net. At a time when our economy is growing, we need to make sure every American shares in that growth. And as long I hold this Office, I’ll keep doing everything I can to make that vision real.

Thank you for speaking out — it’s clear you care deeply for your community, and your passion for these issues will remain on my mind as I strive to ensure all Americans have a fair shot at the American dream.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

Dear President Obama,

I am a proud enrolled member of the Comanche Nation of Oklahoma and a recent graduate of the University Of Oklahoma College Of Law. I wanted to take a few moments to thank you for all of the hard work you and First Lady Michelle Obama have done on behalf of Indian Country. As the end of your second term is quickly approaching, I wanted to offer some native insight on just how effective your policies have been in Indian Country.

Like you, I came from very humble beginnings. My single mother did the best she could to raise me. We struggled with many problems that are common to Native Americans; poor healthcare, poverty, lack of access to jobs, and addiction were prevalent in my community. We lived with different relatives and friends, and sometimes even lived in our car. I worked hard and excelled in school, and was fortunate to receive the Gates Millennium Scholarship and went on to become the first in my family to graduate from college. During my freshman year of college, my best friend and I skipped our classes, put on our Barack the Vote tee-shirts, and scrounged up enough gas money to travel four hours to Dallas to go see the promising young Senator from Chicago.

At the rally, we met people of all ages, races, and creeds. Despite our different circumstances, we were all united by the common hope for change and better opportunities. When it was time for you to speak, the crowd grew quiet, anxious to hear your plans for this great country of ours. In the speech, you promised you would always do your best to represent all Americans. When you mentioned plans to represent African Americans, the crowd erupted. When you spoke about the importance of the Latino vote, the crowd once again let out a roaring cheer. Lastly, you mentioned that you would do your best to represent Native Americans. Two little voices screamed as loud as we could from the balcony. You answered back, "I hear you girls, and when I am elected, I won't forget you!"

We were absolutely ecstatic. You see, President Obama, this was the first time we had ever heard any presidential candidate mention Native Americans. This was the first time any presidential candidate had made us feel that we mattered and our voices were important. You made me feel that through hard work and determination, anyone can achieve the American dream, and you were right.

After law school, I returned home to my tribe and accepted a position advising the Comanche Nation Chairman. My position requires me to keep our tribal leaders apprised of federal policies and proposed legislation regarding water rights, economic development, sovereignty, natural resources, and the Indian Child Welfare Act. Because of this, I know firsthand how your policies have reinvigorated Indian Country and allowed tribes the opportunities to continue working hard to improve the lives of our citizens.

Just as witnessing you speak in Dallas changed the course of my life, your presidency has positively changed how Indian Country interacts with our national decision makers. By vetoing the Keystone Pipeline, you helped us protect our sacred sites. By tackling climate change head on, you have insured that our planet will be safe for generations to come. The passage of the Affordable Care Act provided critical healthcare to members of tribes who otherwise might not be able to afford it. The Tribal Law and Order Act allowed tribes increased jurisdiction to prosecute those that threaten the safety and welfare of our citizens. By speaking out against the Washington football team name, you have reminded us that we deserve the same treatment as any other group in this great nation of ours. The Generation Indigenous initiative has ensured that our Native American youth reach their full potential, teaching them that their contributions are important to this country and that they too are worthy of achieving the American Dream. The White House Tribal Nations Conferences have given tribes what we have so desperately fought for—a seat at the table, a chance for our voices to be heard. I can visibly see and feel the differences in Indian Country in the seven years you have been in office, and for that I want to thank you.

You have managed to do for Native Americans what no president has done before, President Obama. You promised during that speech in Dallas that when you where in office, you wouldn't forget about us. Thank you for keeping your promise! I am so proud to call you my President. May the Creator continue to bless you and your family, and continue to bless the United States of America.

Sincerely,

Lindsay Early,

United States Citizen and Member of the Comanche Nation

Dear Lindsay: I read the letter you wrote earlier this year, and it meant a lot that you took the time to send it. You're right that I've worked pretty hard to fulfill my campaign promises—I've always believed that the success of our tribal communities is tied to the success of America as a whole, and it's heartening to hear that my Administration's efforts to build a true nation-to-nation relationship with tribes like yours have made a difference.

It sounds to me like you've been working hard to make a difference too, and I trust you take pride in how far you've come since your freshman year of college. It's a tremendous privilege to serve as your President, but far more than my being in Office, I suspect it's the passion and dedication of folks like you that have truly changed our country for the better.

Thank you for writing, and for everything you've put into reaching for the brighter future we all deserve. Voices like yours give me great hope for what's to come, and I trust you'll keep at it!

All the best,

President Obama

November/21/2015

President Barack Obama

I am a Syrian girl. I am 17. I want to start by my life in Syria.

Before the war, my life was perfect. I used to make a small party with my friends every Friday. I lived in Idleb, in a small Town is called Taftanaz.

My school was good. I liked my friends and my teachers. I was a little child. That made my life perfect.

When the war started, the Syrian army attacked our town. Its tanks destroyed my school and some of my house. I heard much of the sounds of bombing. Because of that, we crossed into Turkey. We found a house and we rented it. There, a Syrian man established a school for all Syrian children. It was very nice choice. I met a lot of girls from other cities of Syria. I learned many things. My little sister suffers from autism, we requested to come here because we could not find choices to go to the Turkish collages. Fortunnately, your organization accepted our request and we did come. America is nice country. People here respect us. The school is good. Your curreculm is easy. I like it. I want to be a dotctor in the future.

The helpings you give us are good. My language is not full yet, but I’m learning. I don’t have any idea about your universities. I need that in order to forget everything I saw in Syria.

I am thankful, I thank you from my heart because everything is nice. My teachers at school here are helpful. They are trying to help me as they can. That makes me better. I’ve loved math. I like the American Pizza and pickle. Very nice food. The most important thing is that I’m free and living in peace with my family.

Best wishes,

Heba Hallak

Dear Heba:

Your letter reached my desk, and I wanted to thank you for writing to share your story with me.

I know it must have been difficult to leave your life behind in Syria and make new friends here, but I am glad to hear you are enjoying school—and the pizza—in the United States. Despite all you have been through, I want you to know that America will always be a place where brave young women like you and your sister can come to learn, thrive, and find a sense of belonging.

The optimism and determination of families like yours are what help set our country apart. I trust you’ll keep working hard in school and reaching for your dreams—as long as you do, I’m confident there are no limits to what you can achieve.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

“In the south, it is hard to walk outside and not get bitten by a mosquito in the warmer months. … Mr. President, if I am going to be completely honest with you, if I wasn’t already pregnant, I would think twice about becoming pregnant at all until something is done about this virus.”

Mr. President,

I am a very concerned pregnant woman living in the south. The recent news about the Zika virus has been in numerous news stories recently. I am currently pregnant with my third child. I have two, healthy boys that bring so much joy into my life daily. We went through quite a long, difficult journey to conceive both of our boys, but with our third child everything has been much easier. However, thought of contracting a virus from a mosquito that could cause major neurological birth defects for my unborn child is very hard to wrap my head around. I feel that something must be done now to help stop these mosquitoes from spreading this dangerous virus in our country. If we don’t find a way to stop it now, then I am afraid we will end up with thousands of babies that have neurological birth defects that will affect them for the rest of their lives. I understand that you have called for a vaccine to be created to solve the future spread of this disease, but a vaccine will not do anything to protect my unborn child or the unborn children of other pregnant women. In the south, it is hard to walk outside and not get bitten by a mosquito in the warmer months. Being that my child is not due until the middle of the summer, I am extremely concerned that by then the virus may have spread and possibly could infect me before I am able to deliver a healthy baby free from neurological or other birth defects as a result of the Zika virus. Mr. President, if I am going to be completely honest with you, if I wasn’t already pregnant, I would think twice about becoming pregnant at all until something is done about this virus. I believe that as a result of your strong push for affordable healthcare for everyone, that you will see the need to make sure something is done about this virus before it is able to spread and possible infect thousands of babies causing permanent, life-long birth defects. I want to thank you for promptly addressing this concern, as I am sure it is a concern for not only myself and my unborn child but also of thousands of other women and families in our country.

Sincerely,

Ashley Young

Dear Ashley:

Thank you for writing me. Your email reached my desk, and as President and as a father, I want you to know I take your concerns very seriously. My foremost priority is the health and safety of Americans and my Administration is working around the clock to protect you and families across our country.

Most people who become infected with Zika will not even know it because the symptoms are usually nonexistent or mild. However, as you noted, scientists have established a link between Zika infections during pregnancy and poor birth outcomes. Our primary goal is to minimize these outcomes, and early in the year I instructed by staff to do all we can to respond to the Zika threat.

While we are still learning about Zika, we do know there are ways to minimize your risk if it does appear in your community, including protecting yourself from mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and pants, staying in places with air conditioning and window and door screens, and wearing EPA-registered insect repellants. You can find more information and steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from Zika at www.CDC.gov/Zika. CDC regularly updates this information as we learn more, so I encourage you to check back often.

In the meantime, I have directed my team to accelerate research on new vaccines and methods of detecting the disease. Additionally, I’ve formed a coalition of experts and Federal, State, and local leaders to combat the spread of Zika so that we can identify any outbreaks in the continental United States early and contain them. To make sure our public health officials have the resources needed to prepare and respond to Zika, I’ve asked Congress to approve $1.9 billion in emergency funding to support and advance these efforts as quickly as possible.

.Again, thank you for writing. Your message will remain on my mind.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

Dear Mr. President:

Two boys that are in our neighborhood said that girls can not change the world. I hope you can give us some advice to change the world or to help us standup to the two boys.

from,

Delaney, Carrigan, and Bree

Dear Delaney:

Thanks for writing to me with your friends to let me know what was going on in your neighborhood. Don’t listen to those boys — girls can change the world, and your letter gave me the sense that you are a strong group of young ladies who will always speak up when things don’t seem right.

In the years ahead, remember that nothing is beyond your reach as long as you set your sights high and stay involved in the issues that matter to you Know that our Nation is one where everyone can pursue their dreams and that with hard work, you can accomplish anything you can imagine. I’m confident all three of you have bright futures ahead — and if any boys tell you otherwise, let them know that their President said they better start recognizing that girls change the world every day.

Your friend,

Barack Obama

Dear Mr President

I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the letter. I loved the letter it is the best. I got the package and I had no clue what was inside and when I opened I looked inside and saw the letter and I was so happy and excited that you saw my letter and wrote back that I started to cry. I hope I will get to meet you one day because you inspired me by saying girls change the world every day. So thank you for the letter. Your the best!

Your friend,

Delaney

Dear Mr. President,

I think this country needs more spunk. With all the attacks, the Zika virus, and the wars, this country is a very sad place. Please do something fun. Wear a tie-dye shirt and shorts to something important. Go on a water skiing trip in the Caribbean. Take your family to Disney World. Do something fun and out going. Also, please say something that will make everyone calm. You do know know how many politics worries I have.

Congratulations on having served almost eight years as President! I almost forgot to write that. I am your biggest fan, too. My dad is in the Air Force and that inspired me to have my back up job be President. (My dream job is cardiovascular surgeon.) Keep running the country!

Sincerely, Lily 8 years old

P.S. Thank you for being such an inspiration.

The White House Washington

August 3, 2016

Dear Lily,

Thanks for the fun letters and suggestions. You seem like a great kid, and I can tell you’ve got plenty of spunk to help keep our Nation strong!

While I don’t know how the First Lady or my daughters would feel about me wearing a tie-dye shirt in public, I do know that one of my greatest responsibilities as President is ensuring your generation can thrive — and that includes making sure you can live in safety and reach for boundless opportunity. I know things happening around the world can sometimes be worrisome, but we can make real and lasting progress if young people like you focus on growing and learning and keep speaking out about important challenges our Nation faces. As long as I serve in this Office and beyond, I’ll continue fighting to ensure kids all across our country are limited by nothing but the scope of their imaginations and the size of their dreams.

Again, thank you for the advice — and please tell your dad how grateful I am for his service. Wherever your hard work and talents take you — whether it’s becoming a cardiovascular surgeon, the President of the United States, or chasing a dream you’ve yet to discover — always remember that you have a big role to play in shaping the world and making a difference in people’s lives. Your enthusiasm and drive give me great hope for the future, and I am confident you can achieve your highest aspirations if you put your best effort into everything you do. I expect great things from you!

Your friend, Barack Obama

Muslim Americans are as diverse as our nation itself—black, white, Latino, Asian, and Arab. Eid celebrations around the country remind us of our proud history as a nation built by people of all backgrounds; our history of religious freedom and civil liberties, and our history of innovation and strength. These legacies would not be possible without the contributions of Muslim Americans that make our country even stronger.

Dear President Barack Obama,

I am Noor Abdelfattah. Born in Chicago in November of 97’, I was blessed enough to grow up on Chicago’s North Shore. Growing up as child of a Muslim immigrant, I truly realize how privileged I am to live in the greatest country in the world. My grandfather left his homeland in 1951, the year my father was born, in search of his American dream. My father would not meet his own father until he was sixteen years old. Coming to this country with very little, my father was unable to attend college. However, he would spend long hours working low-paid jobs in order to provide for his family. Both my parents and five older brothers faced many difficulties before I was born.

At age seven, my oldest brother was caught in a Chicago gang fight where he took a bullet in the face. Today, that same brother is thirty-three years old and a graduate of University of Michigan Law School. The sacrifices my parents endured for their kids allowed us to prosper within our educational careers. Together, the educational institutions we have attended include University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign, Northwestern University, University of Michigan, and Loyola University Chicago.

Growing up, my parents have always taught us to treat everyone with respect. Although I grew up Muslim, my parents sent my siblings and I to Catholic high schools that placed us in an environment different than our own. Being the only Muslim in my class, I was allowed to interact with people who were raised different than myself. The opportunities my parents have given me allowed me to enter college open minded. I have met people I consider friends from all over the world.

However, with the hostile attitude some people carry towards Muslims, I believe that it is important that we remain together as a nation. I believe that the tradition of hosting an Iftar Dinner at the White House during the month of Ramadan is one tradition that shows the diversity our country holds. We, as Americans, are accepted for what we practice and how we look. On behalf of the Muslims living in the land of the free and home of the brave, I want to thank you for standing firmly with us in rejection of those who are hoping to limit our rights. Additionally, as your term comes to an end, I want to thank you for all the hard work you have done for all Americans and the rest of the world these past eight years as the President of the United States.

All the best, Noor Abdelfattah

Assalamu Alaikum Mr. President,

I am a 28 year old Muslim American woman. I am proud of my faith and I make an effort everyday to show the goodness of Islam. Islam teaches about sincerity, kindness, compassion, perseverance, fairness, and so many beautiful qualities that I try to exhibit each and everyday I serve my students, my school, and community.

Yet, despite my efforts to be a model of the peace and beauty of Islam, I am labeled and treated as a terrorist. As someone dangerous, unwelcomed, and insignificant.... And while having American citizens to public figures degrade my value may come to be dispairing at times. What I have witness from the effect of islamophobia onto the young Muslim American population is even more atrocious. Fourth graders who insecurely share with me the opinions they've heard from the media that I can see has psychologically damaged their confidence in themselves. Children who are just starting to find confidence in themselves are having to question their worth in America.

This environment of hate is causing a new generation of young Muslims who are weary and scared. They want nothing but to have the freedom to pursue life with dignity.

Please remain strong on your grounds. Continue to speak out against those who seek to use Islam as a political tool to oppress. You don't know it, but you are a hero to many Muslim American children who hear your words that 'it's not their fault'.

Sincerely, Ms. Yang

Aleena K.

Dear Mr. President,

As-Salaam-Alaikum. My name is Aleena K., and I currently go to Northwest High School in Germantown, Maryland. Per the requirements of an honors research program I participate in, I completed a senior research project on a topic of my choosing. I wanted to make my project something that I could use as a learning experience, something that would correctly embody the passion I have for helping people. That was when I settled on my topic: Muslim-Americans. As a practicing Muslim-American, I am all too familiar with the difficulties of being a Muslim in a non-Muslim majority country. Thus, my project, titled Split in the Middle: Why Muslim-American Teenage Girls Struggle with their Identity, was born.

Completing this project was difficult. I had to face not only my insecurities, but the harsh rhetoric of other Americans. Because one of the potential causes of an identity crisis is the media, I had browse through the comments section of various articles that pertained to Muslim-Americans. I spent a couple of hours, sitting on the floor of my bedroom, reading thousands of comments from other people throughout America. The multitude of people who expressed their desire for deporting Muslims shocked me the most. I am an American, I grew up here. I say the Pledge of Allegiance every day. And yet, I am a Muslim. I fast during the month of Ramadan and celebrate Eid. I read the Quran, go to religion class, and pray. Which one was I allowed to be? It is a question that plagues me to this day.

Today, I watched you give a speech at a mosque in Baltimore. You talked about how society needs to stop its rhetoric, because it is not fair to profile a group of people as a result of the actions of one person. You mentioned how we are not just Muslims, or just Americans, but we are both. We are Muslim-Americans. Amongst the negative comments and the rising hatred of Muslims in this country, your speech was like an oxygen tank. It allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief and give me hope that maybe, just maybe, there was an influential figure who believed in us.

As I am writing this letter, I am listening to Adele’s song “All I Ask” on her new album. And all I ask is for acceptance and tolerance from others. I know that this can eventually be achieved, not from the work of just one individual, but from Muslims and non-Muslims alike. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your faith in us.

Sincerely, Aleena K.

Dear President Obama,

Today, Sunday, June 12, 2016, I went to the grocery store with my daughter and I was afraid. My eyes darted around the store as I located and silently cataloged where each emergency exit was. Just in case. As I bought eggs and chicken nuggets for my daughter, the horror the victims must have endured during Orlando's mass shooting was never far from my mind.

I was also incredibly angry. How can we allow private citizens to buy automatic weapons? They are weapons of war, designed to kill a massive amount of people in a short amount of time. Their purpose is to kill and terrorize.

I've been angry and afraid before. I've also written to you before. On Monday, December 17, 2012, I was afraid to go to work. I am a middle school teacher, and I didn't know how I was going to address the events of Newtown with my students. I thought about how my classroom door didn't lock from the inside. Nevertheless, I took a deep breath and walked into my classroom that day. I faced my 11 and 12 year old students, addressed the shooting, and then did the only thing I could; I taught reading and writing.

Since Newtown, my public school district spent tax money to replace every single lock in every single classroom so that they could be locked from the inside. We also received shades to cover the windows on our classroom doors. Just in case.

When I took a tour of my almost-three-year-old daughter's preschool this year, the preschool director told me that most of the funds raised the year before were spent on "updating security." Not on books, not on supplies, not on professional development for the teachers. Security. In a preschool. Just in case.

What kind of a country are we living in where I have to talk about mass shootings with 11 and 12 year-old children? Where I have to take instructional time to practice for mass shootings twice a year? What kind of a country creates a culture where my daughter's preschool has to prepare for the horrible possibility of a mass shooting?

Automatic weapons, weapons of war, must be banned. There must be background checks so that people who are dangerous cannot buy weapons. We are not free if I am afraid at my job, afraid at the grocery store, and afraid for my daughter at preschool. We are all being terrorized. Enough is enough.

Thank you for being on the right side of this issue. I voted for you twice, and I'd vote for you again. We will miss you when you leave office.

Sincerely, Liz O'Connor

• Close the gap between the 95 percent of Americans who support organ donation and the roughly 50 perecent who are registered
• Invest in clinical research and innovation that could potentially increase the number of transplants by almost 2,000 each year and improve outcomes for patients
• Facilitate breakthrough research and development with almost $200 million in investments

Mr. President,

I am writing as I am deeply concerned about the future of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). I am sincere in saying that over these past three years (since I have needed to utilize the Exchange) without the ACA I would most likely be dead. In 2013 I was diagnosed with a severe case of C. Diff (from antibiotic use) that hospitalized me several times and almost took my life until in 2014, because of the requirements set forth in the ACA, I was able to receive a life saving transplant. Two critical surgeries subsequently took place and I have been able to get the follow up care that has continued to provide much needed assistance. Additionally, in 2014, I was diagnosed with degenerative disk disorder in my spine which required a fusion in 2015; which again would not have been possible without the ACA. I am now fighting an ongoing diagnosis of chronic pain disorder since 2014 and have been able to get the help my body so desperately requires, in large part, to pain treatments being covered under the ACA. Long story long, each time I hear about Congress voting to repeal "Obamacare" my heart skips a beat as loosing the ACA would inevitably mean loosing my life.

I am proud that I was healthy enough to make my way to a little city called Waukon in the county of Allamakee, Iowa in 2008 and volunteer for your campaign Mr. President; just as I was proud to set up camp in Erie, Pennsylvania, during the general election, to do my part in seeing the man I voted to be my Senator (when I lived in Chicago) become my President.

I know there are no guarantees for the future of the ACA just as I know there are no guarantees for my health but, without you Mr. President, and the hard work you continue to do each day to secure, what I feel, is a right to affordable healthcare in this country and not just a privilege reserved for those who can afford it my fight would have ended a long time ago. And, I am not alone in my story; it is stories like mine and countless others that I wish could just get through to those who wish to see this life saving program end while replacing it with nothing.

Long story long, thank you Mr. President for caring enough to continue to fight the good fight and for getting (and protecting) the ACA into law and thereby saving my life.

Fired up!

Ken Eatmon

Dear President Obama,

I want you to know how much you mean to my daughter, Erin Elizabeth Peakovic. Born with biliary atresia in 1988, by the age of 10 she had a liver transplant. It took over two decades--until the Affordable Care Act--for Erin, and millions of Americans, to be assured they would have access to health care.

The provisions came along just in time. When Erin aged off her father's health care plan at age 23 the provision to stay until age 26 was enacted. The pre-existing condition clause came just in time. When she turned 26 last year and was no longer able to stay on her father's plan, the Exchange was enacted. Again, just in time.

In addition to being a liver transplant survivor, Erin was also diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension in 2006. She stays healthy and out of the hospital but requires exorbitantly expensive maintenance medication and medical follow-up. One medicine alone--bosentan--costs $8,300 a month. That is not a typo or a misplaced comma. $8,300 a month.

In recent exchanges of texts between Erin and me, she has said, "I am so not ready for Obama to leave office!" ; "I wish President Obama could know he saved my life with health care" ; "If I ever met President Obama I would cry!" ; "President Obama is the best President our country has ever had." You are her hero like none other. You did not dare let her get sick for lack of access to health care, just as you told the Supreme Court, "You will not dare repeal ACA". You are not only Erin's hero, you are mine, too.

Erin works in a grocery store, and just got full-time. It is a hard job and she is dedicated and proud worker. She will be eligible for employee-sponsored health care this fall. She is an example of how the ACA works. It allows her to work and maintain her health and contribute to society, while being able to have affordable access to the medicine and specialists who keep her alive.

If you wanted to make one very special woman's dream come true, please meet Erin Elizabeth. It would be the dream of a lifetime for her, one that has been hard fought, full of obstacles, but also full of hope and promise.

Sincerely,

Andrea Peakovic

The world was forever changed here. But today, the children of this city will go through their day in peace. That is precious. That is worth protecting; and granting to every child. That’s the future we can choose — a future in which Hiroshima and Nagasaki are known not as the dawn of atomic warfare, but as the start of our own moral awakening.

There’s something frightening about this new bomb, a weapon that bodes danger for the future … the bomb is not a pleasant weapon to contemplate and mankind’s past performances don’t make me optimistic.

He would never apologize, but he would say we could never do it again.

Thank you for your very thoughtful note, and for sharing a piece of your family history with me — it sounds like your father was a great man. As he so intimately understood, nuclear weapons pose some of the gravest threats to America and the world.

My father, an army doctor ticketed for the invasion of Japan, was euphoric upon word of Hiroshima. Yet if alive today, he would applaud President Obama’s decision to visit in pursuit of curbing nuclear weapons. In his first letter home after news reached his Pacific camp, he wrote, “Today is the fantastic news that may signify the end of the war very shortly. It’s almost too good to be true! The description we’ve been given describes a veritable Buck Rogers mechanism of destruction that is capable of destroying any city or nation. Can it be true?” 2 days earlier, on the same day of the bomb, he had written somberly, “The cold facts are that a land invasion of Japan would cost more deaths and wounded than the European war. I’d rather see a continued sea blockade and continuous air bombardment, even for two or three years, rather than tremendous casualties, even though I long for home.” A year of treating Army and civilian wounded int he Pacific had educated him to the degradation of war, where a bullet or mortar had come to symbolize “inanimate metal in which all the sadism of the human animal is expressed.” So his initial joy was unabated: “I believe it to be true. For the first time I feel that the war may end shortly and I hope to God it’s so.” But my father sensed instinctively that bigger issues were afoot. In his next letter, his elation clashed with what he knew were military implications of the atomic age. “There’s something frightening about this new bomb, a weapon that bodes danger for the future, if human beings don’t quit acting like apes. The bomb is not a pleasant weapon to contemplate and mankind’s past performances don’t make me optimistic.” In that letter, he wrote about the “world-revolutionary” possibilities of peaceful atomic use. Indeed, after returning home, he became an early practitioner of nuclear medicine in the 1950s when radionuclides were first used to treat thyroid cancer. My father’s personal history in an atomic world mirrors the nuclear contradictions we face. He never forgot the corrosive aspects of war from combat and what a thermonuclear weapon could wreak. He applied nuclear research as a doctor, yet knew the horrific medical consequences of uncontrolled radiation and ardently opposed nuclear weapons testing and proliferation. But he never regretted the nation’s decision to level Hiroshima. He and thousands of others came home alive and uninjured. He would never apologize, but he would say we could never do it again.

Aug. 9th, ‘45 Mindanao

My Darling Sweetheart:

Today’s news is the bit war news, the fantastic news that may signify the end of the war very shortly. It’s almost too good to be true. I’m referring to the Atomic Bomb. The description we’ve been given describes a veritable Buck Rogers mechanism of destruction that is capable of destroying with ease any city or nation.

What a world-revolutionary development is the practical use of atomic physics! It’s damned fortunate that we were first in its military use and it may — and probably will — be the final all-important factor in ending this war. But it’s not a pleasant weapon to contemplate, almost impossible to grasp its possibilities, the possibilities of practical use of atomic physics. As far as I can see it’s sink or swim, suffering or happiness to mankind; and mankind’s past performances don’t make me too optimistic.

Dear David:

Thank you for your very thoughtful note, and for sharing a piece of your family history with me — it sounds like your father was a great man. As he so intimately understood, nuclear weapons pose some of the gravest threats to America and the world.

My visit to Hiroshima is not to revisit the past, but to affirm that innocent people die in war, on all sides; that we should do everything we can to try to promote peace and dialogue around the world; that we should continue to strive for a world without nuclear weapons.

The United States and Japan remain a strong symbol of how former adversaries can come together out of the ashes of war to become some of the closest allies in the world. That can teach us all a lesson about our ability to overcome our differences and move forward to create a better future for our children and grandchildren. We do that not by ignoring our history, but by understanding it and recognizing it, then committing to do better in the future.

Your father’s words will remain on my mind, and I wish you and your family the very best.

Sincerely, Barack Obama

Dear President Obama,

I am writing to express gratitude for you having extending an invitation to Maná to the White House on Cinco de Mayo. […] My grandfather and parents came to the United States of America as Mexican immigrants to offer me the opportunity of a better life and I am beyond grateful for their sacrifices. Their sacrifices allowed me to obtain a high school education, which none of them were given the opportunity to do so. Upon graduating high school, I was awarded the Gates Millennium Scholarship that allowed me to cultivate my education and earn two bachelors degrees. Last summer, I moved from the west coast to the DC area, and I am currently earning a masters of public health in global environmental health at The George Washington University with the help of the Gates Millennium scholarship. I am sharing this because I hope that my experience shows how Mexicans are not bring problems to the United States of America, but instead are contributing in a myriad of beneficial ways. My story is only one. We have many stories of our contributions to the United States of America, and Maná is a beautiful representation of such contributions. Thus, through you having extended an invitation to Maná, I feel as if the rest of us have also been invited to celebrate the contributions of Mexicans to this country at the White House.

Thank you,

Brenda Trejo