I am writing in response to Marie Doerr’s letter concerning the tragedy that befell Marilyn Lemak’s family (Voice of the People, March 15). I couldn’t agree more with Doerr’s perspective on depression.
My sister suffered from depression for years. Her mental and emotional decline was a painful event to witness. Depression is a tragic mental and a physical disorder, not a defense for excusing the inexcusable. If Lemak suffered from similar depression, anyone would have known.
Sufferers are unable to function. Rising from bed each day takes monumental effort. The disease does not allow the rational thought that would allow a mother to obtain the correct combination of drugs to sedate her children, then kill two children and wait for a third to come home to finish the deed; it does not allow the sufferer to think rationally enough to attempt suicide to save her own skin.
Let’s stop making excuses for Lemak’s behavior; she is a murderer of the lowest form.
