Cruise busted without Johnson's assistance

I decided to take my mother on a cruise for her 86th birthday. She has never been on a cruise, and I thought this would be a wonderful gift.

Now I wish to take readers on a cruise through my nightmare. In June, I began attempting to get a birth certificate for mother because a passport was needed to visit the Bahamas. Unfortunately, she was born in South Carolina by a mid-wife who did not record her and many others' births. This cost me $30.

I then attempted to contact the board of education there and was told that records did not exist prior to the 1950s – this cost me another $22. The next effort was the U.S. Census bureau. I could not find anything on my entire family in South Carolina.

I went to the Social Security Board for my mother's work history for several years. I was sure that was golden – not so.

I had my birth certificate, which stated that my mother was 27 years old when I was born. My certificate also noted where she was born. Still not enough.

By then, it was October and the cruise was scheduled for November. A friend contacted U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson on my behalf. Johnson assigned one of his aides, Kevin Smith, to call me. Smith collected my information and said he would see what they could do to help. To make a long story short, my mother was awarded a passport within a couple of weeks.

Johnson has always been available to help people. I know many people who have contacted his office with problems much worse than mine, and he has always been there for them.

My mother's trip-of-a-lifetime would never have happened without the help of Johnson and Smith. God bless them both.

WILLOW VANDERBILT

Urbana