AUBURN -- When Christian Lewis was diagnosed with a terminal illness in 2003, his parents had three options -- a nursing home, Matthew House or bringing their son home. They chose to bring him home to surround him with the love and dignity he deserved, said his mother Jeanie during Tuesday's Cayuga County Legislature meeting.

The Lewises attended Tuesday's meeting in support of the Certified Home Health Agency and to voice their opposition to the possible privatization of the agency.

Throughout the remainder of Christian's life, CHHA provided the Lewis family with nurses, home health aides and most importantly, a loving and caring environment, Jeanie said.

Christian's father Tom, who also attended the meeting, asked the Legislature to make an informed decision.

"When you make that decision ... Whatever you do, please keep everything transparent. Let us know what's happening. If you need more information, we'll give you more information. I trust you guys to make a decision that you feel passionate about," he said.

Privatizing the CHHA may reduce the quality of care for those who receive services, which is a main concern for those who support keeping CHHA a county-funded organization.

"When you have a private agency, obviously profit is a main objective," Tom said, "and that profit will take over for the patient care. ... We saw firsthand with a private organization where they would call in and then we were left to cover for those hours. The nurses from the county, they always showed up and if someone couldn't show up, they made sure that someone (else) was there. They were like family."

The Lewises believe the county's nurses who work for CHHA are some of the best in the county.

"Unless you've been through what we've been through, you can't appreciate the jewel of an asset that the Cayuga County nurses are," Jeanie said. "Our CHHA is a jewel in our community."

For the full report, read Wednesday's edition of The Citizen.