Republican Sen. John McCain came to Exeter last week to thank New Hampshire for giving him a jump start in his quest for presidency. I attended the meeting with my 10-year-old son, Richard, hoping to speak with Sen. McCain about how he will address chronic health concerns.

I am a parent of a child with a chronic health condition, and I'm also executive director of New Hampshire's Council for Children and Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions. Sen. McCain did select me from the audience, and I was happy that he touched upon some key issues dealing with chronic disease, especially recognizing research from the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease that 75 percent of all health-care costs come from the five major chronic diseases: diabetes, heart disease, asthma, cancer and arthritis.

However, I hope his health-care plan will become more defined in the coming months. If I'm unable to properly manage my child's chronic health condition, the impact can cause a ripple effect throughout an entire family which can tailspin a family into emotional and financial turmoil.

Policymakers must address what is putting our children at risk. Why are the rates of asthma, diabetes, cancer and obesity in children higher than ever before? If Sen. McCain does become president, I hope he's capable of addressing the truth that this may be the first generation that will be less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

DENISE A. BREWITT

Concord