MY SISTER AND ME. HE WAS A FINE DEDICATED PHYSICIAN IN THE DAYS WHEN DOCTORS STILL MADE HOUSE CALLS AT NIGHT. I OFTEN HAD A CHANCE AS A YOUNGSTER TO ACCOMPANY HIM ON HIS NIGHTLY HOUSE CALLS IN OUR NASH AUTOMOBILE WITH THE SPOT LIGHT ON THE FRONT WINDOW, WHICH WAS USED TO FIND HOMES IN NEIGHBORHOODS HE WASN'T FAMILIAR WITH. MANY TIMES HE WAS VISITING A DYING PATIENT FOR WHOM THERE WAS NO LONGER ANYTHING TO DO THAN MAKE HIM COMFOTABLE. I REMEMBER MANY AN EXIT FROM A HOUSE WHEN IT WAS OBVIOUS HE WAS EMOTIONALLY AFFECTED BY HIS INABILITY TO STAVE OFF DEATHS IMMINENT ARRIVAL. THIS AFFECTED HIM PERSONALLY MORE THAN IT SEEMS TO BOTHER MODERN PHYSICIANS WHO SEEM TO TREAT THEIR PATIENTS TOO OFTEN AS A NUMBER TO BE POSTED ON THEIR BALANCE SHEET. THIS DOESN'T MEAN THERE ARE NO DOCTORS WHO TRY TO PRACTICE MEDICINE WITH EMPATHY FOR THEIR PATIENTS. BUT HMO'S, MEDICAID AND UNSCRUPULOUS LAWYERS HAVE HAD THEIR EFFECT.MY DAD WAS A SURGEON WHO FACED DEATH EVERY DAY AND DIED PREMATURELY AT THE AGE OF 58! HE NEVER DROVE A CADILLAC BECAUSE HE DEDICATED HIS MONEY TO THE EDUCATION AND WELL BEING OF HIS SIX CHILDREN. MY FOUR BROTHERS AND SISTER ALONG WITH ME THE ELDEST OF THE "BROOD" ALL WENT TO COLLEGE. NOT JUNIOR COLLEGES, BUT MAJOR INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNIG. NOTHING WAS TOO GOOD FOR HIS "KIDS" WHEN IT CAME TO EDUCATION. MY GREATEST REGRET IS THAT HE DIED BEFORE I HAD A CHANCE TO SHOW HIM HIS MONEY WAS WELL SPENT ON ME. DAD WAS NO SAINT. LIKE ALL MEN HE HAD HIS WEAKNESSES. THE PRESSURES OF BEING A GOOD DOCTOR COTRIBUTED TO HIS FAILINGS. BUT I THANK GOD THIS FATHERS DAY AS I DO EVERY DAY FOR HAVING SUCH LOVING AND SUPPORIVE PARENTS. UNFORTUNATELY LIKE MANY CHILDREN I NEVER REALLY APPRECITED MY DAD UNTIL HE WAS GONE. MY FERVENT HOPE THIS FATHERS DAY IS FOR ALL CHILDREN WHO HAVE A DAD, TO LET HIM KNOW YOU LOVE HIM BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!
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