Momo Fali's: Giving Thanks for Good Doctors...and Beer

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Giving Thanks for Good Doctors...and Beer

On the day before Thanksgiving, four years ago, I received a dreaded call from my son's doctor. He had been very sick and a nurse phoned to give us the result of some blood tests.

My son had a strep pneumo infection. Not always a big deal, unless you're a kid with heart defects like my boy. And, because my kid likes to be different, it wasn't the strain for which you get immunized, it was an antibiotic-resistant version.

They gave us two options. A seven-day, no expenses paid trip to the hospital for IV antibiotics, or a $300.00 bottle of a new, oral medicine that had an 85% chance of working. Because hospital stays turn our lives upside down, and because it was the day before Thanksgiving, we decided to try the oral meds.

The only problem? No one warned us that the medicine tasted like wet steel. One drop of it on my son's tongue made him gag and vomit, which really isn't good when you're trying to get life-saving medicine down his throat.

We tried diluting it in juice, we tried chasing one drop with an entire Reese's Cup, but nothing worked. We knew a week in the hospital was imminent.

I called the pediatrician on Thanksgiving morning to let her know, and she agreed that we had no other choice.

But then she said, "Well, there is one other thing we could do..."

She went on to tell a very anxious me, that she would agree to put in a Heplock (the short hub that sticks out of an IV catheter and can be capped off). But alas, she didn't have a nurse who could do something like that on Thanksgiving Day.

I nearly screamed, "I have a nurse!!"

My sister-in-law is a pediatric nurse at a local hospital and I knew she would do it.

So the pediatrician agreed to meet us at her office later that afternoon...after she fed 20 people dinner at her house.

Now tell me, how many doctors do you know who would make Thanksgiving dinner, then go and open their office for ONE patient, and let a strange nurse come in and do a procedure? Oh, that's right. You don't know ANY doctors who would do that.

And then, after my sister-in-law got the Heplock in, as if there was a shred of doubt that we'd keep that pediatrician forever...she went ahead and sealed the deal when she offered me a beer out of her office refrigerator.

Labels: Kids, Prematurity

# posted by Momo Fali : 8:27 AM

Comments:

You are very very lucky to have such a wonderful doctor. knowing people (doctors) like that still exist is wonderful..

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Momo!!!

# posted by

Anonymous : November 26, 2008 at 10:03 AM

And they say the spirit of giving is dying out these days! How beautiful (doggone it, now I'm starting to cry) and amazing.

This could be a good Thanksgiving Bud Lite commercial: "I love you, man!"

Hey, could I have the name of the doc? Yeah, I know, I'd have to move and drag the Wee Lass along with me, but if Daddy explains that "Yes, dear, you get a great doc, I get Daddy Juice" I could make this work...

Have a great Thanksgiving!

# posted by

Anonymous : November 26, 2008 at 10:35 AM

Holy crap, she IS the best doctor ever! Have a great holiday this year :).

# posted by

Anonymous : November 26, 2008 at 1:14 PM

That is a great doctor, and a great sis-in-law, too. Mind if I know the doctor's name, and is she taking new patients? ;)

(And hey, I wonder who your sis-in-law is? I did my nursing peds clinical last quarter and worked with several peds nurses.)

# posted by

Christina : November 26, 2008 at 2:36 PM

Please tell her that there are many many people out here who are grateful that she is who she is and that she did what she did. Well done!

# posted by

Anonymous : November 26, 2008 at 2:44 PM

that is incredible ... and oh-so-fortunate.

happy thanksgiving.

# posted by

the planet of janet : November 26, 2008 at 3:00 PM

That is the BEST doctor story of all times. You are very lucky to have that for your son. WOW!

# posted by

Anonymous : November 26, 2008 at 3:06 PM

Yay! Awesome story!

# posted by

Melisa Wells : November 26, 2008 at 3:18 PM

THAT right there is a Damn good doctor... If only they could all be like that.

# posted by

Misty : November 26, 2008 at 3:25 PM

That's awesome. I'm so glad that the doctor took care of you. Have a happy holiday.

# posted by

Marinka : November 26, 2008 at 3:27 PM

Amazing. Totally freakin' amazing. And, you are in our prayers.

# posted by

Tom : November 26, 2008 at 3:36 PM

so, she pretty much rocks it is what your saying? That is awesome.

PS, just saw your tweet, sorry about your dad. Hope everything is okay.

# posted by

Anonymous : November 26, 2008 at 4:05 PM

Yay for having such an awesome doctor at such a hard time :)

Happy Thanksgiving :)

# posted by

Miss Lisa : November 26, 2008 at 4:14 PM

THAT. Is one awesome doctor. Wow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

# posted by

OHmommy : November 26, 2008 at 4:19 PM

What a wonderful doctor.

# posted by

Mama Dawg : November 26, 2008 at 4:44 PM

Wow... she is a keeper. Happy Thanksgiving!

# posted by

Tara R. : November 26, 2008 at 5:01 PM

Wow. Just, wow.

# posted by

unmitigated me : November 26, 2008 at 5:07 PM

That's an awesome doctor. I hope you guys have an awesome Thanksgiving.

# posted by

María : November 26, 2008 at 5:07 PM

Yeah, that doctor is gold. She obviously cares about your son, the whole family and finances. The beer is like a cherry on top. Hopefully your Dad will have a cherry on top too. Happy Thanksgiving and I will pray for your Dad.

# posted by

WeaselMomma : November 26, 2008 at 5:27 PM

Wow, now THAT'S something to be thankful for!!!

# posted by

Maureen : November 26, 2008 at 5:57 PM

That is so awesome! You ARE Lucky. But you know that, of course. :)

# posted by

Kori : November 26, 2008 at 6:13 PM

you know, THAT just made ME grateful and he is not my son and nor is she my sister in law.

happy thanksgiving Momo and thanks to you!

# posted by

MsPicketToYou : November 26, 2008 at 6:21 PM

Holy crap woman.

What a blessing, you need to put that pedi in your pocket and keep her forever! I want a pedi with beer in her office fridge ;-) LOL.

Woman, you have stories! Loves ya.

Happy Thanksgiving honey. Prayers for you and your dad and all your family.

# posted by

Rachel : November 26, 2008 at 6:35 PM

That doctor is amazing. REally amazing and definitely a keeper. I'm glad you realize that. :o)

And I'm so sorry your son was so sick that Thanksgiving. :o(

# posted by

Rhea : November 26, 2008 at 6:42 PM

At least you are all home this year. I hope it was a good beer - then again in that situation, any beer is a good beer.
Happy Turkey Day!

# posted by

kaila : November 26, 2008 at 7:35 PM

Catching up at last. That doctor sounds amazing. Definitely a keeper. Hope you're all well now.

# posted by

Jo Beaufoix : November 26, 2008 at 7:54 PM

Sounds like a doctor to be grateful for!

# posted by

worldmomma : November 26, 2008 at 8:19 PM

Mouth hanging open in awe of your rocking awesome doctor. How in the world did you find her?

# posted by

Aunt Debbi/kurts mom : November 26, 2008 at 11:47 PM

That could not have ended any better! I'm sure you needed the beer by then.

Wishing you an uneventful Thanksgiving with family all around.

# posted by

Kathy : November 27, 2008 at 7:28 AM

That's awesome. Happy Thanksgiving :)

# posted by

Mrs4444 : November 27, 2008 at 2:54 PM

pssst: Happy Thanksgiving from Mexico!

# posted by

Anonymous : November 27, 2008 at 3:51 PM

That is so wonderful. It nearly brought me to tears. Happy Thanksgiving!

# posted by

Anonymous : November 27, 2008 at 9:24 PM

Wowee WOW!! Miracles abound!!

# posted by

Blah Blah Blah : November 27, 2008 at 10:35 PM

Thank God!

ps. I'm thankful for you <3

# posted by

Piper of Love : November 28, 2008 at 1:56 AM

I came across your blog randomly and LOVE reading...I think we may be related. :)
My two year old son is anemic and has to take iron supplements on a daily basis. They're basically liquid metal and after he threw up the first time we gave it to him, I thought to myself, "six months of this?...I don't think so". Eventually we just had to take a syringe, pry his mouth open and shoot it down his throat so that it didn't touch his tongue. We've been doing this every day since May! Say a prayer for us that we'll be all done in February when we go back to the pediatrician.

# posted by

LeeAnne : November 30, 2008 at 7:14 AM

My pediatrician in Portland was like this. I miss her so much. Can I come live with you next time my kids are sick?

# posted by

Missives From Suburbia : November 30, 2008 at 2:37 PM

Oh. I wish I knew a lady like this!

She is a saint!

# posted by

Dapoppins : November 30, 2008 at 8:38 PM

believe it or not ...
we are lucky enough to have one of those too.
she gave me her home phone number and calls when my girls are sick at night to check on me. she has offered to meet me at the hospital that she is not affiliated with ... because it is closer to my house.
she is a saint. and is the only reason that we stay with her clinic. the clinic sucks. but she is the most amazing lady.

# posted by

jen : December 3, 2008 at 12:17 AM

I guess that sealed the deal!

# posted by

Birdie : December 3, 2008 at 9:48 PM

How very lucky to have such a wonderful doctor. We love our doctors too, it's a husband/wife team. She's the pediatrician, he's the adult doctor. They're amazing.

# posted by

Jaina : December 4, 2008 at 5:12 PM

Momo -- I know this is an old post, but just wanted you to know a friend and I were talking about good doctors. That jarred my memory about your experience, so I sent her a link to it. I read the story again and it gave me chills just like the first time I read it. Your doctor is simply amazing!

# posted by

Kathy : May 8, 2009 at 11:34 AM

This Page

Momo Fali's

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Giving Thanks for Good Doctors...and Beer

About Me

Links

Archives