First Words
…thoughts of an anachronistic, solo pediatrician
by Glenn Feole, M.D.
"Be careful too that the reading of your story makes the melancholy
laugh and the merry laugh louder," Cervantes, Prologue to Don Quixote
Contact: ishmaelish36@gmail.com
Blog site: ishmaelish36.blogspot.com
August 16, 2014 Saturday
Chief Complaint: (written on the chart before I go in the room)
“I’m allergic to poison” (four year old)
Interesting Name:
Joe Ben
Anecdote:
I have a “Treasure Box” in my office filled with used toys donated by my own children and their friends. My patients look at it as an object of amazement. It might as well be filled with gold nuggets the way the react with excitement. It is an attempt to carry on the tradition of my Father-in-law's “magic bag” that he would pull out on a Saturday night, distributing the treasured trinkets with much deliberation to my eager children. Sometimes it would be a plastic spider, sometimes a compass. Always the objects were imbued with a flavor of mystery and magic.
Today, Elizabeth, age five, had helped me examine her younger sister with much kindness. I was writing my chart note and reached into the Treasure Box and grabbed a ‘pocket book.’ The pocket book consisted of a zippered cloth bag with a strap. It was something that one of the formula companies would give out to breast feeding mothers in hopes that they would supplement their breast feeding with their formula, which I didn’t agree with. So... I would empty the containers and, voila, a "pocket book." Instead of a posh “Aigner” label, it would have a desirable “Enfamil” or “Similac” insignia.
As soon as I gave her the gift, she exclaimed with delight, opened it and started filling it with dozens of items from her Mother’s pocket book . She was happy.
I heard her through the door to the exam room saying to her Mom,
“Dr. Feole likes to share, doesn’t he Mom?”
“Yes he does, Elizabeth.”
“It’s nice to share, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is very nice to share.”
That was one of the nicest thank you’s I have ever received.
South Carolina, April, 2009
Today, Elizabeth, age five, had helped me examine her younger sister with much kindness. I was writing my chart note and reached into the Treasure Box and grabbed a ‘pocket book.’ The pocket book consisted of a zippered cloth bag with a strap. It was something that one of the formula companies would give out to breast feeding mothers in hopes that they would supplement their breast feeding with their formula, which I didn’t agree with. So... I would empty the containers and, voila, a "pocket book." Instead of a posh “Aigner” label, it would have a desirable “Enfamil” or “Similac” insignia.
As soon as I gave her the gift, she exclaimed with delight, opened it and started filling it with dozens of items from her Mother’s pocket book . She was happy.
I heard her through the door to the exam room saying to her Mom,
“Dr. Feole likes to share, doesn’t he Mom?”
“Yes he does, Elizabeth.”
“It’s nice to share, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is very nice to share.”
That was one of the nicest thank you’s I have ever received.
South Carolina, April, 2009
Fleet Foxes, "Blue Ridge Mountains"
Lie down with me, my dear.
Lie down
Under stormy night.
Tell nobody.
Lie down
Under stormy night.
Tell nobody.
My brother, where do you intend to go tonight?
I heard that you missed your connecting flight
to the Blue Ridge Mountains, over near Tennessee.
I heard that you missed your connecting flight
to the Blue Ridge Mountains, over near Tennessee.
You're ever welcome with me any time you like,
Let's drive to the country side, leave behind some green-eyed look-a-likes,
So no one gets worried, no.
So no one gets worried, no.
Let's drive to the country side, leave behind some green-eyed look-a-likes,
So no one gets worried, no.
So no one gets worried, no.
But Sean don't get careless,
I'm sure it'll be fine.
I love you. I love you,
Oh brother of mine.
I'm sure it'll be fine.
I love you. I love you,
Oh brother of mine.
In the quivering forest,
Where the shivering dog rests,
Our good grandfather
Built a wooden nest.
And the river got frozen,
And the home got snowed in.
And a yellow moon glowed bright
Till the morning light.
Where the shivering dog rests,
Our good grandfather
Built a wooden nest.
And the river got frozen,
And the home got snowed in.
And a yellow moon glowed bright
Till the morning light.
Terrible am I, child.
Even if you don't mind.
Even if you don't mind.
In the quivering forest,
Where the shivering dog rests,
Our good grandfather
Built a wooden nest.
And the river got frozen,
And the home got snowed in,
And a yellow moon glowed bright
Till the morning light.
Where the shivering dog rests,
Our good grandfather
Built a wooden nest.
And the river got frozen,
And the home got snowed in,
And a yellow moon glowed bright
Till the morning light.
Terrible am I, child.
Even if you don't mind,
No.
Even if you don't mind,
No.
Coup d'essai:
Favorite Musician/song:
Bibio, "Love Remains"
A simple, pure song that I love…reminds me of a joyful childhood. My daughter, Molly, turned me on to them!
A simple, pure song that I love…reminds me of a joyful childhood. My daughter, Molly, turned me on to them!
Favorite Book/author:
Proust
Remembrance of Things Past
I carried this around with me as a third year resident in Pediatrics at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati. I never did get very far but would dip into it, like a box of chocolates. To me, it is like poetry…a smell, an object, a vision…to be transported to another world and another dear emotion.
Favorite Movie/DVD:
Pina
An amazing, creative documentary on an amazing, creative dancer and choreographer. A thing of beauty. Available to stream on netflix.
No comments:
Post a Comment