6:51 pmDr.
When I was about 24 weeks into this pregnancy, my sweet doctor, Dr. Gordon, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease. I can’t tell you how much I love Dr. Gordon. He delivered both of my other kids and I was looking forward to him delivering this baby as well. He reminded me of Sully from the movie Monsters, Inc. He was a big guy with a great laugh and a megawatt smile. When I think of the way he looked at Zoe’s birth compared to the way he looked when I showed up for my 10 week visit with this pregnancy, the difference was shocking. Sure, it had been 6 years, but he looked much older, and smaller… though no less happy.
Immediately after his diagnosis he flew to Germany to undergo stem cell treatment. Upon his return, everyone hoped for the best. Hoped that the treatment would help sustain him. But it didn’t seem to help.
Even with his quickly deteriorating health, he came into the office and saw his patients nearly every day. I came in every couple of weeks for my appointments, hoping to see him better. But he was always worse. From the time he returned from Germany he had lost almost all muscle strength. He pushed himself around from patient room to patient room on a rolling office chair. He cracked jokes and continued to call me (and I assume every other pregnant woman) “kiddo” when he came into the room. His smile still beamed. He informed me that he was no longer doing any deliveries; all deliveries were being done by his partner, Dr. Judd.
“People don’t want me dropping babies all over the floor,” he said to me with a laugh.
I was crushed that he wouldn’t be delivering this baby.
I saw him at Jon’s big office party at Halloween. He came into the building with a huge group of his family, one of his 8 kids pushing him in a wheelchair.
“Dr Gordon!” I said. “Hi!”
And he waved at me and smiled. I’m sure he didn’t recognize me from any of his other hundreds of pregnant patients, but he acted like he did. His kids saw a pregnant witch smiling and waving and they put 2 and 2 together. They smiled at me, too.
And then when I went in for my 36 week appointment a couple of weeks ago, the nurse took me into a patient room and informed me that Dr. Gordon had passed away. I cried.
It had been only about 3 months since his diagnosis.
I miss him. The rest of this pregnancy will be weird. There is a new doctor that he selected to take over his patient load. I am trying to like her. Trying to give her a chance. But she’s no Dr. Gordon…
And although I was only one of the thousands of faces of pregnant women he saw over the years, he always made me feel special and individual in his presence. He was special to me.
His obituary is here, if you would like to read a little more about him. The comments left there only echo the things I’ve said and feel about the man. He was loved by everyone.
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Ever since you told me about Dr. Gordon I have been reliving my Dr. Appts. with him. He truly was a great man who made everyone feel important. And lets face it he delivered cute babies!
Comment by Diana — December 8, 2008 @ 8:00 am
Wow Suz so beautifully put about a person who meant so much to us all (meaning every pregnant women who was his patient). I remember when he was my Dr with Kaestli he was the greatest!! Even after my IUD failed (and I was really mad at him)I went in his office crying and came out laughing. He made everything always seem better.
Comment by Kim — December 9, 2008 @ 7:02 am
that’s sad.I had my annual appointment last year and there I found out that my lovely Lady doctor had retied. they do mean a lot to us.
Comment by Yanilza — January 4, 2009 @ 2:29 pm