My patient who lost his wife
Donation protected
This is the story of one of my wonderful patients. This man has been a patient in my office before I even worked there! (He and his wife used to see my father, also a derm
atologist, before I took over)
I have been his doctor for over a decade, and he and his wife are the type of couple who are attached at the hip. Whenever one of them had an appointment, the other accompanied them. They went everywhere together. They could finish each others sentences, and they were so sweet and loving towards each other.
In particular, his wife always had a huge smile and a big hug to greet me. She always asked me- How is your father doing? How big are your kids now? Her smile and laugh and positive outlook on life were infectious. He was a little quieter but still as sweet, sitting back and letting her do most of the talking. They obviously loved each others' company, and where two parts of a whole.
A few years ago, I saw him for the first time in my office all alone. The first thing I asked was where she was. He told me she was waiting in the car and didn't want to come in. Apparently, she was having some medical problems. She had a lung disease which made it very difficult and painful for her to breathe. He told me that she didn't want anyone to know about this disease, that she was embarrassed. He said she was in a lot of pain, but would put on a brave face the next time I saw her, so would I please not mention that he told me of her problems? She didn't want anyone to know.
So, yes, I did see her again as a patient, and she again, greeted me with a big smile and a bear hug, and she nor I made no mention of her sickness and her pain.
This went on for about a year. Then, he came in to see me and told me that wasn't in the car... she couldn't even leave the house, so she didn't accompany him to his appointments. He was very worried about her, that she was suffering so much, struggling so much to breathe.
I saw him this year in January, and just like any of my other visits, I asked him how his wife was doing. I immediately regretted doing so. He told me, choking back tears, that she died around Christmas. It was one of the saddest moments I've had with one of my patients. He is a changed man. He no longer stands tall and proud, but hunches over, using a cane to shuffle along slowly. He has lost a lot of weight. The bags under his eyes are very heavy, and he rarely looks up, instead staring at the floor with his hands in his lap. He has aged 10 years in 10 months.
He has had to move out of his home, and now lives in an assisted living facility, which he hates. He is both anxious, stressed about his financial situation and all the responsibilities he has, and depressed grieving for his missing piece.
This gofundme page has started all because of my offering to extract blackheads on his nose! I bet that's a new one! I don't charge him anything to remove the bumps on his nose.. my payment is the appreciation he has that I'm removing the horrible bumps that he feels make his look ugly. Hopefully, this makes him feel more confident to make friends in his new home.
Many of my youtube followers have expressed interest in helping him out financially, since a lack of finances for him is the root of much of his present anxiety. I'm sure he would appreciate just as much some kind words that can be sent to our office and forwarded to him from there. You can write to SkinPhysicians c/o Dr Sandra Lee, 859 East Foothill Blvd Ste B, Upland, CA 91786.
Any donations given will be presented to him, and I hope he will allow me to film him this presentation, so that he may thank
you all for your support and love.
atologist, before I took over)
I have been his doctor for over a decade, and he and his wife are the type of couple who are attached at the hip. Whenever one of them had an appointment, the other accompanied them. They went everywhere together. They could finish each others sentences, and they were so sweet and loving towards each other.
In particular, his wife always had a huge smile and a big hug to greet me. She always asked me- How is your father doing? How big are your kids now? Her smile and laugh and positive outlook on life were infectious. He was a little quieter but still as sweet, sitting back and letting her do most of the talking. They obviously loved each others' company, and where two parts of a whole.
A few years ago, I saw him for the first time in my office all alone. The first thing I asked was where she was. He told me she was waiting in the car and didn't want to come in. Apparently, she was having some medical problems. She had a lung disease which made it very difficult and painful for her to breathe. He told me that she didn't want anyone to know about this disease, that she was embarrassed. He said she was in a lot of pain, but would put on a brave face the next time I saw her, so would I please not mention that he told me of her problems? She didn't want anyone to know.
So, yes, I did see her again as a patient, and she again, greeted me with a big smile and a bear hug, and she nor I made no mention of her sickness and her pain.
This went on for about a year. Then, he came in to see me and told me that wasn't in the car... she couldn't even leave the house, so she didn't accompany him to his appointments. He was very worried about her, that she was suffering so much, struggling so much to breathe.
I saw him this year in January, and just like any of my other visits, I asked him how his wife was doing. I immediately regretted doing so. He told me, choking back tears, that she died around Christmas. It was one of the saddest moments I've had with one of my patients. He is a changed man. He no longer stands tall and proud, but hunches over, using a cane to shuffle along slowly. He has lost a lot of weight. The bags under his eyes are very heavy, and he rarely looks up, instead staring at the floor with his hands in his lap. He has aged 10 years in 10 months.
He has had to move out of his home, and now lives in an assisted living facility, which he hates. He is both anxious, stressed about his financial situation and all the responsibilities he has, and depressed grieving for his missing piece.
This gofundme page has started all because of my offering to extract blackheads on his nose! I bet that's a new one! I don't charge him anything to remove the bumps on his nose.. my payment is the appreciation he has that I'm removing the horrible bumps that he feels make his look ugly. Hopefully, this makes him feel more confident to make friends in his new home.
Many of my youtube followers have expressed interest in helping him out financially, since a lack of finances for him is the root of much of his present anxiety. I'm sure he would appreciate just as much some kind words that can be sent to our office and forwarded to him from there. You can write to SkinPhysicians c/o Dr Sandra Lee, 859 East Foothill Blvd Ste B, Upland, CA 91786.
Any donations given will be presented to him, and I hope he will allow me to film him this presentation, so that he may thank
you all for your support and love.
Organizer
Sandra Lee Rebish
Organizer
Upland, CA