then one morning, i opened up an envelope to read that my beloved doctor would be leaving the medical profession. she kindly set me up with another doctor, and i sent her a long email detailing her impressive qualities, and thanking her for her heartfelt service.
even over the phone, i could tell she cared very much
i grieved her loss. i knew what grieving was because i had lost my daughter to cancer just after she had recommended this doctor to me. she had aided me immensely in coming to terms with a complicated grief. she always listened to me, and i could tell, even over the phone, that she cared very much, and that she recognized the depth of my grief.
she represented a new frontier for me. psychiatrists are as scarce as hens’ teeth — and they are often not there when you need them in a crisis. she was not a specialist, but she was confident enough to take on the task, and i felt she was well read and very experienced. this is what i needed and wanted, and it made all the difference in the world to me. and because of technology, i made it through two years with what i consider the best of care.
my new doctor, who i see locally, is young and energetic, works in an emergency department twice a week, and is open to dermatology issues like monitoring sun damage. this is exciting news for me as i have this skin concern and others, but would have a very long wait for a dermatologist in the rural area where i live.