“This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.”
-Maya Angelou
·
Finding the perfect sticker for the child who
loves trains or kittens or Paw Patrol
·
Celebrating with the big, but scared teenager
after he was able to receive his shots without incident
·
The intellectual satisfaction of a diagnosis
made and effective treatment given, especially if the condition is a bit
obscure
·
Hugs from children in the office hallway,
grocery store, or post office
·
Seeing the child of a former patient and reminiscing
with the (now) mother and grandmother about something that happened twenty
years ago
·
Babies who smile and coo at you or determinedly
try to grab your stethoscope
·
A child who is comfortable enough to tell you
what is bothering her
·
Being able to reassure a worried parent
·
The fact that some diseases which were common
when I started in practice have all but disappeared.
·
Discussing books, drama, baseball games, and
fishing spots with patients
·
The child who says “Siri, where is Dr. Sauder?”
while waiting in the exam room
·
A parent or grandparent telling a story of an
event you shared that had a lasting impact
·
Connecting with a child with gestures and
stickers when you don’t speak the same language
·
The satisfaction of popping a dislocated elbow
back into place or retrieving a bead or rock from a nose or an ear
·
Discussing an interesting case with colleagues
·
Congratulating a patient who has made a healthy
lifestyle change
·
Hearing that a patient uses their doctor kit at
home to pretend to be me
·
Seeing someone walking down the street who you
know could have easily died in the past
·
Dedicated parents, grandparents, foster parents,
and others who do their best to help children with difficult medical and psychosocial
needs
·
The moment a patient realizes my wife is his
math teacher or the former student of hers who asks “So how’s Mrs. Sauder
doing?”
For these reasons and many other things, I am thankful to be
able to do what I do. Thank you for letting us (me) participate in the care of
your children.