Dr. B

     I have three homes.   My first home is the one I eat and sleep at.   It's in Plymouth.
My second home is my church in South Bend, Living Stones Church.  My friends and family are there...so is my heart.
     My third home, it seems, is the pediatricians office.   And, this past Saturday, a member of my third household went to see Jesus.
     Several years ago, we became disenfranchised with our special needs pediatrician in South Bend.   Each appointment was easily three or more hours, with only about 20 minutes of actual face to face doctor time and the rest being waiting room time.   Try sitting in a doctor's waiting room with a kid with ADHD so severe he literally slam his self into a wall because he just can't help it.   She also did not have a very good manner and would often suggest therapies and treatments that either did not work or were not feasible.   Once, she said she wanted us to take Tobey to a speech therapist who lived 2 hours over the Michigan border. 
     So, we began to look, and decided we would go out of network on my husbands insurance.   That is when we found Marshall County Pediatrics.   The first doctor we met was Dr. Graber, who soon moved.   We were handed off to Dr. Susan Bardwell.
     The first time Eddie met her, he noticed one peculiar thing about her:  she was orange.   Literally orange.  She explained it was from all of the carrot juice she drank.   She was a vegetarian. 
     Fast forward a year.   During that time, there was never a call that went unanswered nor a question that went unasked.   Dr. Bardwell had our kids on lock!
     Then, Edwin's feet were cramping to the point of being unbearable.   It was Dr. Bardwell who suspected Rheumatic Fever.   Edwin is thriving.
     It was Dr. Bardwell who put Tobey on Ritalin, thus calming him down AND giving him more language! 
     When you saw Dr. Bardwell at the farmer's market on Saturdays, she was always there with a friendly hello and how is Edwin?
     During the whole time we were being seen by Dr. B, she was battling cancer.  Bravely.  Courageously.   And while taking care of my kids.
     There were times I had the stupidest of questions about Tobey or Edwin or Melody, and she would always kindly answer, never letting on that she had had Chemo earlier that day.  
     She was an inspiration.   You can view her Obituary here.  I encourage you to read it.   She was an amazing woman, and she is my hero.

We love you Dr. B, We will miss you.   And, Thank you.