Dr. H's Clipboard

“I’m never sick,” Sally said. She was nearly 70-years-old and said she had never even had a cold. She sat off to the side while her husband, Bob, was reclined on the ER gurney. Bob had been feeling weak for several days and went to his physician for a checkup. Routine laboratory studies showed that his red blood cells, white blood cells and … [Read more...] about Grip the Coping Tool of Denial

“Belinda had a seizure,” according to her husband, Ron. He heard a loud noise and ran to check on her. She appeared to be convulsing - Ron immediately called 911. When EMS arrived, Belinda was awake, and claiming that she just passed out from the stomach flu. While treating Belinda in the emergency room, the physician felt trapped in the middle of … [Read more...] about Be Prepared For Emergencies

You’re never too old to live a little. Mom spends most of her days doing enjoyable things like “nothing.” She gets up early in order to be dressed and ready when breakfast is served in her assisted living apartment. After my father died, she became used to this additional attention even though she is able to shuffles to the dining room for lunch … [Read more...] about 3 Lessons on Aging Gracefully from My 90-Year-Old Mother

Brad was different after he returned from the warzone, having completed the second deployment of a stem cell transplant to combat multiple myeloma. He looked good despite his generalized battle fatigue, carrying both the scars of a dialysis fistula on his left arm and a chemotherapy port under his chest wall. Brad had received support from his … [Read more...] about Second Deployment: The Dad Brad Story

Muhammad Ali, 74, died two days after being admitted to a local hospital on Friday, June 3. The three-time heavyweight champion had been fighting Parkinson’s disease almost immediately after retiring from boxing 35 years ago. He had been hospitalized several times in the past two years for severe urinary infections. It is often said of the dearly … [Read more...] about The Final Blow to Muhammad Ali

Once upon a time Martin Simpson was playing little league and had hopes and dreams. At the age of 89 he was falling frequently due to weakness brought on by urinary tract infections. Before his son could arrive at the residential group home, Mr. Simpson had been loaded onto the EMS gurney for the obligatory trip to the emergency department after he … [Read more...] about Another Opening Day