Recommendation #47: Find a Sincere and Caring Practitioner and hold on to that Professional

Recommendation #47: Find a Sincere and Caring Practitioner and hold on to that Professional

My family, mom and dad are going through the very same experiences as the author of Raising A Parent, with my moms parents who live in Wisconsin. This makes it very hard to address their issues when we live in Florida. My mom has said numerous times that she is SO LUCKY to have found my grandma and grandpa's doctor, a man of understanding, compassion, generosity and concern.

Dr. Blaha has been my grandparent's doctor for some 12 years. He has ingratiated himself into our family. Like the author, my mom, her brothers and sister are all able to call the office and speak to him about either grandparent at any time. They are free to discuss their concerns for both grandparents as well as raise any red flags that they have noticed. The staff there all know my grandparents by name, and talk highly of them, in fact when my grandmother was hospitalized with the valve replacement the staff sent her flowers. We all feel lucky and blessed to have such a great relationship with this staff and doctor, and make sure they know how valued they are.

My grandmother makes sure that she takes something special every time she goes to see Dr. Blaha, whether its cookies, an article she is reading, or a trinket she has picked up. Both my grandparents are very close to him and it is obvious he feels just as close. He does have a reputation of dealing with elderly people in this compassionate manner, and I know that he is busy 24/7. When my mother has a concern about an issue that my grandma has brought to her attention, she has on numerous occasions called Dr. Blaha and discussed it with him.

He has then called my grandparents, grandma or grandpa, whoever the concern is about and asked them to come in to see him. He does not say how this concern is relayed to him because we all know that grandparents would get upset if their children were trying to go behind their backs and discuss their problems with their doctor. Dr. Blaha just says that he did not like what the numbers showed the last time they were in and he wants to do a little more checking. My grandparents have NEVER not gone in to see him when he asked to do so, nor have they questioned why he called them in. Our family has COMPLETE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE in him and his abilities.

My mom has said numerous times that he is the angel on grandma and grandpa's shoulders that keep them going, and they are extremely lucky to have such a wonderful doctor in their corner at this time in their lives. This is a feeling that is had by the entire immediate family; because you have no idea of how lucky you are until you have a doctor that is not involved. One who is blunt, uncaring, and distant and makes you feel like your taking up his time. My parents have had several of those in the past when dealing with my grandparents over the last 20 years. So if you happen to find a great doctor, one who both your family and patients love, make sure you hang on to them. Let them know how much you truly appreciate them, their staff and the care and attention that they provide to your family members.