It’s no secret that I think the world of Dr. Jack. I could start a fan club for him! I should make him a superhero cape! He is beyond amazing, everyone knows he has saved my life, but yesterday I found that my admiration meter doubled in size.
Last night, I hosted an evening at my house for people who were interested in hearing Dr. Jack’s presentation. It was a great evening and my living room was filled with people I have known many years, new friends and acquaintances, and even people who were friends of friends that I had never met before. It was a great group of people. They were a fun group, asking great questions and learning tons from my doctor, Dr. Jack Saia, the doctor who helped me fight off my archenemy, Hashimoto’s disease.
Anyone who knows me, knows I love Dr. Jack. He is an amazing doctor, kind and compassionate. He is an extremely talented man, who understands that care of patients is both science and art, and he knows just the right balance to take really ill people and turn the whole game around. He has so much knowledge and I could sit through days and days of listening to him talk and yet not feel as though I learned all that he has to teach. He has helped me in so many aspects of my life. My health is better, my outlook on life completely different. I just am a better person for knowing him.
In the year we have worked with each other, we have gotten to know each other really well, and I have come to admire many great qualities about him. Besides his dedication to his patients, Dr. Jack is a loving husband and father, completely devoted to his family. It makes me smile to hear him talk about his wife and his two boys because it is so crystal clear just how much he loves them. I always knew he liked children, as he talked about coaching his sons’ teams, and all the pictures he and Mrs. Saia post about music concerts, trips and other activities for their boys. They are a great family!
But yesterday?? I got a rare chance to see something that I am so happy I didn’t miss. I had some parents who brought their kids with them to the meeting. My house is small and the kitchen is right next to the living room. The children were very quiet and well behaved. They stayed in the kitchen, content to amuse themselves with activities they brought, but at one one point, one came wandering in, to check in with mom and dad, and Dr. Jack stopped to acknowledge her. He stopped what he was teaching us all, to ask the girl about her grade level and age.
I am a teacher and children are important to me. In a room of crowded people, I will gravitate to the children. I love being with them. So it was nice to see that they are important to him too. It was nice to see him stop what he was doing to acknowledge her presence and make her feel as though she was welcome to join us if that was her wish. I smiled to myself thinking that it is nice to see other adults who value children as much as I do. I was soooooo glad I got to see that, but that wasn’t all there was.
At the end of the meeting, the son came in, and Dr. Jack asked to see what he was reading. I watched the exchange as the boy talked about what he read and Dr. Jack intent on listening. I could just see… I could clearly see it, and my heart tugged a little, and I thought, “Dr. Jack likes children!!” He understands what I understand and so many miss! Children are important, and they have legitimate concerns. They want to be heard, have their questions answered. They don’t want to have their parents addressed, they want to know themselves what’s going on. Don’t ignore them, but include them. Make them feel as though they are important, that what they say matters.
I watched with great admiration, this doctor, MY doctor, who knew that children are important, but there was more. He talked durning his presentation about children he helped and I watched his face. I got tears listening. And I thought it again…. Dr. Jack really cares about children! It was impossible to miss how his face changed when he talked about trying to help children with their health problems. He really wants to help!
But the real clincher came at the end. The parents mentioned to Dr. Jack about some issues their child was having. When most people had left, he talked directly to the child. He listened to her explain, and he listened patiently to her explanation. He told her that they would work together to fix the problem. Together… they…. her, her parents and Dr. Jack. Together, they were going to fix it.
Again, I watched his face. He spoke directly to her, NOT around her, not treating her like she was an accessory. Not treating her as though she was incapable of explaining her own issue. I hate when people do that. After all, it is her health issue! And I saw her face… and her parents… and it was so wonderful!
What struck me the most was how he treated her the same as he would if I were sitting there talking about my problem. He listened, he explained, he reassured. My heart tugged and I thought it again…. Dr. Jack loves children! He wants to help everyone be well! He is interested in helping ALL! I admit that I got teary. I kept it at bay…. I bit a huge sore in my mouth trying not to get emotional as I watched it. My goodness….. isn’t that what every single doctor should be??
I love Dr. Jack, he truly is the definition of what a doctor should be, intent on helping all people, regardless of age, to be well! He is intent on saving the world, one person at a time and including those dearest to my heart, the children…… I have always admired him. Yesterday, I found another reason to appreciate him even more….. I think that superhero cape I need to make him needs to be a lot bigger! Maybe with bigger stars. After all, the children he helps would love to try it on, wouldn’t they?? He would be up for that!! After all….. Dr. Jack loves children!
Hugs,
Chris