Dear Friends, I wanted to let you know that I recently published my third memoir in the memoir trilogy, called “From Doctor to Healer,” which I think you would enjoy. It’s about my unusual trajectory in the world of medicine and how adversity propelled me onto my true path of healing myself and healing my patients. The reader will get quite an inside view of modern medicine. I think the book would appeal to any adult who has experienced serious physical ailments and spent time finding the path to real healing. Even if you have somehow escaped adversity in your … Continue reading
Category Archives: Memoir
Dear Friends of Romee and Benji, Several people have encouraged me to write an update on how the grandkids are doing. They are thriving! Benji turned one year old during my recent visit, and Romee turned two years old last July. I recently went to Truckee (near Lake Tahoe) to celebrate Benji’s first birthday. Danni’s parents came as well. Barrett’s dad was suffering from back pain and wasn’t able to join us. The kids love life and are full of energy. Romee is now in preschool with her best friend. She has a big vocabulary, but most of the time … Continue reading
Dear Friends who have followed the stories of Romee and Baby Benji over the past two years, here are some photos you might enjoy. I’m posting them after recently returning from a wonderful visit. Selfie of Danni and Benji Last week I went to Truckee, near Lake Tahoe, to spend my birthday with with Barrett, Danni, and the grandkids. Unfortunately, my birthday, June 14th, coincides with you-know- who. I’m thinking of changing the date, as least as long as you- know-who is alive. Considering the tiny population of Truckee, there was a huge turnout of people who were protesting with … Continue reading
Many friends have asked me to post an update on the two grand babies. Benji is 3 months old and appears to have a very calm disposition. He rarely cries, except when he’s hungry, tired, or needs his diaper changed. He spends much of his time looking around, including contemplating the ceiling. Romee (aka Braveheart) is 17 months and yet appears much older. She is enthusiastic about life and seems to be interested in everything she encounters. She is also strong-willed and has a lot of determination. She often runs instead of walking. I think she might turn out to … Continue reading
Romee, aka Braveheart, knows that something exciting is about to happen, but she’s not sure exactly what it is. Last winter, Danni began to feel like her abdomen was swelling. She took a pregnancy test. The positive results thoroughly surprised her—and everyone else in the family. What a miracle after many years of infertility and having to resort to In Vitro Fertilization! Danni and Barrett went to the local hospital to get an ultrasound which revealed a 12 week old baby boy. What joy! Now, at 14 months, Romee seems to be on the verge of talking. Although she understands … Continue reading
Dear Friends of Braveheart, Many people have been asking me about the next update regarding Romee, aka Braveheart. I have much to share with you, having just returned from Truckee, near Lake Tahoe, for Romee’s first birthday celebration. Below you will see photos of Romee’s progression over the past few months, culminating with her first birthday. The other news to share with you is that Romee’s mom, Danielle, is pregnant with a baby boy! The pregnancy came as a big surprise after years of infertility. Needless to say, Barrett and Danni are thrilled. The due date is September 26th, two … Continue reading
Many of you have asked for updates on the status of Braveheart, aka Baby Romee, so I decided to post another blog, which is also my way of thanking you for all the love and support, the care and concern, and the prayers you have given to me and my family. Braveheart, now 5 months old, is thriving, growing fast, full of curiosity, frequent smiles, and has a great sense of humor! She sees the cardiologist in Reno every 3 weeks for a checkup and an echocardiogram which is an ultrasound of the heart. In a recent visit, the echocardiogram … Continue reading
I just returned from finally seeing, in person, my one and only grandchild, the miracle Baby Romee, aka Braveheart, now 3 months old. She has a strong spirit that will serve her well, considering what she will be facing as she outgrows her reconstructed coronary vessels. I felt like I was meeting an “old soul.” I couldn’t stop staring at Baby Romee. Her facial expressions constantly changed from moment to moment—from expressions of curiosity, wonderment, and smiles of delight, to screaming related to either hunger, diaper content, or need for a nap. The nursing appeared to be approximately every two … Continue reading
August 23, 2023 Hundreds of you from across the country and abroad have poured out your hearts in response to Baby Romee’s plight and have asked for updated news on her status. Braveheart’s open heart surgery and reconstruction of her coronary vessels took place on July 26, 4 days after birth. Although the cardiac surgeon predicted that she would be in the hospital several weeks post-surgery, she actually left the hospital and went home TEN days after open heart surgery. In addition to the expert care she got by all the staff at Stanford Children’s Hospital, along with Romee’s strong … Continue reading
July 23, 2023 Last night, around 10 pm on July 22nd, I got a text from my son, Barrett, saying that his wife, Danni, gave birth to their baby girl, Romee—my first grandchild. The delivery went better than we dared to hope for. Baby Romee is in the newborn intensive care unit for observation. She was born with a severe congenital cardiac abnormality that will require open heart surgery in a few days in order for her to survive. A prenatal ultrasound at 16 weeks gestation revealed the condition. It is called Truncus Arteriosis which means that her cardiac vessels … Continue reading