Patients as People.

I spoke to a mom with a 17-year-old daughter who has for 10 years suffered with a mysterious neurological illness now thought quite assuredly to be a form of Autoimmune Encephalitis. Sadly, her daughter is now bedridden and spend all her time trapped in her room. Wanting to bring a smile to her child’s face, the mom went outside and made a snow angel for her to see through the window. This poor parent is so tired and overwhelmed by the process of trying to get help for her daughter who really has been mismanaged by our current medical system. So doing anything for her child that might bring even a second or two of joy into her life is at least something this desperate mother could do. It may seem like a simple act. But represents so much more.

I looked at that photo and the message and knowing what this family has endured I have to wonder, “Where has the human side of medicine gone?” How could they struggle for years to get any real help and still be searching for answers and clearly feel so forgotten? And, sadly, we see these kinds of events happen far too often.

We are so fortunate in our own practice to have the contributions and insight of like-minded professionals who see our patients as people first and foremost. We made the choice to pursue therapies and treatment that include integrative and functional medicine protocols because we’ve seen it work. And we made the choice to start any care plan with empathy and compassion for the people who come to us for help. It’s not just about good medicine. It’s about making heart-to-heart connections and having a commitment to serving humanity with genuine kindness above all else.

None of us can know how well any treatment may work for single patient and I do worry this young girl has been ill for some time before finding us. But I will do everything I can to offer hope because without hope, none of us can survive. And I am so grateful for our community of colleagues and practitioners who echo that sentiment.


In health and hope,
Dr. Suzy Gazda