Meet Dr. Idiot

Today is 9/11. I know everyone is well aware of the date as well as the day. And we all have a story to tell about how we were affected. I highly recommend that you head over to Burgh Baby's site and check out her pictures of the Flight 93 crash site. While you're there feel free to click around for quite a while. All proceeds gained from clicks obtained at her site during the month of September will be donated to the Flight 93 Memorial fund. Truly, a worthy cause.

For the two or three readers of mine who don't already know, we live within 10 miles of the Flight 93 crash site. (Ten miles as the crow flies, not by twisty country roads.) I was going to take the kids this evening after school because I don't think they should ever forget what the heroes of 9/11 have done. But you know that the universe seems to make plans without consulting me most days. Today was no exception.

Josh came home from school limping. He twisted his foot in gym and couldn't bear any weight on it. The good news is that it's not broken. This was determined after x-rays and an MRI, and a dinner run to McD's Golden Arches for the entire x-ray department. The bad news is that I'll spend most of tomorrow following up from tonight. Josh can't participate in gym for at least a week so I asked for the doctor's slip for this request right then and there. Dr. Idiot thought it would be way more fun to wait until the x-rays were done. You know, so that the pediatrician's office would be closed and I'd have to call back and have them fax something to the school on our behalf.

Dr. Idiot is not my favorite person in the whole wide world. In fact, he ranks even below Dr. Freakazoid. The only reason we even doctor there is because of his associate who loves Micah only slightly less than I do. Because of this Dr. Wonderful associate we won't even be changing doctors when a branch of Children's opens right here in our own small town. It's tempting, but Dr. Wonderful is really all that.

And then there's Dr. Idiot. It's a really good thing that we only see him a few times a year at most. There was the time we were in for pink eye. Any idiot knows what that looks like but of course a parent can't self-diagnose. Dr. Idiot opened the exam room door, squatted down to eye level of the child, squinted so that he could see the whole way across the room, and said "yep, it's pink eye." Heaven forbid he actually get close a contagious patient.

But the clincher for my well-founded dislike of him is the remark made after Micah's diagnosis of Down syndrome. I knew absolutely nothing about Downs when Micah was born (and I'm not exaggerating on that point) but in the week between his birth and his diagnosis I'd educated myself enough to learn a few things. When we got the positive test results back I asked if Micah was T21 or had Mosaicism. With great sarcasm, Dr. Idiot informed me that there weren't different types of Downs. There was just the one, and Micah had it.

I've not had anything good to say about Dr. Idiot ever since. In fact, I was so hacked at the tone and ignorance that I nearly changed doctors after that. We decided in the end that driving an hour to the next nearest pediatrician wasn't a feasible option and have made a point to request Dr. Wonderful when at all possible.

So today, on 9/11, our plans were thwarted just as plans were changed in world altering ways 7 years ago. No, it's not nearly on the same scale. But I find it to be a fitting way to have spent the day. Maybe we'll go visit the crash site this weekend. We may remember it a little more when we're forced to hobble around on crutches.

May we never forget.

17 comments:

Leanne said...

I am one of the two who didn't know that's were you lived. Sorry about the foot, and the crummy doctor. It's really a bad day isn't it.

You know I get why people never want to forget, but at the same time it was such an awful day for me, I do want to forget in some ways too.

I just try to spend the day remembering how blessed I am.

AutoSysGene said...

I didn't know you lived that close either. I hope y'all make it this weekend.

And that's Josh's foot feel better soon!

Suburban Correspondent said...

Wow - that is a really bad doctor, covering up ignorance with arrogance. Awful.

Karen said...

I didn't know you lived that close either.

And that is a really, really annoying doctor. I hate it when people in a professional position think they have a right to talk to you like you are an idiot. I had a school phyc. tell me my son we retarded and when I protested that she used that term. She says to me, "Surely it has occured to you!" Ya, I love that personality type.

Laski said...

Add me to the list of not knowing . .. Wow.

I wonder what medical school you have to go to in order to obtain your Doctor of Idiot and Freakazoid degrees . . .

Flea said...

I didn't know.

I've walked out of offices where the doctor has treated me that way. Never went back. Warned friends against them. But I guess Dr. Wonderful makes up for that, huh? So glad you've had him and the option to see someone who cares. I didn't understand from a good doctor till I moved and found the best doctor ever.

Unknown said...

Yup he falls under the catergory of idiot. I am not a big fan of our doctor either -- I can't wait to move and find a new one. I Have always been a west coast girl. I would love to visit those sights of 9/11. SOmeday!

Shellie said...

We spent the day with cars dying and Teacher Idiot. No time to even dwell on 9/11, and it was a bad day for both my country and my husband's native country of Chile. Same thing, we'll deal with it later during the week.

Cecily R said...

Add me to the group who didn't know you lived that close...it makes me stomach hurt a little know that. I don't know why.

I'm sorry about Josh's foot. And about Dr. Idiot. Wish I could send you my doctor. He's amazing.

And right back atcha by the way. You have quite a way with words yourself.

Michelle said...

Bummer on the doctor. That would drive me batty. You may want to talk to the new practice about poaching Dr. Wonderful... given the frequency with which you're at the doctor, it may be cost effective for them to do so!

Maria (also Bia) said...

Dr. Idiot is...well, an idiot. I told my brother (who is a doctor) and he agreed with you...what an idiot!


Have a wonderful weekend.

Wineplz said...

I had forgotten about Mosaicism until you mentioned it. Of course, I'm not a doctor, either. I just recall it being discussed in my genetics class I took eons ago...

Hope you guys make it out there this weekend. We need to try again as well...figures it gives us another reason to make the trip up by you again sometime. :)

Andrea said...

I didn't realize you lived so close to the crash site. I looked over at Bugh Baby's blog and those pictures are a wonderful tribute.

I am so sorry for Dr. Idiot. He sounds like a real moron!!

the planet of janet said...

i guess there may have been more of us than you realized who didn't know you were only 10 miles from the flight 93 crash site.

i envy you the ability to take your children there ... so that we don't forget.

i DONT envy your encounters with dr. idiot -- who i may have to hurt! ;-)

Debbie @ Three Weddings said...

I didn't know you lived that close to the crash site. It was really shocking way down here in Kansas City. I can't imagine how it must have been for those closer to where it happened.

You know what you call a doctor with a C average? Doctor. Personally, I think Dr. Idiot is much more appropriate.

Burgh Baby said...

Thanks for the help. :-)

caramama said...

Now I know what else I'll be doing when we do eventually come up to visit. I had not realized just how close you were to the site.

Why is there always an Idiot associated with a Wonderful? We have a Dr. Laid-Back-And-Understand and a Dr. Uptight-And-Eye-Rolling (although she doesn't actually roll her eyes, her attitude about some things convey the same thing).