THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

     At least once a year, usually at Christmas, the theme of this column changes from  prevention and treatment of disease to acknowledging blessings and expressing thanks for same.  As in all of the years past, 2003 brought many, many changes.

     For me this was a pivotal year with my reaching age 65.  Now instead of treating Medicare patients, I am a Medicare patient.  In years past in some professions, age 65 was a mandatory retirement time.  Fortunately for me that is not the case.  I look forward to many more years of practicing medicine and am very thankful that I am in a profession in a society where age-mandated retirement is not a requirement.  Besides being bored to tears if I were to think about retirement now, my creditors would frown heavily upon the idea.

     The second major blessing I am thankful for is continued good health.  Like other individuals over the age of 65 years, nagging little health problems do come up.  I can no longer play racketball or basketball and I cannot out run my kids.  However, I can still walk.  I can still  do the stretching exercises.  I can do some weight lifting and I feel good.  I take a medication to prevent high blood pressure, high cholesterol and to control diabetes.  Thanks to our pharmaceutical industry those medications work well without side effects for me.  For all the complaints about the high price of medications, I am thankful that at least there are such things available. I wish others good health also.

     Next, I am thankful for the health and well being of my family.  I, like many other South Dakotans, have a child (actually 2) in harms way in Iraq.  That is a source of constant anxiety for both their mother and me.  But we remain overwhelmingly proud of our children (age 25 and 32, but still our children) in their dedication to protecting our country and our way of life.  The merits of our war in Iraq can be debated but the need for a strong military capability to protect our country is certainly a truism.  My heart and my respect go out to our brave servicewomen and servicemen and their families.  We already know that they will not all return safely and there are no words to express the sorrow some families have already experienced.  We all pray that the Almighty will let those still in harms way return home safely.

     I feel very blessed to live in a state where our Capitol building is filled with Christmas trees every year.  This year as always, the trees are beautiful.  The large state tree in the atrium of the Capitol pays respect to our troops in the National Guard.  There is a large beautiful tree at the east end of the Capitol commemorating and paying respect to our fathers, brothers, and husbands who were struck down in World War II.  May they never be forgotten.

     Next, I feel blessed to live in central South Dakota which is one of the best-kept secrets in the world.  I urge everyone to keep it that way.  We do not need a bunch of outsiders flocking in here.  I respect and feel blessed to live with the people in central South Dakota.  The weather may be cold in the winter and hot in the summer with never enough rain.  But somehow or other, we get by based upon tenacity and attitude.  We are “can do” people and I really like that.

     I want to save special thanks for last.  The healthcare profession is populated with individuals dedicated to helping others.  I attend patients in several of our long-term care facilities.  I am struck by the gentle kindness and patience our nurses, nurses aides, respiratory therapists, laboratory technicians, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, social workers, and physicians, any and all others who help in the care every day with these patients.  This endeavor can be very frustrating and disheartening as our elderly patients often continue to fail.  Helping them be fed and cleansed and comforted is no easy task.  It is inspiring to me to watch so many good people patiently help others.  My respect and my thanks are extended to them all.

     Enough said.  I am sure that there are many, many more blessings than I have already mentioned.  I hope each and every one of you has many more blessings than I have mentioned here.

Merry Christmas to All!