Gettysburg Medical News
The Clinical View
by P.E. Hoffsten, MD
19 December 2007

It’s Christmas, Again!!

            And so it is time to celebrate and say thank you for all our many, many blessings.  As always, the past year has had its ups and downs; and we have the pleasure of looking forward to all the hoopla of an election year that has already begun too soon and will last too long.  Oh, well.  At least here in these wonderful United States of America, we have an election.

            This past fall Peggy and I had the long-planned dream trip to China and then to go see Steve Knoble and his family in Nepal.  It was quite an experience.  With respect for other cultures and customs, it is very clear to me that people who live in central South Dakota are blessed beyond description.  There are no words to describe how fortunate we are to have been born in these United States of America.  We are not polluted so badly our eyes sting just walking down the street.  We are not so over crowded as to live in an apartment building with twenty thousand other people and no elevator even seven floors up.  We do not harvest our section-size corn or wheat crops by hand.  We are not regimented as to which job we have to have by government decree.  And, for better or worse, we have more cars than bicycles.  To this time, there is not a war or a car bomb or a suicide bomber killing our citizens locally.  We are living very well.

            The tragedy of our sons and daughters having to engage in foreign wars continues to haunt us.  Our hearts go out to those who are separated from loved ones, especially at this time of year and most especially to those whose loved ones will not be coming home ever.  Our governor visiting the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan was a special lift.  Our son-in-law serving in Afghanistan got to meet him and talk about people back home the governor knew on a first name basis.  That was a special kick for our son-in-law.

            And then there is the magnificent fall we have had.  We wish our linemen did not have to go to Kansas/Missouri/ Oklahoma to fix their electrical problems.  But, at least the ice is there this time and not here.

Our medical community continues to grow and improve.  This year we look forward to new specialists joining physicians in central South Dakota.  An urologist will be here this summer and just maybe an ENT specialist, too.  We have excellent medical care already with family practitioners, internists, pediatricians, surgeons, OB-GYN’s, orthopedists, podiatrists, and even a very distinguished neurosurgeon.  Our hospitals are well equipped and well staffed to meet our local needs.  Referrals for care not available here can be readily arranged.  Speaking for myself, I am proud to be a part of this medical community.  I thank those who have extended me the privilege of participating in their medical care.   Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

This and other columns available at www.macpierre.com.