drsensintaffar

A Rock from Galilee

There’s a “treasure shelf,” high up and usually out of reach of little hands. This time, however, was my special time to shine as Granddad and Maddie (age 6) and Levi (age 4) were more than happy to help me explore the “treasure shelf.” Eager little hands and eyes explored the treasures: trilobite fossils, aContinue reading “A Rock from Galilee”

Not-So-Random Kindness at the Olive Garden

January 28, 2023 My mother-in-law Judith, Diana, her sister Donna, and I left the hospital this evening, having said tearful last good-byes to my father-in-law, David Lyon. We were exhausted and emotionally spent. It didn’t seem right to part ways just yet. Things were too recent–too raw. I asked Judith if she wanted to goContinue reading “Not-So-Random Kindness at the Olive Garden”

Ichi-go, Ichi-e. A Life Lesson from Mom.

I resolved this year not to make any New Year’s resolutions, and true to form and true to my history, my resolution fell apart very quickly. It toppled to a heap on New Year’s Day. I visited my Mom over the New Year’s weekend. She has advanced dementia and requires round-the-clock care. My dad andContinue reading “Ichi-go, Ichi-e. A Life Lesson from Mom.”

When the Doctor Becomes the Patient

I have trained many family medicine residents and medical students over the past 25 years and every so often, a student or resident would complain to me about the poor conduct or attitude of a patient. There are certainly malevolent patients from time to time but MOST of the time what you simply have isContinue reading “When the Doctor Becomes the Patient”

Delivery #1

In the early morning hours of February 18, 1992, I was awakened by a jab in my side. Diana, obviously wide awake, calmly informs me that she’s having regular light contractions 3 minutes apart. As a 3rd year medical student having just finished my OB rotation, I knew just enough OB to realize, for aContinue reading “Delivery #1”

Confessions of a Duck

I’ll admit it. I’m a duck. I don’t want to be a plain farmyard duck. Nor am I like that flashy woodduck. Perhaps a mallard? Yes. That fits. So imagine in your mind’s eye a duck, a mallard duck. Peaceful. Gliding effortlessly across a lake. But the apparent outward peace can be deceptive. On theContinue reading “Confessions of a Duck”

The Miracle of Florida Snowflakes on Christmas Day

I graduated medical school in May of 1993 and moved from Missouri to the Florida Panhandle to start my family medicine residency. We were all excited about the move and the new adventure, but perhaps the most excited was our five-year-old daughter, Hannah . . . “Are we in Florida yet?” the little voice squeakedContinue reading “The Miracle of Florida Snowflakes on Christmas Day”

A Fried Chicken Family Tradition

At family gatherings growing up, my grandfather would whistle and fry his special fried chicken. The chicken was absolutely delicious and I’m convinced the whistling was an important, even essential, ingredient. Granddaddy told me he got the fried chicken recipe from a tiny restaurant in southern Louisiana he visited back in the 1960s. The restaurantContinue reading “A Fried Chicken Family Tradition”

Confrontation at The Home Depot

Diana and I were walking into the Home Depot. A middle-aged woman in a Grand Jeep Cherokee zipped right past us, parked in a handicapped parking space and jogged into the garden section of the store. I was indignant. “Just look at that, Diana! Can you believe it! “Now, now Lowell, just let it go.Continue reading “Confrontation at The Home Depot”

Dr. Roadkill

January 1992. I was a 3rd-year medical student at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Wife, four kids, one on the way. Lean times? Yes, absolutely. But also great opportunities for God’s provision. I was driving down Stadium Blvd at dusk one Friday after a long day at the hospital. The tiny Datsun sedan in front ofContinue reading “Dr. Roadkill”