"Now, this won't hurt...!"

The recent health care debate and subsequent passage of the new law brought back memories of doctoring as it once was in Wallace. Dr. H.M. Rusk, a graduate of Northwestern U. and their medical school, had his office in the old bank building on "Main Street" and the bank vault always impressed me as the safest storage place for drugs, even back then. The office smelled like a pharmacy and, since the nearest drugstore was miles away, the doctor supplied patients with just the right prescription out of the office or out of his bag, just like "Doc" on Gunsmoke! His wife Vivian was also his receptionist and nurse, making folks comfortable as possible in the waitingroom or assisting him in the examining room, with no long waiting time or paper work! Doc always made house calls anytime and anywhere he was called, but his wife told how he was sure hard to live with when his patient was terminal. As I recounted earlier, as a 10-12-year-old I went through several health "crises" but the two surgeries stand out. Doc was there at the hospital to stand by me and assist the surgeon. To this day, I don't know how my father paid for all the medical care to our family ... besides borrowed cash, I think Dad would allow Doc and Vivian (as well as plumber, electrician, etc.) to "take it out in trade." Every bill was paid, sooner or later, without credit cards or government assistance! His favorite pastime was hunting with some of the prettiest bird dogs you could imagine, but I don't ever recall his taking a vacation. Now in our senior years Mamaw and I have enjoyed good health care, thanks to many good family doctors, specialists and surgeons, WalMart pharmacy, supplemental insurance AND Medicare with "Part D" Drug program. The Lord has provided the premiums and out-of-the-pocket expenses and we are very grateful to Him. We are very concerned about the new law and changes involved, but, at age 85 we realize that time ahead will continue to be a "bonus". We just don't want our children, grandchildren and great-grand children, etc., to be burdened with a ever-more-expensive healthcare system. So we have prayed and are praying that the best system will finally be adopted. Meantime, we look forward to the time and place when, for Christians, "God will wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away!" - Revelation 21:4.