Today, I was having another one of Those Days in my office. You know, days where you just want to pack it all in and retire and walk away. But a few minutes ago I got a call from a doctor client of mine. Usually when my clients call after we finish a project, it is to complain. Seems they never call when something good worked out, they just call when something did not work. I was not going to answer the phone and just let him leave a message, but Sandy answered to phone. He wanted to speak to me. I took his call, and he said Sam, I just have one word to say. WOW! I asked him if that was a good wow or a bad wow. He said it was the best Wow he could ever give, and then he told me the end results of our latest project. A few months ago the doctor approached me to ask if I could help a disabled Vietnam vet. He wanted to try and help this fellow because no one thought it could be done. But he needed a laboratory that would also be willing to take on this case. Without asking the details, I said sure, whatever he needs. Sight unseen, I agreed to take on whatever case the doc was also willing to take. This Vietnam vet, a 2 time Purple Heart Marine, was in need of major mouth reconstruction. I cant go into too many details, for privacy, but no one, since his discharge from the Marines years ago believed that he could be reconstructed in any meaningful manner. When the doc saw the patient, he too had his doubts. When I received the preliminary casts, I also had my doubts as well. But we went to work together and designed a treatment plan and several prosthesis that everyone thought could not be done or made. It took months of trial and error, fittings and refittings, and finally yesterday, this disfigured Marine received his new appearance, and when he saw himself in the mirror he burst into tears of joy, as did the doctor and his staff. After nearly 40 years of disfiguring injury, he can smile, eat, and was ecstatic. The doctor said it was like night and day, the difference. No trace of disability, and he only wished he took pictures throughout the procedure. When the doctor gave him the bill, this proud Marine fell to his knees. We never told him we would do it for nothing. Insurance denied his claim. Total cost to the patient: $0.00. It was an honor to do this for a Marine who sacrificed so much. Guess Ill come to work Monday.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 16:19:30 +0000
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