In the 40+ years that I have been a dentist, I am often asked why I chose it as a profession. There is a long back story, but in brief, I really wanted to be an artist but my father said: “you can always do that as a hobby.” He told me that I needed to do something that would assure my independence… ” just in case…” So, I chose Dentistry because it was the closest profession to being an artist and people would always have teeth. I figured I would never run out of business and I could become really good at it, even the best. I was 12 years old at the time
I do not regret my decision to become a dentist. I have always practiced with “the patient comes first” philosophy that has assured that I can provide the best care possible. However, while being a dentist has been a good fit for me, I have always had a creative itch that has never been completely satisfied. I am an artist by avocation, have submitted work to shows, and even won some awards. I continue to dabble in different art forms with fabric (fiber art) as my primary medium. But, alas, Dentistry has always remained my primary muse.
In late 2014, my husband, Bennet, of over 30 years was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, aka Lou Gehrig’s Disease). He passed away on Thanksgiving Day, 2016. My children, Alex (29), and Rachel (25) and I as well as his beloved dog, Georgie Girl, were all at his bedside. While there is always some feeling of relief that a loved one is no longer suffering, we mourned his loss by laughing and crying and went through all the stages of grief seemingly sometimes in the same moment. Georgie Girl slept on the foot of the stairs waiting for him to either come down to walk her or come through the front door. Her sad eyes and head resting between her paws, reflected what we all knew. They would never run through Audubon Park together again. He would not be there when our children got married and he would never hold his grandchildren. He was 63 years old at the time, in the prime of his life, at the pinnacle of his career as a successful attorney, with so much more to contribute to the world. It just wasn’t fair. I remembered my father’s words… “just in case…”.
I had been Bennet’s healthcare advocate. One of the things that happened to him first with ALS was that he lost his ability to speak, so it was up to me to negotiate the medical system for him. No small task. Even though I have resources and medical knowledge, it was difficult to know what options for care and treatment were the best for him. It was almost impossible to keep up with his medications, appointments, machinery, tests, and at the same time watch as he declined steadily each day as the disease stole a little bit more of his humanity. I fought the good fight for him the best I could until the bitter end.
Then 6 months later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer…And, my father’s words came back to me again…
While Bennet was not able to live out his complete life story, I have been given a second chance. My cancer was caught early and had not spread. I did not need radiation or chemo. This Old Tooth is my chance to combine my expertise and experience in dentistry with my steadfast empathy for you as a person who might not know what to do when faced with a decision about your dental care. I can use all of this in a creative way by becoming your DENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE. I know that I have so much more to contribute to the world. Let’s get started. Tell me what you need to know.
http://www.thisoldttooth.com
http://www.lisagermain.com
