After my mom died, Dad got here to reside with us. Dr. Hites took him underneath his wing however brooked no nonsense. Dad was a diabetic, heavy-smoking alcoholic with poor eyesight. Dr. Hites refused to certify that Dad might nonetheless drive.
“I’ll simply get one other physician to do it,” Dad grumped. “Go proper forward,” replied Dr. Hites. “However if you happen to do, don’t come again right here.” Dad didn’t change docs.
As Dad’s well being declined, Dr. Hites truly stopped by the home a number of occasions. “This isn’t a home name. Simply occurred to be within the neighborhood,” he’d say, “Simply needed to see how outdated Wally was doing.” (From feedback on his obituary, such “home calls” have been frequent for Dr. Hites.)
Dad was out and in of hospital lots throughout his time with us. He was in a coma most of his final go to. On the morning of the day he died, Dr. Hites shaved him.
“Simply needed to make him really feel a little bit extra snug,” he defined.
Dad died that afternoon after my final go to. Dr. Hites known as to inform me. Dad had willed his physique to medical science, and Dr. Hites had beforehand made all preparations. He took cost of the whole lot. I believe Dad arrived on the medical college that very same evening. Household and pals held a memorial service for Dad at a later date.
Not wishing to finish on a somber be aware, I’ll shut with two extra Dr. Hites tales illustrating his humorous, no-nonsense interactions with kids. When our son Dan was about 8, he break up his scalp. It wasn’t critical, nevertheless it bled profusely. Dr. Hites stitched it up, then proceeded to swath the top in an elaborate bandage that appeared extra like an unique headdress. “I don’t do a lot surgical procedure,” he defined, “however I do a helluva bandage!”
My ultimate instance, from our daughter’s reminiscences of center college, illustrates Dr. Hites as humorist. Our daughter’s greatest buddy Shelly broke her ankle. Dr. Hites set it, put it right into a forged, and put Shelly on crutches. He informed her, in no unsure phrases (as solely he might state them) to not let the forged contact the bottom for concern of dislodging the setting on the ankle.
On Shelly’s first checkup, Dr. Hites famous that the forged’s heel was soiled. He didn’t have to ask, however he did. Shelly admitted she had let it contact the bottom. To make sure that it wouldn’t occur once more, Dr Hites taped an egg underneath the heel.
“When you break that egg,” he warned, “it would stink!”
Haug and his wifely editor, Jolie, work collectively on many tasks. Contact Pete at petes.pen9@gmail.com. His web archives are at favs.information/creator/petehaug.
