May 23: Fatherhood and true emergencies

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: May 23, 2008

Be a father to your child

To the editor:

A father is a man who is there for his child in every way. He spends time with the child, even when he has to make sacrifices to do so. He talks to his child and listens when his child is talking to him. He gives advice and guidance. He builds a relationship that is there through good times and bad times.

Some children have physical or psychological disabilities and are completely ignored by their fathers. But those children need their fathers throughout their lives.

Just because you pay child support does not mean there is nothing else for you to do. Ask yourself, are you a real father — or a fake? Your child needs you.

NAOMI WILSON

To the editor:

I am tired of Danville Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department always getting a bad rap.

I have had very good experiences with the hospital’s Emergency Department and would recommend it to anyone who has a true emergency.

My daughter had a bad accident last year. Her front teeth were knocked into her head. Needless to say, I was very upset. I made two phone calls — one to the Emergency Department to let them know we were on our way and one to her orthodontist. When we arrived, two nurses and a doctor were waiting and took us to a trauma room.

My daughter was cleaned up and assessed immediately and given pain medication. Everyone in the Emergency Department was wonderful and very caring and concerned. She was stitched up and we were on our way to our doctor’s office within a couple of hours. Today, my daughter has a beautiful smile — with all of her teeth.

This great treatment from the Emergency Department was not just a one-time thing. As fate would have it, early this spring, another accident occurred. My daughter’s softball team was practicing when one of her teammates was accidentally hit in the mouth with a softball, knocking out one of her teeth and pushing the rest back into her mouth. Again, I took off to the Emergency Department. My two phone calls this time were to the child’s father to meet us there and to the Emergency Department to let them know we were on our way.

Again, we were met at the door by two nurses and rushed straight back to see the doctor. Again, the staff gave wonderful service to this child — and was able to save her teeth.

Had it not been for the excellent care given in Danville, this child would have lost her teeth. The doctor was able to insert the tooth back into her mouth and pull the others back forward before sending her to an oral surgeon. He was diligent in his efforts to find her the help she needed, staying on the phone until he got her in with a surgeon that night.

I know that not all visits to the Emergency Department can go as well as mine have, but I truly believe that if the Emergency Department were used for true emergencies and not overused as a primary care clinic, it would run much smoother. Overusing the Emergency Department for non-emergencies is the problem that tends to clog up the system and make your wait longer. Please consider this the next time you are fussing about your wait time.

CAROLE HOSKINS

Danville