My Dad

On Sunday, I woke up at 5:15am, drank my coffee and took the train to work. It was a slow morning in the ER. Not a lot of patients come in before noon on Sunday morning, so I was talking with my resident and the nurses, thinking about what I would do for dinner, the kids homework due Monday. My brother called me at 8:35am and told me that my Dad went into cardiac arrest and they could not resuscitate him. They “called” him at 8:30.

My Dad was over 90 when he passed away. He was an amazing physician, a gifted dermatologist who could identify any obscure skin disease and even developed new treatment strategies for diseases like psoriasis and eczema. My Dad spoke over 5 languages, loved tennis, spectator boxing, grocery shopping, tomatoes and travel. He loved his grandchildren, his children and cared very deeply for his wife.

He had advanced Parkinsons by the time he died. He was trapped in a body that could not walk, move, eat or talk. He depended on everyone for everything. This was a man who ran 2 offices and taught residents.

Today’s blog is a tribute to his memory, to his being an amazing dad who was incredibly smart and selfless with his children. He will be missed but his memory lives on in my heart and the hearts of my children.

Dad, I love you.