Dr. St.Mary

I was blessed with the best doctor ever to practice. Dr. John T. St.Mary was absolutely the best Dr. I have ever encountered. I have encountered a lot of doctors. Dr. St.Mary had soft, gentle hands. They were always warm. He always warmed his stethoscope before he touched it to your skin. Dr. St.Mary's greatest quality, he listened. He listened with his ears and his eyes. When Dr. St.Mary listened to me, I knew he heard everything I was saying. I also knew he heard what I could not say. Dr. St.Mary made house calls. One time I was so sick he came to the house. He chastised my father for allowing me to become so ill. Just his defense of me made me feel better. You could call Dr. St.Mary anytime during the day - "Just come in when you get around." He took such care of my Mommie. Those last few years I don't know what I would have done without him. I would take Mommie to some fancy doctor in Plattsburgh, then call Dr. St.Mary so he could break it all down for me. When he passed I felt I had lost a father, a friend, and a constant source of inspiration. All of us girls worked for Dr. St.Mary. We cleaned his office, or helped with his Mom, or baby sat Jayne T'. I spent one summer just about living with the St. Mary's. Mrs. St.Mary would leave me a list of things to do and Dr. St. Mary would cross half of it off and say; "Play with Jayne T'." Jayne T' was the blood that coursed through that man's veins. There was not a time when he entered a room she was in that he did not touch her, it seemed like he didn't believe she was real. Dr. St.Mary was the kind of man a man respected and a Mother would want her son to be. People first, always, people first. I don't know if he made much money because I don't think he ever charged us - four girls and Mommie - he took care of us all.
I am fortunuate that I have a doctor now who DR. St.Mary would like. She listens with both her ears and her eyes. She has moved offices more times than I can count. I drive over an hour to see her. People keep telling me to switch. Get a doctor closer. They don't understand - They never had Dr. St.Mary hold their hand and tell them they would feel better soon. They never looked into his loving eyes and felt certain their Mommie would live another day. Dr. St.Mary set the bar very high - I was fortunate enough to find another doctor reaching that same level of compassion and care.
Dr. St.Mary and Mrs. St.Mary, they were good people. They treated me like their own daughter. They loved me. It is amazing, and such a gift growing up in a small town. In a town like Malone, an orphan, ends up being the girl with the biggest family.
Through FB, Jayne T' and I have been able to reconnect. I found one of my sisters. She is a remarkable woman. She has a wonderful husband and two beautiful children. She has her father's gentle spirit and her Mother's fire. See, another sister this motherless child has!
I am going through some tough medical times. I can't tell you how much I wish Dr. St.Mary were here to explain all these big words and break it down for me. These times will pass. I will get better. I have a great doctor. No, she is not Dr. St.Mary, but no one could be. Dr. St.Mary was a gift from God. An angel right here on Earth. I know he is looking out for me, I talk to him - seek his advice. He is going to navigate me out of these troubled waters - Jayne T', I love you - I am blessed to have your Mom and Dad love me, and everyday I thank God for the gift of you.