Posts by Don Ebersole

I always try to emphasize to my patients that test results are only one part of making a diagnosis. Still, I do marvel at the technological advances that medical science continues to achieve. We must always be careful how we use these inventions because often the technology far precedes the science of how best to…

With snow on the ground, my thoughts often turn toward skiing-one of my extra-curricular passions. This week, a wonderful medical story, one that comes from my ski travels, popped into my head. It was 8 or 9 years ago when our pastor and his wife asked my wife and me if we wanted to go…

The weirdest thing happened this morning. Being a Saturday morning, we schedule some routine checks and leave time for the acute visits and “call-ins”. Fortunately then, we had plenty of time to take care of what happened to one of my patient families. Mrs. Miller cut her finger with a kitchen knife while preparing a…

When you’ve taken care of people long enough to develop a bond, they share things with you. With permission, I am sharing two poems by Lisa Buckmaster (her real name). Who are you?Do you hurt and knock people down to fulfill your needsDo you use people to do your dirty deedsAre you the only one…

Mr. and Mrs. Bocc were in the room for a follow-up consultation; on Mr. Bocc’s lab tests, which had shown elevated liver enzymes and a positive Hepatitis C antibody. Both were nervous. Except for being a heavy beer drinker, Mr. Bocc thought he was a fairly healthy 41-year-old when he came in for a routine…

When I entered the exam room, Diane* was so excited. “I saw it!” she exclaimed. “Saw what?” I answered in puzzlement. “I saw Sammy hit number 62,” she said, still excited. Diane and her family were lucky enough to have purchased Cubs tickets before the season started for yesterday’s game when Sammy Sosa hit his…

Mervin* is now 8 months old, but 2 months ago I didn’t know if he would live this long. Thanks to modern medicine and the pediatric cardiologist, Mervin looks pretty good at his well-baby check-up today. You see he has the same diagnosis as his brother who died before him – Cardiomyopathy. After I delivered…

I’ve never had a baby who would smile and smile through all the adversity of visiting a doctor’s office. Little Monica*, who is by now l0 months old, just makes my day when she comes in. No matter if she has an ear infection, bronchitis, or is in for a well-baby check and shots, Monica…

John Maple* is one of my successfully treated sleep apnea patients. He now wears the pressurized mask system to sleep at night and he is amazed at how good he feels. He is no longer fatigued all the time. I’m certainly glad he is better because he is a long-haul truck driver. Today after he…

Yes, what they say on the labels of the insect sprays is true. “Don’t use in closed space” or “May be hazardous if inhaled.” I saw Eleanor*, a 50-year-old otherwise intelligent lady, who was brought in by her husband today because he found her passed out. She was awake and walking okay but she kept…