Thursday, July 29, 2010

A doctor named Gladys

Today I was with Dr. Gladys T. McGarey, MD., MD (H)... a retired doctor of medicine, a friend, a mentor and so much more. 89 years filled with wisdom, patience, knowledge she picked up from her parents who were medical missionary, India where she was born, medical schools where she learned medicine... She also learned early on during her career that her patients were her greatest teachers...They taught her the art of helping others in the healing process.

This woman knows that medicine is an art, a living art. She has taken the time to perfect this subtle and balanced dance. She is knows as the Mother of Holistic Medicine. This is a mark of distinction no one else can claim. No longer in active practice, nearly 60 years was the time to venture in something else.

I remember the first time I met her. A time when I took better care of my car than I did my body. First of all, she greeted me in the hall way preceding her office door. The greeting was a hug, I must say I nearly fell, most doctors I had met before and since went out of their way never to touch me. Dr. Gladys talked to me for what seemed to have been an eternity. Now I know she was allowing me to express who I was, exposing myself to her, she was getting to know me, the whole person, and yes she was interested to know what was bothering me, but she had no interest in killing or eradicate, pieces of me. She told me about my body attempting to talk to me. I was not being too kind to this body that carried me far and near. Over worked and under paid, my body needed payment, in form of rest, stress management, exercise and proper nourishment. I had no time for that and wondered why I ran out of fuel...

I do not need to go though details but when I left this "woman's office because by that time I was with a very good friend who gave me tons of advise. My greatest sadness that day was that I did not take notes. Did she cure me? No, she helped me cure myself... Did I take enough drugs to make my head spin and my body sicker with reactions? No, she gave me the tools to change the many things I was doing wrong. This does not mean Dr. Gladys never gave me a prescription? She did when I needed one.

I must go back to today's meeting, you see, Dr. Gladys with her foundation is teaching about the feminine face of medicine. I will write something just about that, the next time. For the moment, PREVENTIVE medicine is the subject, she talks and educates male and female doctors, nurses and other health practitioners this art... the stuff that stop people from becoming obese, or diabetics, the stuff that allows the birthing process to be a natural one, the stuff that permits the aging process to also be an acceptable part of being alive. I could go on and on but I know you understand what I am saying.

There is a lot going on in the face of medicine, in many hospitals they know that the medical model/system is rather broken. Medical practitioners do want to express the good sides of what they learned.

A series of breakfast/talks are being offered in various places to medical staffs and the general public, these talks are educational in nature. The next one is on September 23, of this year. If you want to know more and be one of my guest, feel free to contact me. evelinenow@gmail.com is ready to answer questions.