To all the docs I've loved before (and a few I'd like to hit with a live trout)

Angeline's ode isn't nearly as romantic as Willie's. Or as likely to go platinum.

Most healthy thirty-something-year-old women don't get to meet as many docs as I have over the past few years. It used to be that when your kid needed help, you saw one doctor for life. Now you get tossed faster than a bad blind date. But the good part about the diagnose/medicate/fund-my-child kind of doctor is that mom doesn't have to get naked. Or needles.

I'm sure our doctors have heard of the "rate your doctor" website, but more reliable and less well known are the Moms of Autism support group ratings. In a small city like ours, moms of kids with special needs see all the same specialists; we have our own "naughty" and "nice" lists. I dedicate this post to all the docs I've known over the past 12 years:


Dr. Angelic: the GP who delivered both my babies and never loses her adorable bubbly-ness, even in the middle of the night. She's one of the shiniest spots in my birthing memories. Dr. Angelic took me on after I experienced irreconcilable differences ("I couldn't have conceived that week - my husband was in exams!") with my previous GP. She took me seriously when I said K's behaviour was unusual and got me on a waiting list for a developmental pediatrician. Best feature: she tells me every time she sees me that I look more rested and happy than the last time (by her account, I should already be giving Drew Barrymore a run for her CoverGirl money). Only drawback: she's often sick herself and cancels more appointments than she keeps, usually after you've already paid for parking.

Eat your heart out, Drew, because Angeline's finally getting 5 consecutive hours of sleep and her GP says she's fabulous.

Dr. Gran: the developmental pediatrician who made the first psych referral and continues to dole out our pills. She's gentle and pleasant. Best feature: she knows anything you'd want to know about all the good stuff. Only drawback: she has difficulty hearing and sometimes I'm not sure if she's caught what I'm saying.

Dr. Llama: The first psychologist K saw (referred by Dr. Gran). He couldn't pronounce her real name, so we actually did refer to her as "Dr. Llama." She called me to tell me our name had come to the top of her waiting list the day K's first teacher said, "Why didn't you tell me there was something wrong with him?" in other words, right on time. K and Dr. Llama had such a good rapport that we actually had a period of mourning when she left the clinic after only a few months with us. Best Feature: Drawbacks: my husband had to take a lot of unpaid time off to meet with her across the city. She left before she could diagnose him and passed us on to her less gentle replacement.



Dr. Aspie: Billed as the "Is it Aspergers or is it not" doc, what Dr. Llama and her cohorts were unable to do over months, Dr. Aspie did in an hour. He watched K run circles talking about something scientific long after we stopped listening, looked at me, and asked with a little smile, "Is he always this oblivious?" We had a diagnosis and helpful advice before we left the building. Only drawback: we never saw him again. 


Dr. Yucky: Dr. Gran referred us to her to see if she could diagnose G. She couldn't. I found out later she'd undiagnosed other kids who had multiple issues and taken away their supports. 


Dr. Gotcha: She saw G regularly for a year and finally diagnosed her. She saw K too, and while we had a bad experience with a medication, I don't blame her. She was personable and available. She met with teachers. She listened. She too has left.

Now, after a year of waiting, K's reached the top of another waiting list for another clinic and we're about to meet a new doc. I've heard the moms in the group talk about him, but I don't remember whether he was naughty or nice. Perhaps it's better if I find out for myself.