just what the doctor ordered

A little over a year ago I switched Lily from a family practice doctor to a pediatrician. Her former doctor had been my own doctor since late high school and I liked him. He always had time to talk to me about stuff, and I generally had a good experience with him.

As Lily got older, I'd say 15 to 18 months, she wasn't talking very much. At 18 months she was only saying 5 words. I mentioned my concerns of a speech delay to the doctor. He brushed it off and said that if she still wasn't talking at two, then we would worry. I did not take his advice, however. I took her to a screening at our lovely Early Education Center. After her speech evaluation, she began speech therapy for the next year. I stayed with the family practice doctor anyway. I reasoned that I still liked him and I had taken care of the problem on my own.

But, then later, when Lily was three and in preschool,she started having more trouble with behavior at home and at school. At around two I had started mentioning her behavior stuff to our doctor and he was always brushing me off. But, when her very qualified teacher told me that there were serious concerns about her behavior and ability to function at school, I bugged the doctor again. He continued to brush me off. He just kept saying that our problem was discipline. That she would get better. Don't worry about it.

I worried about it.

Finally, right before she turned five, I switched her to a very highly recommended pediatrician, Dr. Losew. I scheduled a well child visit with her so I could chat with her about our concerns. I was blown away. That day she listened to me and sent me home with some questionnaires for Lily's teacher and Tom and I to fill out. After that, we soon had a referral to a therapist to do further testing and a meeting about trying medication. She did not tell me that the problem was discipline. She did not minimize my concerns. And she made Lily feel very welcome and important.

Since then, we have seen her just a handful of times. Lily is a pretty healthy girl. But, when we do see Dr. Losew, she knows and remembers Lily (and so do the nurses). I have spoken with her on the phone more than once. She even called me personally to give us Lily's strep test results. I love her.

I do not know why it took me so long to switch Drew and Julianna to Dr. Losew. I don't know if it had something to do with loyalty to my old doctor, or what. But, it was insane. I should have switched them all at the same time. I am so sad that my children's relationship with this doctor didn't start at birth. But, we can't go back now. We can only look forward.

Today Julianna and Drew met Dr. Losew for the first time. I was hoping to introduce them at a well child visit in a couple of weeks, but it didn't work out. Julianna is pretty sick so we went in for a visit today. Every time we visit I like our new doctor more. I feel respected, comfortable and important. I'm so glad that we made the switch.