Tuesday, July 6, 2010
In my 49 years, many people have touched my life but none quite like Glenn Haswell. Many times I thought to write him a letter or reach out to tell him what an impact he had on my life, although I think he always knew. At only age 20 in 1981, Glenn gave me a chance in the Medical field and I was his first front office employee at Maternal Fetal Medicine. He mentored me, sent me to various training courses and eventually trained me to assist in the back office. Through the next 10 years I saw him work miracle after miracle, handling every patient with love and compasion, being personally vested in the success of their high risk pregnancy. I saw many Medical Students & Residents go through rotations in the office and not only learn skills, but learn from an expert what true sincere bedside manner really was. I was also fortunate enough to become one of his patients, turning into a high risk pregnancy myself, and experiencing first hand his dedication and love for his profession. He was called in night after night to the hospital, encouraging procedures on me that had never been done in the 1980's at St. John Medical Center and many times spent countless hours nurturing my insecurity rather than my health, at the expense of his own personal time. This was how he treated all his patients. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to work for such a wonderful man and to witness all the miracles God performed through his hands. I can honestly say he was the #1 contributor to the foundation for my life and career. He saved my baby's life and now my baby is having a baby of her own. I am selfishly saddened, (as I am sure many of his former patients would say), that he won't be here to welcome my granddaughter into the world and that my daughter and new granddaughter won't experience his classic chuckle that was heard for many years down the halls of St. John Medical Center. He may have passed from this world but the impact he made will live for many years to come. My thoughts and prayers are with all his family and friends.
