welcome to the organic green doctor blog

i am a family physician who was diagnosed with
early mild cognitive impairment(mci) amnestic type on december 21, 2010
this is a precursor to alzheimers disease
because of this diagnosis i have opted to stop practicing medicine
this blog will be about my journey with this disease
please feel free to follow me along this path
i will continue blogging on organic gardening, green living,
solar power, rainwater collection, and healthy living
i will blog on these plus other things noted to be interesting

Friday, June 29, 2012

health care, more on sushi

HEALTH CARE
so the law that passed congress on healthcare was unpopular
all of one party and some of the other party opposed it
it was a political issue in the november elections
it was taken to the supreme court and ruled constitutional
it was deemed unamerican and would be the downfall of america
it was a tax and forced on americans
it was unamerican

however now years later if you are 65 and older and no matter your race
religion or political views or your health status you are on
it and are probably glad you have it
its accepted that that will be your health insurance as you get older

its called medicare

now fast forward several years
the affordable health care act or obamacare or now
we all get to have health insurance no matter what law
these same things are being said that were said years ago about
medicare

i predict if you fast forward years and as you your kids and your
grand kids look backward they and you will say
what was all the fuss about
we all are covered now
the health care system will be accepted as we now accept medicare

here is who should be happy that the health insurance law is going forward
almost all of you
remember over 50% of you are already on a single payer system ran by
the government
not many of you will be taxed for not having health insurance
very likely no one that reads this blog will be

if you are a female (which is over 50% of you) you should be happy
you are now not a preexisting condition
you can can get those preventative office visits that yall all have to go to
and now your birth control is covered
your rates wont go up because of your gender and that baby you are
having or will have  will have to be covered

if you have a child with a preexisting condition-that could be asthma
allergies  any surgery  any injury  any belly pain  headaches  add
aspergers  autism  seizures  frequent ear infections and numerous 
illnesses kids get-then previously your health insurance could be denied 
or coverage for these things could be denied
and your child could not get insurance

it happened to us
our son had some surgery and because of this when he was no longer
on our policy he was denied insurance from many companies and those
who did insure him refused to cover anything dealing with that part of the body
now he would not have had any problems getting insurance

if you have a preexisting condition and you are a adult
remember all of you if you have gone to a doctor have a preexisting condition
you may not be able to get coverage or can be dropped or if you get
coverage your premiums will be higher

i am able to hike 4 hours down into the grand canyon  hike 9 miles in the
hills of lost maples  work eight hours on a construction site  work here at 
the country n and have a normal blood pressure  a normal cholesterol 
and a normal bmi
but im uninsurable because of my diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment
thats likely due to alzheimers disease
if my wife were to lose her health insurance at work i could not get any
health coverage
now with this law in 2014 i would be able to get insurance

if you have a serious health problem have a premature newborn have
a long term bout with a terminal disease such as alzheimers  huntingtons
als  cancer  emphysema  heart failure etc you could easily go through all of
your annual or life time maximum that is placed on your coverage and you 
would be left with no insurance coverage for that illness
the new law prevents this from happening

if you have a son or daughter in college or just getting out of college or
just starting a new job or just getting out of the military they can now
get on your health insurance until they are 26 years old
then they will be able to buy an affordable policy on their own

much of the opposition to this health care law is about problems with
medicare  medicaid  increase drug costs  increase in health insurance premiums
folks those problem were here before this law
they will still be there after the law is in full swing and
if the law had been disallowed would still be there
that is a big smoke screen

also i have noticed that many of those who are opposed to this are not
really affected in any way
theyve got coverage-many are already on a government insurance
most are males
but their wives and their children benefit from the new law
none will probably ever pay the tax for not being covered

in summary
all this political rhetoric is really all a smoke screen to get rid of obama
we all know its true whether we are a republican  democrat or independent
and thats your right as an american citizen to try to oust a politician that
you dont like
i do the same thing when i vote
but not at the expense of so many americans

how could so many people benefit from a law and people be
opposed to it

when we all look back to this time sometime in the future
we all are going to wonder what the heck was the big fuss about
just like what happened with medicare

we will all be on the health insurance system in some way
and will all be glad we are
much like we are with medicare when we turn 65

thank you john roberts

MORE ON SUSHI
whoa those sushi lovers
they got in a uproar like those against the affordable health care act

but i will say that tammy and mary are right in the comments to my
blog yesterday on sushi
you can read it by going down the page to yesterdays blog

points well taken
be safe in what sushi you buy
but sorry i want my meat cooked well done with black crust
on the edges

the organicgreen doctor

Thursday, June 28, 2012

no sushi, expensive gas

NO SUSHI

theres no sushi or raw oysters for me
i only eat raw vegetables or raw fruit

my wife she loves sushi and raw oysters
think she eats it just to make me sick
wont kiss her after she eats that stuff
unless she brushes her teeth and waits
24 hours

now after reading this news report
i know that i wont ever eat either one

here in the austin area a family wanted sushi
so they went to the grocery store and
bought some raw salmon to use in their sushi

as they were eating this sushi they noticed
small worms wiggling between their teeth
and on their tongues
i almost threw up reading about it

there were 23 people who ate the stuff
many of them got sick also

the salmon can also carry parasites and worms
who can only be killed by cooking it or freezing it
then you can eat the salmon with its dead worms

sure hope my wife she reads this blog today

EXPENSIVE GAS
here at the country n i have one acre that surrounds my house
that i keep mowed
when its dry like this i only have to mow it twice a year
once after all the wildflowers have bloomed and all
gone to seed
then
sometimes i mow in the late fall if we have had a lot of rain
didnt have to do that last year

so my riding lawnmower sits for months without being used

here is a tip from a gardening magazine newsletter i get each week
if you use use regular gas it has ethanol in it which will attract water over
time and you will get moisture in your tank
when it gets in the carburetor and fuel line it will overtime clog it up
you can prevent this by using the most expensive gas
the premium super unleaded gas which has no ethanol

so thats whats wrong with my lawnmower and weed eater and chainsaw

the oganicgreen doctor

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

its hot and dry

ITS HOT AND DRY

yesterday it got up to 109 degrees here
for central texas thats hot
at 900 last night you could still feel the heat
there was no breeze

i lived in the desert for several years and it
would commonly get over 100 degrees every day
but there was usually a breeze and it would cool off
at night
and the humidity was low
all this made that heat more tolerable

here in central texas 109 degrees is intolerable
our humidity is higher
and there is no breeze
the dogs are a panting and the chickens are too

at 400 am today the temperature is 90 degrees on
my front deck
that doesnt not bode well for a comfortable day outside

how did i ever grow up in a house without air conditioning
in this summer heat
must have been miserable all summer long

in the afternoon under my nice air conditioner which kept
my living room at a comfortable temperature of 78 degrees
i read  an article in this months texas monthly on the drought
past and future and on the water situation in texas

did you know there are huge amounts of water in east texas
that is not allowed to be taped for use in other areas
politics are involved
there is this fear that what will happen to east texas will be like
what happened in owens valley in california where los angeles
got the rights to all the water there and sucked it all out of
the river which is now dry

i think about water conservation a lot
as did those people who were in the droughts here in
the 30s and the 50s
we do waste a lot of water
watering our lawns and gardens to keep them green
why do we do this
showering bathing brushing teeth washing dishes washing clothes
with no concern for reusing some of this water or restricting the
amount used to do these things

some of you in your lifetime will see the restriction on all this
water use and the limit on growth because of the lack of water
much like what happened with the droughts of the past

we need to learn from the past
read the article or read it online
or listen to npr pbs/texas montly online
or the npr pbs show on it

this will affect you significantly in the future

we at the country n are ahead of the game as
we limit water use
grow only xeric plants
have no lawn grass
catch rainwater
generate some of our own electricity

but
this is what we all need to be doing

the organicgreen doctor

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

visit them

VISIT THEM
when some one is gravely ill with a debilitating disease such as cancer
huntingtons disease or alzheimers
its hard to go visit them
i found it hard to go visit my friend greg the last time i saw him
i wanted to remember him like he was
i also find it hard to visit my younger brother who has alzheimers
especially as he has gotten worse
i want to remember him as he was
and i am looking at a mirror every time i see him
its hard to do that visit
but i needed and need to do it
you need to do it also

you never know what difference although small sometimes
you can make in some ones life

here is a note from one of my friends gregs caregivers


I was one of Greg's caregivers for about 2 years. I can only hope I made the difference in his life that he made in mine. He, by far, is my favorite person to have had the opportunity to care for. Unfortunately, there are others that need care and I did not have the opportunity to attend his memorial. I heard it was wonderful.
Last year just before your last visit Greg suffered a great set-back. He all but stopped talking to us and showed very little attention to us. Mostly, he just listened to the radio or watched tv with little concern for them.
I was off the days of your visit, but as soon as I got back I noticed the difference. I asked him if he had missed me and he said "NO". Then he got the biggest grin! He not only was back 100% but a little more.
I was ready to move you next door. I have never seen such a good change in him. I give you all the credit for bringing him back and even making him a little better. I think you may have extended his life and for certain added quality of life during his last days. Thank you. You are an amazing friend and Greg loved you second to Susan.
Greg is walking beside you now and you need only to feel with your heart and he will be there for you.


make a difference in some ones life who is gravely ill
go visit them 
youll feel better that you did
and
you may make their days better


the organicgreen doctor

Monday, June 25, 2012

hurricane acoming, frackin, monitor

HURRICANE ACOMING

thats what we thought but now it looks like
its going away from us and hit the panhandle of florida
wish it had gone to the panhandle of texas
that meant it would pass over us

we need the rain and some relief from this hot weather
thats here now
of course its nowhere near what it was last year

so debby is not going to do austin after all

one of the ways we can get significant rain in the summer
here
we sure need extra rain as the ground at the country n is
bone dry and the lake that services the city of austin
is only 40% full

we usually hope for a gentle hurricane to hit the coast and
then gradually drift over us dropping the rain as it moves
over us

guess it wont happen this summer
will have to do water rationing for our garden now
and will limit watering only those things that can survive
anyway in this hot weather
okra malabar spinach etal ive mention here recently
and
will be getting ready for my fall garden
next month will start planting my fall tomatoes

FRACKIN

was listening to a debate over frackin the other night
thats where they force water into the bedrock way under
ground to crack it open to release gas
somehow that bothers me
besides the contaminated water they force under ground
frackin  breaks up the rock underneath us all
are we all eventually just going to fall down in a hole
one day

there were two earthquakes yesterday in texas
and there has been an increase in them in arkansas and missouri
it does make you wonder why

freakin frackin
just doesnt seem right does it

MONITOR
there is a monitor to the upper right of this blog that measures viewings
of this blog
today sometime it will reach 100,000
its a milestone for this blog

the organicgreen doctor

Friday, June 22, 2012

alzheimers quiz, he did it

ALZHEIMERS QUIZ
a recent study showed that the 21 question alzheimers quiz has
a very good diagnostic accuracy
its one you can fill out for a family member or friend and hand
it to their doctor
remember many times early on people can be having problems
that in a few minutes of a doctors office will not be recognized

dont be afraid to be aggressive and do this for their doctors
i like others feel the earlier you know theres a problem
the better

it takes 3 minutes to complete and is easy to interpret
you can probably do it on yourself
it will pick up most cases of mild cognitive impairment and
almost all cases of alzheimers disease

now days if you find a positive alzheimers quiz
you can do a neuropsychological test and
do screening labs and
do a beta amyloid pet scan (first available commercial one
is amyvid)
if the labs are neg and the neuropsych test is positive and
the amyvid scan shows there are significant amyloid deposits
then you or the patient probably have alzheimers disease

one thing ive told people who ask is dont be passive about all
of this with family members or friends
dont be afraid to hurt their feelings
get them evaluated
treatment available like aricept (donepezil) can slow things down
and
the social side of this terrible disease can be attacked early
there is a window of time between early diagnosis and full blown
disease that can be a time to be enjoyed by the patient and their
family
like someone with terminal cancer who is on chemo to slow the disease
down so that they can have more time with their family

dont be shy about getting evaluations done


HE DID IT
lebron and the heat did it
he finished with a flurry
a triple double
this may be one of several they win

right now there are only two players i would pay to
watch play
kevin durant and lebron james
yes he was the king in this series
they just need to crown him now

the organicgreen doctor


Thursday, June 21, 2012

garden update

GARDEN UPDATE
as the longest day is past
and the dog days of summer will start today as
we start a run of 100+ degree temperature days
its reassessment and clean up time here at the country n

we have 10 acres with 9 acres of it being pasture land that
i have decided to let go back to nature a few years ago
i planted some native grasses and have selectively let cedars
hackberries and other trees grow back in them
i have also have planted some native trees such as oaks
and cedars to supplement as visual breaks and shade trees

since we had done this we have noticed a return of more animals
and birds and butterflies to the property
we also supply 3 watering troughs of water and two smaller
waterers for the animals to access

this year we had a showy display of different wildflowers
especially bluebonnets fire wheels and bee balms

the one acre in the middle of the property is where our
house sits and is fenced with a 7 ft fence to keep out
the deer

each spring i let the wildflowers grow until they go to seed
then i go in and mow them down and leave them on the ground
to provide seeds for birds and for next years crop of wildflowers

sometimes though like this year it can look like a jungle around
our house
real snake habitat
know my wife she worries about that a lot in the spring

now its mowing time
it takes me 2-3 days to mow weedeat and pick up
excessive clippings

this year i was given a new blade for my weedeater
dang wish i had used this before
















its dry here 
its especially noticeable when i mowed and can actually see
the ground

the 1/2 inch of rain yesterday just barely moistened the dust layer

now to the garden
its decision time as my water for irrigation is getting low
i will have to decide which things to continue to water and which
to just pull up and call it over with until the fall

remember the fall is the best time to garden here in central texas

this year i planted a 4 x 12 ft bed i call my summer garden
it has things that will grow in the heat and things that will last
until winter time
okra  malabar spinach  pursalane  christmas lima beans
sweet 100 tomato  juliet tomato  bell pepper
sweet banana pepper  jalapeno pepper  two different basils
swiss chard  and arugula

i now will only water this bed and let the rest of the garden go
then this fall will plant another 4 x 12 bed with my fall garden











here is some of my tomato produce for the year
the canned jars are tomatoes
the varieties of tomatoes are celebrities  cherokee purple  lemon boy
sweet 100  juliet  roma  porter  an unlabelled heirloom
and brandywine

the pumpkin is a sugar or minature pumpkin that we will cook and
can like winter squash
its part of the 3 sisters we planted-corn  beans  pumpkins

overall a good spring garden that
is coming to a end
its time to shut it down and compost whats left

the organicgreen doctor

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

summer soltice, chickener, lebron

SUMMER SOLSTICE
today is summer solstice
the first day of summer
the days start to get shorter starting today
thank goodness

we wish we were in santa barbara for their summer solstice celebration
they have every year
think mini mardi gras celebration
last year we were getting ready for our older sons wedding there
and got to go to the solstice parade

when we were touring the anasazi indian ruins we came upon
a anasazi calender laid out on the top of a hill
and one of the markers marked the summer solstice






























the indians knew then about the solstice
our friend db has been to the site on summer solstice and has
verified that the marker is accurate with an archaeologist

lets celebrate summer solstice even if you cant be in santa
barbara today because
here come the dog days of summer in texas

CHICKENER
i am a chickener
if you are a chickener you know it
if you would like to be a chickener and live in central texas
i suggest you go to this talk on raising chickens by carol ann
from boggy creek farms this weekend at the natural gardener

here is a blog she wrote on the lecture
read it
she is a witty writer as well as an excellent organic gardener and
chickener

join the chickener movement

LEBRON
lebron jamess performance last night reminded me of michael jordans
performance that time when he was ill with high fever but still
had a fantastic game

near the end of the game lebron overcome with leg cramps went
back in the game and scored a three point shot that may have
helped seal the game for the heat

ive seen athletes with severe leg cramps
heck i get them all the time especially at night
as they are a side effect of the aricept (donepezil) that im on
i cant imagine playing basketball with one of those things
my leg feels like someone beat it with a baseball bat the
next day

he should have been drinking gatorade to stay hydrated
hope he recovers enough to play tomorrow night
as he desires this nba championship
maybe the naysayers will quit whining about him now

severe dehydration that causes muscle cramps has the possibility
to cause a rise in muscle enzymes from damaged muscles which
can overload the kidneys as they try to filter out those enzymes
the athlete can get kidney failure from this
the secret is to stay hydrated before and after games

bet he got ivs last night
good luck on recovery today

the organicgreen doctor





Tuesday, June 19, 2012

nap, lice, rebate

NAP
one of the benefits of retirement is a noon time nap
ive always taken one even when i was working on my
days off and on weekends
ive continued the tradition into retirement

today though i take a special nap called a lebron nap
a lebron nap is
a later in the day and a longer nap than usual so that i
can stay awake tonight to watch the miami heat and lebron
play in the fourth nba finals game

a lebron nap
a benefit of retirement

LICE
lice is now resistant to all of the otc stuff you get off the
shelf for lice
they kill some bugs but not all of them
they are resistant to the prescription stuff except for the
toxic one called malathion that you cant use on flies but
you can use on kids
doesnt seem right
it also can catch afire if you get near a flame or hair dryer
or cigarette when you use it

the dirt doctor an organic gardener has this recommendation
for lice that may work

wash the hair with tea tree shampoo and rinse with apple cider
vinegar
repeat if needed
he swears it works

REBATE
i have always been in favor of obamacare  the health care act
or the affordable health care act or whatever its called
if you wonder why just wait and see what happens to your health
insurance coverage and premiums if it gets repealed or determined
to be unconstitutional

(by the same people (the supreme court)
that ruled constitutional a law that allows those super pacs to support
which means control our elections)

this year many of you will be getting a rebate from your health insurance
company that is required by this law
if you live in texas the average rebate will be $194  in alaska its $305
and in pennsylvania its $243

if you get a rebate it means your insurance has been overcharging
you for premiums
im sure you have already figured that out

other things that could be lost would be
no limits on dollars covered for a life time
coverage for your kids until 26 especially those college graduates
that cant get a job
coverage for preventative care and for colonosocopy mammos etc
no preexisting conditions for kids
and others

hope i dont have to say i told you so

the organicgreen doctor

Monday, June 18, 2012

fathers day, nba playoffs

FATHERS DAY
nice fathers day
i get to chose what to do on that day
no running around going places
just staying home
doing what i like to do
watching sporting events on tv
first soccer on espn
thanks for the coverage espn
then golf
until tiger fell apart and they quit showing him messing up
then
nba finals game
more below

i also get to chose or get to suggest what i want
what do you get for a man that has everything
what did i ask for this year

a framing hammer

bet not many dads got one of these for fathers day
suckers heavy but should drive a nail with one whack
after working the habitat houses i learned i had the wrong
one for building a house
wish i had known that years ago

fathers day is for fathers to enjoy
and i did it my way

NBA PLAYOFFS
this may be one of the best nba playoff series in a while
there a lot of stars on the court during the game
they are all young and will be around for a few years
we will probably see these guys back again several times
over that time period

kevin durant is so much fun to watch
so smooth so athletic
and a true professional athlete on and off the court
last game all he said of his last shot was should have made it
no whining about a foul

then lebron james is a freakish athlete
he totally controls the game
this may be the heats year to win
i hope so
hope lebron gets his championship so those writers will
quit trashing him so much

sure hope they go to seven games in this series so there will be
more basketball to watch
will miss it after this series is over then

as we hit the dead spot between the nba playoffs and football
starting

the organicgreen doctor







Friday, June 15, 2012

organicgreendoctor: two articles

organicgreendoctor: two articles: TWO ARTICLES here are two articles on alzheimers disease the first one was written by dr michael weiner one of the lead investigators fo...

two articles

TWO ARTICLES
here are two articles on alzheimers disease

the first one was written by dr michael weiner one of the lead investigators
for the adni (alzheimers disease neuroimaging) study that im in

he like me is also a subject in the adni study
he is in the normal control group
he like me wanted to be part of a research study on alzhiemers
and wanted to go through the same studies as the subjects of the
adni study
unlike me he passed his neuropsychological exan and has remained in
the normal control group
i had problems with the short term memory portion and was placed in the
early mild cognitive impairment group
yes he gets the blood drawn the spinal tap the mris the pet scans
and does those dam neuropsych exams

here is the link to the article for the huffington post he wrote recently

alzheimers disease needs facebook, volunteers

near the beginning of the article
click on the sentence

so what can the general public do

to see the video that my wife she and i did for the alzheimers research center

refer someone you know who has problems to enter the research studies
references are given in the article where you can join a study


the other article is longer
its titled

how do you live knowing you may have an alzheimers gene

its an article from the ny times
it is a long article but worth reading
it struck a nerve with me
since some of this may be happening to me

my mother father younger brother first cousin maybe two grandmothers
and several aunts and uncles and great grandfather had or may have
had alzheimers disease

i have the apoe 4 genotype for alzheimers disease
if you have the apoe 2 gene you have some protection against getting
the disease
if you have the apoe 3 gene you may get a mild form of the disease
if you have the single apoe 4 gene you have an increased chance of
getting the disease
if you have the double apoe 4 gene like i have then you have a much
more increased chance of getting the disease

(luckily i guess with the double apoe 4 gene its not 100% guaranteed youll
get alzheimers but the odds are you will but with the gene discussed in the
article if you have the gene they have youll get the disease you just dont know when)

read this article
it will make you think about your life and ours

the organicgreen doctor

Thursday, June 14, 2012

grand canyon

GRAND CANYON
we just checked off another item from our bucket list
the grand canyon
one of the seven wonders of the world
after seeing this i agree

i research and plan all our trips since im retired
i went to multiple websites and blogs to read about the
grand canyon

like a lot of situations in life i wish i knew then what i know now

heres what i recommend if you are a regular person interested in
seeing the grand canyon and not some gungho hiker or if you are
in poor health

how to get there
i40 from williams az up hwy to grand canyon
can catch a train from williams az
most people dont fly in but you can

where to stay
there are several lodges to stay in the park
they are crowded and booked up
there are some cabins available but are booked
there is an rv park and camping
you got it they are booked up frequently

we chose to stay a few miles from the park at tusayan
at one of the several hotel/motels there
found it very convenient to get back and forth
probably took 10 minute to get to the parking lot
at the visitor center

what to do
go to visitor center and get your paper guide
watch the 20 minute video there
walk to mather point to see your first view of the canyon













watch for ranger programs

use the bus system to go to each of the view points
west its called the red line bus
go to each point and enjoy each view

















we did take some walks along the rim between these view points
this trip took us about 4 hours

do the rim walk that took us about 1 1/2 hours and has lots
of good views of the canyon

you have to drive to the desert view and climb the tower
the site and view are beautiful
this is a must see viewing


































if you are in good health do one of two walks down into the
canyon
we did the kabob trail down 1 hour and 2 hours back up
we took our time coming back up the trail to rest
enjoy the view and to take pictures
going down you are more focused on not falling over the edge
of the trail













(on the way back up we actually saw a teenager
hikexting-texting while hiking-down a steep narrow trail that
a mistake would result in a fall hundreds of feet down a cliff)

this is a must do (doing the trail not hikexting)
if you come to the grand canyon
we chose to do a ranger walk going down since we
got some historical talks on the way down
dont do this walk without adequate water and snacks

at the end of the hike down and out of the trial
this is how my wife she felt about it

















if you know my wife she you know what word she is
signing and saying

see a sunrise (sun comes up at 5++am) or see a sunset
most viewpoints are good
this is another must do


























the bus system is easy to use
red go west
orange go east
blue connects the two

there is spring water available at multiple sites
they do not sell bottled water
bring your own refillable water bottle
we should all be doing this anyway everywhere

the place is clean
we saw no trash
they recycle

the park has used a lot of stimulus money to do much needed
upkeep on the trails and some of the historical sites
they hired a lot of college students to do the work

this park is one example of our tax dollars being put to good use

it was interesting that there are a lot of foreign languages
spoken here
a few japanese and a lot of europeans

my wife she and i regret we never came to this site before
but maybe we would not have enjoyed it as much then
as we did this time
sorry kiddos

oh the other thing bring a camera and take ton of pictures
we did

on our way back to texas we stopped at
meteor crater lake


no thats not a picture of the moon but where a meteor hit
in arizona years years years ago
if you are a jeff bridges fan this is where they filmed starman
and its where the astronauts practiced before they walked on
the moon

then we went to the painted desert and the petrified forest
two places i had always wanted to go to




4 thumbs up visit

the organicgreen doctor

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

organicgreendoctor: the ruins

organicgreendoctor: the ruins: THE RUINS today we got to tour old ruins with our own knowledgeable tour guide db (the 20+ year old friend who owns the ranch where we st...

the ruins

THE RUINS
today we got to tour old ruins with our own knowledgeable
tour guide db (the 20+ year old friend who owns the ranch
where we stayed)


























he not only knew a lot about the ruins and their history but he
also had the respect for them that people need to have when
they visit these historical sites

most of these sites were a few miles from the ranch
we were able to access them by truck and hiking
we spent several hours looking at these sites
jack and the ogd looking at the cave houses



















these anaszi indians (ancestoral pueblo people)
lived along the canyons of this area
with some dwellings in the cliffs
sometimes in the mid 1000s they disappeared
where did they go
some think drought drove them away
maybe invading nomadic indians
they are not sure
some think they are the ancestors of the pueblo indians

at the end of the day after visitng these ruins and listening to db
we have a good grasp of the history of these indians and a
respect for their society

thanks db

















we topped it off with a tour of a nearby museum that had intact
pottery and other findings from years of collections
the museum tour was much more meaningful after doing
the canyon tour with db

on the day we were leaving there was a cattle drive where a neighbor
was moving his cattle to another grazing area and had to come
through the ranch
felt like we were back in time watching the cowboys herd those
cattle down the road


































(notice how blue the sky is there)

db plans to build a house in one of the caves above
his ranch house











a nearby neighbor has built his own house in the cave on his ranch
its the ultimate green house
solar panels
well insulated by rock on all sides except the front which is
south facing-gets solar warming in the winter
an almost constant temperature is present from the cave effect
the water source is from a well that is only 30+ feet deep

yep the ultimate green house
those anasazi indians taught us something didnt they

the organicgreen doctor


Tuesday, June 12, 2012

the ranch

THE RANCH
i am ready to move to southern utah
we arrived yesterday to the ranch in this beautiful
canyon in southern utah
it took a drive to get here from albuquerque new mexico
but its a beautiful drive

my wife she and i always loved the desert and enjoyed
the drive up to southern colorado across to southern utah

from a small town we drove down a 10 mile dirt road road
that dropped down from 7000+ feet to 5000+ feet
my wife she was gripping the little handle thats above
the door you know that oh s*&@ handle that you have
to grab sometimes when you let your teenager drive

we dropped down into this beautiful canyon
think palo dura canyon if you have ever been  there
in the panhandle near amarillo texas

heres a picture above the ranch














the owner manager is a 20 year old who was a film major in college
who has taken on the task of reestablishing this ranch
to raise various grapes to sell to different vineyards along
with raising apple peaches these delicious cherries and apricots
he also has an organic garden


















it has been a massive undertaking
for someone who knew nothing about all this
he with some help built a cabin for workers that
come through each spring summer and fall to work here
on a volunteer basis
they are called wwofers
world wide organic farmers
the workers here right now are from canada md nj  calif
and other places including one from austin texas
all young eager workers and many are college students
we enjoyed sitting and talking with these young people
for the 3 days we were there
maybe all kids should do something like this before
they go out into the world to school or to work

think i want to be a wwoffer one day to work here
maybe when he puts in his rainwater system














the ranch is organic and runs off solar electricity
it is totally off the grid
there are plans for a rainwater collection system also
my kind of place

the animals that roam around here are black bear deer
occasional elk mountain lions
but are kept at bay by fencing and two dogs

also surrounding this area is ruins from pre pueblo indians
that suddenly disappeared in the 1300s

later today we will travel to see some of these ruins
and to see more of the area

it will be hard to leave here as we
proceed on to grand canyon

the very happy organic green doctor

Monday, June 11, 2012

the ceremony, utah ranch

THE CEREMONY
thats what i want
the ceremony like my friend greg had for his
final ceremony
it was more a celebration of his life
there were family and friends there from everywhere

all talking about greg and his ties and his science fiction and
his laugh and his hugs and his smile and his good nature and
his being a good doctor

it was a rememberence of greg like greg was

the ceremony had a christian prayer a jewish prayer and a
reading from a buddhist writing
there were protestants there catholics there jewish there budhist there
and agnostics there
the prayers or readings for the ceremony could easily be interchanged
between religions
there does seem to be some common ground in all those

then there were readings from different people about greg
i was asked to read my blog about him
tried to read it but couldnt finish it so
one of gregs and his wifes friend read it
she read it so well with just the inflections i would have used
and she caught the essence of my blog
which was the essence of gregs final ceremony

he was kind a gentle intelligent loving person
and will be missed

hope i can be sent off when my time comes with a ceremony
and gathering of friends like this

well miss you my friend

UTAH RANCH
we are on one of our bucket list trips this summer
one of several we are doing this summer and early fall

we are in albuquerque on our way to a ranch in utah
that is ran and owned by a friend of my daughterinlaw
well hes more like her little brother

the ranch is right down my alley
it is completely off the grid
its a total solar powered ranch
they store the electricity in large batteries
cant wait to see and tour this one

they raise different grapes in their organic vineyards and are working
towards having their own winery

they also raise organic vegetables in their large garden
they have a large number of fruit and nut trees that they
harvest and sell

they use some volunteer workers from europe and the us who
work there for 4+ weeks
like an internship
(wonder if im too old to do an internship there
know that would be fun and could add that to my
habitat for humanity volunteering)

they also have a beautiful area to explore and have areas of
old indian canyon sites to explore
they generally limit access to friends
we feel lucky to have this opportunity
we have toured the mesa verde area in southwest colorado
so we look forward to this part of the trip

we will post pictures and stories of the ranch and the
surrounding areas on my next blog

so have my safari hat sunscreen yes judy i have my walking stick
you gave me my hiking boots my camera and am ready to explore and
enjoy

the organicgreen doctor

Friday, June 8, 2012

michael repost

MICHAEL REPOST
last year when we did one of the local walk to end alzheimers
michael a former patient of mine
raised money himself for the walk and
gave me some things he made for me

here is the blog
i always get teary eyed when i read it


THANKS MICHAEL
this is a story about michael
hes a special person
hes 7 years old
he was my patient in the clinic where i worked
i was the only doctor he had ever had

he raised $390 and donated it to the walk to end alzheimers
he made small pillows and sold them to whoever would listen to his
story and buy them from him
he would stand outside stores with a box of them to sell
this is how he raised money this year
it wasnt his first time to do this

his grandmother works at a home that takes care of people with
early alzheimers
he told his grandmother he wanted her to hold a place in the home
for me

below are some pictures of michaels letter to me,
the pillow he gave me,
the sign he made for his wagon and
a picture of michael pulling his younger brother and sister in his
wagon with his signs on the side
at a walk to end alzheirmers that my wife she and i did this
weekend

i will admit i got teary eyed when i read the letter and when he gave
me the pillow

yes folks there is hope for the future
its you michael

again michael thank you very much
you made my year worth it








the pillow












the letter
dear dr nash.
this year i made pillows to rais mony for the memory walk
i made this pillow special for you
i miss you
love, michael










the sign he placed on the side of his wagon
i am walking for dr nash he was my my first dr








michael pulling the wagon with his sister and brother
with his sign on it

the organicgreendoctor :)

Thursday, June 7, 2012

abbie repost

ABBIE REPOST
below is a blog that i did recently on a patient of mine
that seems to have struck the hearts of a lot of readers
it was read by more people in a day then any other post
of mine except of course the last day thanks blog

here is abbie

ABBIE
this blog of more than 500 blogs  ive written
is one of my best stories i think that ive written about
its also one that has made me cry several times as i wrote it

abbie is a special person
she is a 11 year old 5th grade dynamo
if i could choose a daughter or granddaughter
i would want abbie to be her

watch this video
then go below and read abbies story
youll be inspired
i know i always was and still am


abbie was my patient for several years before i retired
i always enjoyed seeing her
she was such a normal kiddo
she was smart smiley bright happy obviously intelligent
healthy and
seemed well liked by her friends and her siblings
she i will admit was one of my favorite kids to see even though
i rarely saw her because she was so healthy

abbie has been the typically active kid
playing multiple sports such as soccer swimming tball track and field
and dance
she regularly bicycles and swims
well she does what all other kids her age do

her favorite sport though has been competitive cheerleading
and tumbling
in fact she is working on a full twisting layout

this video above is one where she is practicing her flips
you know the ones they do at the ball games that make me
dizzy just watching them do it
what sense of balance and athletic ability they have to have

what makes this video and abbie doing all this amazing is that
abbie was born without her lower  left arm


now knowing this go back up and rewatch this video ok


when your kids whine i cant do it have them watch this video
and tell them abbies story

as my wife she says
wow
thats amazing

and when i saw abbie i saw abbie
i like most people that really know her dont even notice she is
missing her lower arm as
her personality and smiley face and intelligence masks that

if you know her then you know what i mean

what an inspiration to us all
and especially to kids
who may need some motivation

when she was a baby she learned to crawl
when she was four she locked herself in her room and
came out four hours later with tied shoes

she struggled with the monkey bars and you guessed it
she figured out how to go from bar to bar without falling
but it was painful to watch her fight to do it
but she finally did it

she paints her own fingernails and yes she changed her siblings
diapers when they were younger and that cute ponytail she wears
she puts her hair in it herself

when she was in the 3rd grade she wanted to attend a 3rd-5th grade
basketball camp-she had never played before

at award day on the last day mom attended and was shocked as
abbie won
1st place in the one on one tournament against 5th graders
1st in layups
1st in freethrows and
of course she won the ms hustle award












that tells a lot about who she is

thats also when her mom realized that abbie was special and could do
anything she wants to do
that she can

then
3 years ago abbie asked for a prosthetic arm
she went to shriners and was fitted with one at several visits
she wore it to school but on the way in she took it off and put
it in her backpack never to put it on again
she realized that it changed who she was and interfered with how
she does things
she probably wont ever wear one
(its now used to pull pranks on people)

she doesnt give much thought that she is different
in preschool kids would always wanted to know what happened
to her arm
she does sometimes tire of the questions from people
but doesnt really feel any different from other people

she has lots of friends
teasing has never been a problem for her

when asked who her hero was
its her best friend g
her best friend since she was 2
g will do all those things abbie wants to do

abbie is an entrepreneur
she has sold lemonade walked dogs swept porches and even
did a backyard restaurant for kids only last summer

she is an all a student
she is in the quest program
she has been first and second runner up in the school spelling bee
she is on the destination imagination team
where they have to do creative problem-solving
something abbie has always done

she wants to be rich and famous
she has this drive that will get her there
its inside her little heart

no doubt that will happen

she wants to attend the university of texas
and of course be a cheerleader there

they dont know whats coming their way

so
abbie is a special kid
maddam president abbie
dr abbie
counselor abbie
judge abbie.........

she has no limit to her future
some lucky guy will find her one day

abbie i miss seeing you
you were a joy to see each time i saw you
even if it was with your siblings office visit
you are an inspiration
we wish you the best for the future

you are our hope for the future

the organicgreen doctor

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

last day-thanks repost

LAST DAY-THANKS REPOST
this was the hardest blog ive ever written
it was written the day after i was told my diagnosis
and knew i could not continue practicing medicine

and the one that i received the most response to

here is


LAST DAY-THANKS 
this my last day to work as a physician
always considered myself lucky to have been able to
do in life what i wanted to do since i was a middle schooler

in high school i was able to work in a local hospital in the
summer on weekends and during holidays
our family was poor so not only did i get financial benefit from
working but i also was exposed to a lot in the hospital setting
it made me know that i wanted to be a family physician

during college i worked as a emergency room technician
on weekends, weeknights, and holidays
this also gave me financial support but also exposed me to
different doctors and different emergency situations

i was accepted to medical school but never wavered on what
kind of doctor i wanted to be
a family physician

i was accepted to a family practice residency
after completing my residency i owed the federal government
three years to work at an approved federal underserved area

i was able to create with some help a site in  the small
town near where i grew up       i  worked there for three years
although tramatic at times it was a learning experience that i
carried through out my career

after fulfilling my three year obligation and after sustaining a
large financial hit from my involvement with the local clinic
i was recritued to the area where i am working now
thanks to my medical school friend for helping me out in
my time of need

i have worked for 25 years as a family physician
i always wanted to be one

now it is time i have to quit not because i want to but
because a genetic health problem has risen its nasty head
and because of this will have to discontinue what i like to do

i do not ever dread going to work every day
feel like i have now just gotten good at what i do

realize that patients dont necessarily need all of the new
medications we have, the new tests we can do or need
the newest treatments available

they do better if you just listen to them, pat them on the
shoulder, be kind to them and be their advocate when
they need it

i have honed my skills in taking care of kids over my career so
that many of the kids have felt comfortable seeing me and look
forward to seeing me to get a sticker or sucker, hear my
duck voice, or have me joke with them
that part i will miss a lot

thanks to all my patients in the past for allowing me to fulfill
my dream of being a family physician
i hope i have done you a good job

thanks to my wife she for putting up with me during
my quest for my career
know she found hers

love yall
the organicgreen doctor

71 comments:

  1. You are a beloved Doctor. Our family loves you and supports you 100% We will pray for healing in your body. I KNOW my God is bigger than heal issues. I've seen too many people healed. Please don't hesitate to call if there is anything we can do for you guys... even if you just need a hug around the neck from some cute little boys! They are you biggest fans! Thank you for all you've done for our family! We love you!
    ReplyDelete
  2. OMgoodness this makes me so sad! You were the one doctor I could get my knuckle head husband to come in and see! We will miss you but plan on keeping in touch via this blog. You better not retire from that!

    Blessings in your future. Enjoy your time and savor every moment.
    ReplyDelete
  3. maybe he is headed in the right direction
    the blog is now my job
    hope to do it as long as i can
    also will be involved with the alzheimers association and with the alzheimers research study
    enjoy your blog
    ReplyDelete
  4. I'll miss you. You've been my doctor since forever. Helping me with my asthma and Heart problems. Everything. (Man it'll be different with out the donald duck voice). I'll hope for the best for you.

    Sincerely, well... I hope you can guess who i am. and if not than oh well.
    ReplyDelete
  5. Dr Nash you will be missed greatly! You have entertained the kiddos for the past 9 years or so. We wish you the best with the study and pray for you.
    ReplyDelete
  6. Our family is sorry to hear this news, and you will be missed as our family physician. We wish you the best, and hope for a bright and hopeful future for you and your family.

    Take care, and many thanks,
    The Fousek family
    ReplyDelete
  7. Dr. Nash ~ There were so many directions you could have taken in your life. You chose to serve and to heal with honesty and integrity and love. In so doing, you have blessed the lives of many. You have a bright future waiting for you. The coming years Here will be increasingly difficult. It may not seem fair that you should suffer after having helped so many through their suffering. However, there is a purpose for our trials. We simply need to remember we are little children and that our Father loves us dearly.
    ReplyDelete
  8. Dr. Nash, Our family has been blessed to have you as our doctor for over 10 years. You are beyond gifted and have helped see us through medical needs and emotional ones as well. To say that Brice, Mady and I will miss you greatly is a vast understatement. You were a blessing to us.

    Thoughts and Prayers,

    Heather, Brice, and Madison Merritt
    ReplyDelete
  9. Unfortunately I am lost for the right words and none of them seem to have any flow. Our family would like to thank you for all you have done. You never missed a beat. You are already missed in our world. We look forward to following you on your blogs. Craig, Jaclyn, Alexis, Garrett (Mr Incredible), & Madison.
    ReplyDelete
  10. You know the Bell's can't say enough great things about you! You have been such a great support system with the foster/adoption process of our girls and they love you dearly! We also love the way you are so personable with all your patients. You truly show how much you care. Your a true blessing!

    Now knowing you are living green, you may see future posts from me. We are very interested in becoming a green family, but don't know where to start.

    Take care, Dr. Nash! We all love you and send a huge hug your way!

    The Bells
    ReplyDelete
  11. mr g incredible and family
    thanks for comments
    will miss seeing yall
    it was fun when you came in
    tog

    knd and girls
    thanks
    will blog on what you can do to be green
    in the am
    d keep us save
    k hang in there
    im actually doing ok

    hbm replied to you in a previous blog
    b dont be so serious
    m dont ever dye that hair
    h hang in there
    tog

    f family
    maybe will run into you in calif sometime
    enjoyed the families
    tog

    db
    thanks for the comments
    tog

    me
    yur kids r fn
    tog
    ReplyDelete
  12. I just found out the news. I am praying for you. You have always been such a great help and support to me and my family. You are a wonderful doctor and we are going to miss you greatly. Take care of yourself!! We Love You.
    ReplyDelete
  13. Shannon, Gabe and familyJanuary 11, 2011 2:44 PM
    We are going to miss you! Today, we went to pick up a script and Celeste wanted to know if she was going to see Donald Duck. She did see the one you hung where your photo was hanging. We appreciate all of your help over the years. Thank you for listening to our worries! Please do take care of yourself.

    Thanks, and we hope you are able to travel a lot!
    ReplyDelete
  14. Well, I never got to hear the duck voice...I feel cheated!!!
    Our whole famiy, Jeff, Jennifer, Jim and I are devastated! It is like losing a family member. We will pray for you and your family as you go on with life.
    My mom had alzhemizers also. I feel like I have more symptoms than than you....
    Get out your walking stick and enjoy life!!!
    Judy Riley
    ReplyDelete
  15. jr
    sorry didnt do duck voice for you
    i am early early into this and did not feel
    like i could practice medicine with this
    do use the walking stick every day
    thanks
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  16. sm
    will miss kids especially cm
    glad she liked the duck
    thanks for the thoughts
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  17. Hey Doc,
    Doug and I are wondering if you can recommend a new doctor? Don't know if you're legally allowed to do that, but thought I would give it a shot anyway!
    Thanks, Kim
    ReplyDelete
  18. Dr. Nash,
    You have done every well check on our 4 girls since birth and I am going to miss hearing you proclaim "She's a keeper" after completing the exam. The girls will miss your Donald Duck voice for sure! THanks for being a great doctor for so many families including ours. So sorry that you have to deal with this condition but happy to see that you are keeping a blog so we can keep tabs on you :)
    Love,
    Wendy, Jason, Hailey, Reese, Paige, and Penny Garrett

    By the way...was looking forward to telling you that we now have a small flock of chickens! We are excited about getting some fresh free range eggs in a few months and fertilizer for the garden...if we can keep it under the H.O.A's radar!
    ReplyDelete
  19. kd
    ask nurse d
    a new doc is coming soon
    togd

    wg
    they were keepers
    glad to hear you have backyard chickens
    those hoas
    thanks
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh, does Mom need a walking stick to? We have many in the garage....therapy...haha. Be glad to fix her up too.
    Judy
    jcr39@suddenlink.net
    ReplyDelete
  21. Dr. Nash,
    I'm so sad to hear this news. You have been a huge help to me, getting my diabetic medicine straightened out and always treating my cough. I wish you and your family all the best, you will be missed.

    PS...I'm finally doing something about my weight, Thanks to your suggestions - Lap-Band scheduled for May!

    Take Care,
    Anita McDonald
    ReplyDelete
  22. jr
    she doesnt but i do
    togd


    am
    thanks for the comment
    good luck
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  23. Dr. Nash, I'm at a loss for words. WOW and for me that's rare! LOL. We all will miss seeing your smiling face even when we felt like crap. You are the absolute BEST Dr. around and we need more like you. I do hope you enjoy your retirement and good luck with your treatment. Hopefully we'll see you around town or at the kids basketball games!! We love you!!

    The Purl family
    ReplyDelete
  24. pfamily
    thanks
    good luck with girls
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  25. Cheryl Von RosenbergJanuary 13, 2011 7:41 PM
    Dr. Nash our family could never thank you enough for your years of care. My children came to you when they where 5 and 7 and are now 24 and 26 you helped us make them the beautiful adults they have become. We will never forget your wonderful care and friendship. We always felt so good about our care when we had seen you.
    We are sending our love and hope you will receive the same wonderful care with your illness that you gave.
    The Von Rosenberg's
    ReplyDelete
  26. Our family of little razorbacks is going to miss you terribly! I am so glad they got to call the hogs for you the last time we saw you in the office. Dr. Duck you will be in our thoughts and prayers.


    George, Jennifer, Benjamin, Madelina, Anabella, and Samuel Martinez
    ReplyDelete
  27. While we've never met, as one family doctor to another, I can see that our profession is losing one of the good ones. I'm so very sorry for the challenging condition that caused you to make this decision. At the same time I deeply respect your ability to make that decision. I'm glad we'll continue to benefit from your wisdom in this forum. Thank you for your years of service. It is clear that your patients have felt the warmth and care of your family doctor heart. I pray for blessings in every day ahead for you.
    ReplyDelete
  28. cvg
    thanks for the thoughts
    those kids were fun
    hope you the best in life and health
    enjoyed yalls visits
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  29. dr carie
    have enjoyed your blog
    many of my readers and patients have enjoyed it also
    you articulate the topics so well
    good luck
    thanks for the comments
    hope to continue following your blog

    togd
    ReplyDelete
  30. mommahog
    that was definitely a youtube moment
    will miss the hog talk
    and will miss your kids (and sisters kid)
    wish yall good luck
    tell parents hi
    soooooooooieeeee pigs razorbacks

    togd
    ReplyDelete
  31. I'm typing this stunned by your absence and to hear where you are at his point in your journey. I've known you for over 10 years and have talked about our lives as your wife and I have had similar professions, working at similar schools, but in different districts. You've cared for my family as if they were your own. My kids have always responded to your kindness and your care.

    We've talked a lot about this disease as my dad suffers with this just as your family has. This disease has been in my family for two generations and my greatest fear is that it will be here for several more. When I called to make an appointment and heard you were out on a medical leave, I feared this. When I walked in and saw the duck hanging where your profile had been, my heart sank.

    You've given me advice to be preventative, to start now being proactive, and I've followed in your footsteps. I look forward to following you still. Please know that you will always be in my thoughts. Best wishes Dr. Duck. Look forward to reading your thoughts soon.
    ReplyDelete
  32. I will really miss you and don't know how I can find a doctor to match you. I will you all the very best of luck in the future.
    ReplyDelete
  33. jb
    we have 8 siblings and one has it and now i
    have it early early
    3 younger and 4 older than me
    others are symptom free
    a lot is being done research wise right now to
    do earlier diagnosis like mine(im lucky)
    genetics you cant do anything about
    but preventative stuff like eating right, daily
    exercise, controlling blood pressure,controlling diabetes, controlling cholesterol all can slow
    down the disease and maybe prevent it in some cases

    thanks for the words
    do heed the above advise
    keep up with the research
    www.alz.org

    togd
    ReplyDelete
  34. aw
    thanks for the comments
    retired before you
    mayb ireland will be on my bucket list
    take care
    nurse d for recomendation
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  35. I am very sad to hear about your leaving and your reasons. Thank you for looking after me for almost ten years.
    I will pray for you often, God can do amazing things!
    ReplyDelete
  36. From Nora Evans,
    Thank you for all the years of caring for my family. You will be happy to know that Colin finally made it to the Marines and graduated in November! It was a long 15 month wait but it was worth it. You wouldn't recognize him now, he is 30lbs lighter!
    I will be following you on the web. Take care.
    ReplyDelete
  37. From The Gilleylen Family,
    You are an awesome doctor. You have been with my kids from childhood through college. The first time you saw Curenski and Sydney they were in elementary. She's graduating high school and he's playing his last year of football for Nebraska. You have been as much apart of their lives as the schools they attended. There are no words to express my gratitude to you for all you done. Be Blessed and know that you have indeed made a difference in the lives of your patients and their parents. Thank You Dr. Nash.
    ReplyDelete
  38. to ne
    glad c is getting there
    good luck with him and your health
    thanks
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  39. to g family and ms g
    thanks for the words
    wish c good luck in big 10 next year
    wish s well in college next year
    you have two nice kids
    good luck to you
    togd
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  40. Well to quote Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation, "I couldn't be more surprised if I woke tomorrow with my head sewn to the floor!" I guess I always thought I would have my Doctor and I'm optimistic for you. I hope I can find someone as nice as you've been to me over the years. (I'm the guy with the giggles every time you told me to lie back as you were going to push on my stomach). I'll add you to my prayers Doc.
    PS. I highly recommend Scotland. Edinburgh Castle is incredible.
    Peace and Blessings.
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  41. dr. nash,
    you will be missed by my 3 children. 10 years with you as our doctor has been wonderful and it will be hard to find another doctor to replace you. there will be noone like you around. thanks for everything.
    Hoomana family
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  42. We just got your last day letter in the mail and could not believe what we were reading. Our love, hearts and prayers are with you and your family. You will be greatly missed! You were truly a great friend and doctor to our family. Now who is going to help me keep Paul in line? And Clarissa was finally at a point of talking to you. :) We hope to keep in touch through your blog and pray it continues for years to come.

    Take care and God Bless.
    Paul, Valerie & Clarissa Gonzales
    ReplyDelete
  43. DR Nash,

    I was so surprised by the letter in the mail we received about you leaving. You have been our doctor since Josh was 2. You helped me with my ex-husband, because you understood what we were going through. You helped me through my divorce and most recently in November you sent Josh to Dell Childrens because of his breathing...I never had seen you so worried in my life, so I knew you were doing the best for my son. We will miss you. We hope the best for you and your family and your quest with this illness. We will watch your blog to see how you are doing, because you were not only our doctor, but our friend. Josh told me today, your the only doctor he has gone too and he just doesn't think he can have another doctor. Hopefully we can find someone as awesome and caring as you.
    We wil miss you ....Rachel and Josh Davis
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  44. Hi Dr. Nash,

    I cannot tell you how much your kind and gentle manner along with your medical knowledge support helped me through my difficult journey with BRCA1 (another one of those 'nice' genetic issues) and managing my son's autism diagnosis around the same time. You are an incredibly gifted Doctor and a wonderful human being. I will most certainly miss you heaps and truly hope to remain in touch.
    Prayers and BIG ((hugs)) to you and your family, Renee
    ReplyDelete
  45. Dr. Nash,

    As others before me I was shocked to hear the news. You have been my husband's doctor for I can't tell you how many years. You have assisted him with his cholesterol and the removal of his gall bladder last March. When I told him of your situation he asked, "How will I find another doctor as good as Dr. Nash?"
    I, too, see you yet not as often as he. I only come in for the occasional sinus infection. Which I can say have almost comepletely stopped after beginning to use a neti pot. Something you have enccouraged me to continue to use.
    You will be missed terribly by our family. You will be kept in our prayers as you travel this journey. You are truly one of a kind.

    Kathy and John Tristan
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  46. txsteve
    thanks
    take care of your health
    thanks for travel tip
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  47. h family
    the kids will be missed
    good luck to them
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  48. pvcg
    thanks
    will miss you guys espcially c
    good luck with your other kids
    have p take care of his health
    and you take care of your self
    togd
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  49. rjd
    yes that was scarey
    glad he is ok
    enjoyed caring for you two
    ask nurse d for recommendation
    from one wildcat to another
    good luck in the future
    togd
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  50. renee w
    thanks for the comments
    take care of yourself
    know it was a rough road
    good luck with son
    recommend www.confessionsofanaspergersmom.com
    (see my blog list)
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  51. kjt
    thanks for comments
    make sure jt takes care of himself
    he has a second chance now
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  52. Dwayne,
    Can't tell you how sorry I am to hear about this.
    Sometimes life really sucks, but I hope and pray for you to come to understand how much you are loved and valued, by many here and by our Creator!
    Anything I can ever do, let me know!!


    Bryan Irvin
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  53. thanks bryan for the thoughts
    sometimes life does suck
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  54. Dr. Nash -
    So, glad that I finally found this blog site. It was last week when I called to schedule Keller a visit with you that I found out the news from Naomi. My heart was broken.
    You have by far been the best doctor any family could ever ask for! We started seeing you way back when you were in the building next door. I knew the first time that we had an appointment with you, I believe it was for one of the kids, that you were one of a kind! I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the gentle, kind and warm care that you provided all of our family over the years. It will not soon be forgotten.
    I will be keeping up on your postings and will pray for good news. May it help to know that so many are sending good thoughts your way.
    On a side note... Coby (our 12 year old), a few months ago, had $100. that he had been saving to spend on whatever he wanted. It was a collection of money given to him for birthday, etc. Our church sponsored a youth fundraiser car wash for the Alzheimer's Foundation. Well, Coby decided that his money would be better spent on that cause and donated it all to the fund. May this help in some small way of knowing that there is support out there along with so many heartfelt prayers.
    ~Catherine, Ken, Keller and Coby Shaw
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  55. Hello Doc! I went to the clinic today and cannot let the staff know who to make as pimary doc. After close to 20 yrs of your care I feel lost.I have always been told things happen for a reason. I guess the reason is with your caring and knowledge you will be able to help more people. Around the same time our dgt was told her ex-father in law has the same illness. I will be giving him your web site. I know you will learn as much as you can for your family and for mine. If you are ever in Rockdale Texas look us up. If you ever need anything let me know....Cathy & Mike Kubacak
    ReplyDelete
  56. ckkcs
    thanks for the comment
    tell c did a good thing with his donation
    good luck with your career
    tell hubby good luck
    tell boys hi and good luck in the future
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  57. msk
    thanks for the comments
    enjoyed the 20 years and your family
    even your siblings
    now mr k he needs to take care of himself
    good luck
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  58. So saddened by the news! You have been our rock for the past 4 years. Both our girls (Helen & Maria) were slow growers in the beginning and Helen still is, but while bringing them in for regular weight checks "just to be sure" you never once made me worry that something was wrong with my babies. It's hard and frightening being a new parent, and you have helped us through every illness and concern. You have taught us so much and you will be greatly missed by all 4 of us. My girls both absolutely love going to the doctor even when they are sick. You and Nurse D are responsible for that and likely have paved the way for lifelong cooperation with medical professionals. Thank you for all that you have done for us and your other patients. This could not have happened to a better or more needed person. I wish you luck and pray that new developments in research are able to help you in this journey. I feel guilty mourning my own personal loss (of the best doctor on the planet) when you are facing such a difficult diagnosis, but I do want you to know that we will miss you so much that I have been moved to tears. Thank you for caring for my little angels, thank you for calming my nerves, and thank you for making me a braver mother. You will be sorely missed!
    ~Honey, Jason, Helen, & Maria
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  59. h
    thanks for the kind words
    cute girls
    tell them hi
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  60. Dr. Nash,
    I don't know how long we saw you, but I'm thinking we're on the 9 - 10 yr track as with so many others who have posted. We didn't come in often because we try to stay healthy and only came in when we really, really had to....but I just want to tell you that we are sad that you will no longer be there and also that you are dealing with this diagnosis. I am grateful for your ability to make a large clinic environment feel like a local family doctor's office. I am grateful for your flexibility, your modern thinking, always erring on the side of less intervention when possible and giving us the space to interject our own hesitancies about treatments (mostly about antibiotics). It is so unusual to find a doctor like you....I wish there was a way for you to mentor others to follow in your footsteps...but it seems to come naturally to you. I remember when we first came to you, you told us how you set your parameters with ARC (like spending time with each patient!)You stuck with that and made going to the doctor a really warm experience. My son Austin, who is almost 14 now, still has fond memories of you, your Donald Duck imitation and of all of the Donald Duck drawings and pictures...he too will miss you! We wish you the best in your journey and will continue to read about your progress through this blog. Thanks for sending out the letter so those of us who don't come in often could know why you were gone and be connected in some way. Thanks again for being a really cool doctor. Laura Nicholson
    ReplyDelete
  61. Dr. Nash,
    We were shocked when we got the letter about you leaving ARC clinic. My husband and I will miss you greatly. You have taken care of us for many, many, years. We could feel the concern and comfort when we made a visit. We are praying that God will continue to keep you optimistic and full of faith and happiness. You have been so kind and caring to others and I know that God will take care of you. Will continue to check your blog on your progress.
    ReplyDelete
  62. Dr. Nash,
    We were so shocked to get your retirement letter; it felt like we were losing a part of our family. You became our family doctor in Temple, TX, when Tracy was 6 months old. She's turning 21 in February. Thank you for all the kindness and comfort you've given us over the years as our family grew up, going through so many changes in our lives. You've been always been there when we needed help, explaining things in terms that we understood (and drawing pictures when we needed that too). We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. We'll miss you greatly.

    I know you like news about renewable energy. My company is going to build a solar farm near Austin, 35MW.

    Karla, Steve, Daniel and Tracy Lovelady
    ReplyDelete
  63. Dr. Nash,

    My family was shocked when we received your letter of retirement and saddened by the news! You have been taking care of us since my kids were babies. It will be a big adjustment for all of us to have to go to someone else. I had to go in the other day and got a chance to talk to Debra. She is missing you terribly! From the looks of things you are keeping very busy and thankfully doing well. Thank you very much for taking such good care of us for so many years. You must be proud to have so many patients that trusted in you so.

    Much love!

    Callan, Shane, Shaylee and Sheila Wolfe
    ReplyDelete
  64. kl
    thanks
    enjoyed caring for you and your family
    good luck to the chef and the electric men
    read about and heard about the solar farm
    great job the company is doing
    good luck in the future
    togd
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  65. sw
    thanks
    enjoyed caring for you and your kids
    dang they are cute
    good luck
    remember we are almost neighbors
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  66. Dr. Nash,

    Still sad to not have you as our family doctor.

    Are you still around? Once you've told me "All your health problems that you have I also have. So if I [GO] you will follow soon!" I always keep that in mind.

    So if you are still around, I still have hope.

    You are one of the best doctors on earth to lower my cholesterol to perfectly low, or too low without any prescriptions besides fish oil, and Niacin, and aspirin. I still do those.

    We just drop in to say "HI DOC!" Best wishes to you and your family on Holiday Season of 2011. God Bless!

    Thang Vo, James & Gregory
    ReplyDelete
  67. vos
    good hearing from you
    keep those lipids normal
    tell boys hi
    togd
    ReplyDelete
  68. Dr Nash, sorry for not writing until now! You are and will always be our family doctor no matter if you are practicing or not! You helped us through a lot of illnesses over the past 15 years and especially with Tiff's disease! Tiffany and Robert were married in Dec 2010 and are now living in the Houston area. Tiffany is in her first year of dental school and having a time of her life. It's hard on her but she is managing well. JR is finishing up his undergrad and will pursue his MBA. God Bless you and your Family!
    ReplyDelete
  69. anon
    good to hear from you
    glad tiff is realizing her dream
    and jr is kicking in finally
    tell hubby and kids hi
    you take care
    togd
    ReplyDelete