Cateland White
Dr. Young treated generations of my family's children. My baby brother and I adored him. My mom and grandparents trusted his directives and diagnosis absolutely. His father had been my mother's pediatrician. When my own son was born a rare birth defect, I flew from Denver to Dallas as soon as it was safe to do so, trusting no other doctor with his care. Although many claimed his subsequent recovery was a miracle, I will always believe Dr. Young was God's instrument. Although he never saw her, my husband's granddaughter (whom I've raised since birth) has ADD. Doctors here in Las Vegas wanted to medicate her which I rejected strenuously. Following Dr. Young's pioneering efforts in the field, she has made remarkable strides. When I was gravely injured in an auto accident at five years of age, it was his face I woke up to in the emergency room and my fears instantly vanished. He counseled my mother, explaining that the type of trauma I endured could lead to psychological complications later in life – effectively warning her (correctly!) of post traumatic stress long before it was recognized in mainstream medicine. He always came to the hospital – no matter the day or time of night – when my brother or I needed emergency treatment. It was he who contacted the very best specialists for the jaw I shattered in that accident or when my kid brother's ear drum in very serious situations. He also correctly suspected that my brother was one of the earliest cases of Reyes Syndrome. His dedication, concern and compassion literally saved Kevin's life. Going to his office on St. Andrews – with that big storybook map in the waiting room we loved so much – his blue short-sleeved smocks with pockets that had small lollipops with cotton loops instead of sticks. "Hop on up here, kiddo, (or 'pardner', he'd call my kid brother). Let's have a look see", he'd say, patting his exam table. We were never afraid. I remember his winks and his smile, how he'd push his glasses up on his nose; the times he'd squat down to my eye level and explain things so that I understood what was going on, rather thank talk 'over' me to my mom or grandparents. "You following my thinkin?', he'd ask. Over fifty years ago, we were just two out of hundreds of his small patients but he remembered our grandmother's ritual of taking us to Toy World after a shot and always inquired what it was that we were going to choose as our "reward for being brave". I simply cannot express the impact Dr. Young had upon me and how fervently I've prayed to find another of his caliber today. He is the physician by which I've measured all others in my life. As a writer, I've described him as the finest doctor I've ever known and asked my readers if ever we shall see his like again… My deep and sincere sympathies to you – Cateland White Las Vegas, NV