To Say Thanks On His Behalf

This is Dr. Bell and Dr. Klein. A little more than 31 years ago, my brother, Joel Lucas, was born three and a half months early, weighing in at 1 pound, 13 1/2 ounces, and these are two of the many talented souls to make sure he became their first 23 week survivor. I decided to stop by the hospital and say thanks on his behalf, since I was in the area for the first time in decades.

Prior to leaving Florida, I spoke with Dr. Bell and he recommended the book Early, by Sarah DiGregorio, to give me (and my mother, who had written him as well) a sense for the evolution of the preterm experience for parents as well as doctors. Eager to come prepared, I ordered it, read it, and reviewed it before setting foot in the hospital to meet Dr. Bell, which allowed me to ask some more useful and informed questions as we sat or walked together for more than an hour.