August 11, 2003 Dr. Philip Leonard Austin, Texas Dear Dr. Leonard: I have been asked to describe my illness and medical history for a newsletter. Included in this publication will be a list of the doctors who greatly assisted me or told me to just go home and accept my illness. You will be on my list of doctors who greatly assisted me. In this article I will publish your tenacity, as my doctor for ten years, in  trying to assist me to simply function in the same manner that so many people take for granted. These same people surround us, and even judge us as to our worth in society, but have no idea the difficulty some of us face simply surviving. I can say to the entire Austin community that it is my sincere belief that I would be dead long ago if you had not helped me to live. Your willingness to step outside the rhetoric for new answers to serious medical and life threatening conditions kept me alive long enough to find solutions that now enable me to walk, think, and address my illness. I now intend to live to be 100 years old. The reason for this change in attitude is the hope you have given me over the years. It is my personal belief that this is a precious commodity which is in short supply these days, especially when there is little chance of success for many patients. I can only imagine what compliments and gratitude would come from your other patients who cannot write, e-mail, or are too sick to speak up for themselves and for you. I want you to know that other doctors have turned me away, and turn away others who are unable to pay. You, on the other hand have not. I have spoken to indigent patients leaving your office, and they felt more secure and hopeful after their visit. I have not seen this at any other doctors' office in Austin. It saddens me to know that they may now have nowhere to go. Know that I will stand by you now and forever. I am proud to call you my doctor, and consider you a true scientist and healer. Yours truly, Cat Miller