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From: "Melanie Percy" <mpercy@mail.utexas.edu> Dear Sir or Madam, I am writing in support of Dr. Phillip Leonard. My name is Melanie Percy, and I have been a patient of Dr. Leonard's since May 2001. I have been diagnosed with a demylienating disease for the past 15 years. Dr. Leonard was the first neurologist that I have seen who could actually provide a rational explanation for the multiple sclerosis like symptoms that I have been having without having a positive MRI scan. I was quite relieved that he didn't require that I submit to any additional tests (except for some blood work that hadn't been done before) and was able to come to his diagnosis by reviewing my past records and extensive tests. Even more importantly since seeing Dr. Leonard I have gone from having difficulty walking more than a block or two, difficulty swallowing, spasticity, difficulty speaking, extreme fatigue and using a cane for balance and support to being essentially normal. Before I was seen by Dr. Leonard I had been getting progressively worse for two years, and had seen neurologists in Austin, and in Houston. I was convinced that within another year I would be in a wheelchair. I now feel better than I have in the past 6 years. I attribute these changes to the regimen of vitamins, and
co-enzymes that Dr. Leonard had suggested. He attended a medical conference and
heard they were using this combination for ALS with good results, and he
suggested that I try it, because without MRI changes it is difficult to
diagnose multiple sclerosis and use any of the new medications. After a
few months on these vitamins I felt remarkably better and now after two
years people who know me are constantly asking me what I have done to look
so well. It is quite amazing! Dr. Leonard has maintained that these
medicines work on the nerves in different ways and that the combination
seems to have an additive effect. Well, he seems to be right. I looked all of them up and have followed research done in this area and everything is exactly as Dr. Leonard had describe. Dr. Leonard was always very professional, caring and sensitive to my concerns. I never felt threatened or intimidated by him in any way. I was impressed by his thoughtful, intelligent approach to my clinical problem, and that he didn't dismiss it when he found there was no standard therapy that he could offer me. I should also add that I have been a Registered Nurse for 28 years, and am now an Assistant Professor at the School of Nursing, at The University of Texas at Austin. I have known many physicians over the years both professionally and personally. I have also known many physicians who were sexual predators if not with their patients certainly with the nurses. I was shocked when I heard about the charges against Dr. Leonard. He is not the type of physician that I would expect to behave inappropriately with his patients. In the two years that I have known him, he has never done anything that was even slightly inappropriate. I certainly hope that these charges are favorably resolved
for Dr. Leonard and that he is able to return to practice. I think my
story is just one example of the careful, analytical approach that Dr.
Leonard takes to clinical practice. We certainly cannot afford to lose
such a caring and dedicated neurologist. Sincerely Melanie S. Percy, RN,PhD,CPNP |