MY DAUGHTER NEEDS DR. LEONARD!


From: Deborah Q. Shurr Pence
Remote Name: 24.27.58.12
Date: 19 Feb 2004
Time: 21:50:08 -0500

Comments

My daughter, Jennifer Shurr, developed migraines when she was 9 years old. When she had her first migraine I did what any caring parent would do, I took her to her pediatrician. When the headache wouldn't go away, even after treatment, he referred her to a neurologist. I suppose that neurologist knew his science, but he knew nothing about working with people, especially people who happen to be children! He ran no tests to rule out (or in) any of many things which could have been causing the pain. He apparently didn't listen to me when I told him that she had been in bed, in a dark, quiet room, doing nothing for two weeks. He just started trying different drug therapies on her. At least one of  those drugs was at that very time under investigation because some of the
patients who had used it had become rapidly addicted and some of those patients had committed suicide. When the drug therapies didn't work, and Jennifer was looking at her fourth week out of school with the same headache, that neurologist decided she was just trying to get out of going to school!! I know my daughter, even if she were going to try to get out of going to school, she wouldn't lie in the bed in the dark and the quiet!! So, I fired that neurologist, called my insurance carrier and lodged a complaint and asked for the names of two or three other neurologists who might specialize in either pediatric neurology or treating migraines. I called the offices of the doctors whose numbers they gave me and Dr. Leonard's staff were by far the nicest and most professional people I spoke to, and he was able to see Jennifer much sooner than the others.


Because of our experience with the previous doctor, I went to Dr. Leonard's office with all of my "Mama Bear" radar on full alert!!! I was ready for anything and looking for any little mistake. I would have noticed the tiniest little impropriety! I was very pleasantly surprised! Dr. Leonard came into the exam room, sat down and gave us his full attention, as if he had all day to decipher the reason(s) behind Jennifer's migraines. He gave her a thorough neurological exam and asked her a whole of questions to determine where her pain was located and what type of pain it was. Based on his findings he told her that he could relieve part of the pain right away. He gave her some shots to numb the inflamed nerve clusters in her scalp and she nearly cried, she was so happy!

This was the first relief she had had in over a month. He then sat us down and explained what tests he wanted to run and what causes he was hoping to rule out. We had the tests run, ruled out some really awful things, and put my mind at ease. Dr. Leonard has studied Jennifer's migraine pattern and come up with a treatment plan that was working very well for her. You see, a typical migraine for Jennifer lasts for anywhere from four to eight weeks, and that's just too long!

With the treatment program Dr. Leonard had her on, she was not having migraines as often or as severely. However, Jennifer is twenty years old now and something may have changed in her pattern (or in her hormones) and she's started having migraines again. They're not quite as severe as they were originally, but they are getting progressively worse.

She is seeing another neurologist, temporarily we hope, but she's not familiar with Jennifer's history. Let's face it, she doesn't know Jennifer as well as Dr. Leonard does, therefore, her treatment is limited. WE WANT OUR DR. LEONARD BACK!!!!!!!!

On a purely personal note, I grew up in the Air Force, all over the U.S. and Europe. Our family physician was whomever was on duty whenever we got sick. I've seen more different doctors than I care to think about. Dr. Leonard is the nicest, kindest, most caring, most personable doctor anyone could hope to have taking care of them. He treats each patient as if he has all the time in the world to listen to their symptoms and treat their malady. I truly got the feeling that his patients are not just diseases to him, they are people, something I think many doctors forget. He is a man who cares about the world and the people on it, and what he does to make his time on it matter. We need people like this out in the world doing their good works, not stuffed in a corner somewhere because someone else wanted their 15 minutes of fame and some money! Dr. Leonard, we truly miss you and want you back as soon as possible! We are so sorry these things have happened to you and honestly wish we could make them go away for you.

At these types of times, we really wish we had massive amounts of wealth so we could help keep you from having to sell everything. Unfortunately, that is not the case. All we can offer is our emotional and spiritual support and our heartfelt prayers. You have those unconditionally.

Yours thankfully,

Jennifer Shurr and Deborah Shurr Pence