Mom's are Doctors???

A little history: My mom went under the knife three times in one week to solve some serious issues she had. Out of the three surgeries only one of the doctors decided on using dissolvable stitches (on her back) the other two doctors chose the ball of string and the hooked needle method.

While on her road to recovery mom argued (she must have been feeling better)with the nurse when the stitches should be removed from her side. The nurse decided on counting from the release date rather than the surgery date. My mom apparently lost the argument. So she was scheduled to have the stitches on her neck removed and the same doctor should be able to remove those from her side.

Before going into the office I made the point of telling mom again (must have been a suggestion in her mind) to tell the doctor to remove the stitches from her side. The doctor wouldn't have known about them because he didn't perform that surgery.

So at this point the stitches have been in for two weeks and my mom is dying to have them removed. As we are walking out of the office I commented on how good her neck looked and asked how her side was doing. She replied with "I didn't tell the doctor about the stitches on my side. I will take them out at home. I almost did it the other day anyway."

I have to say that the respect for my mom grew a little more at that moment, although being a mother myself I gave her "The Look". You know the one that says are you kidding me, you need to march right back up there and fix the situation! But being her daughter all I could say was "OooK Mom"with a tone of whatever you think is best.

Growing up on a farm there are a lot of things that you can do yourself that doesn't require any doctors assistance. Such things include removing stitches from almost any animal, docking your own pigs and sheep, helping with the birth of many animals, and giving antibiotics. We had a large bottle of penicillin in the fridge, with a needles of various sizes wrapped up in paper towels.

But we always went to the doctor when it was needed. You know if we had broken bones, were bleeding, or dying, the three basic rules for any farmer.

So when you sit down tonight picture in your mind a women (my mom) looking in a mirror with a pair of scissors, well most likely fingernail clippers cutting the stitches then taking a pair of needle-nosed pliers she pulled out of the toolbox in the garage and pulling out each stitch one by one. I am sure some will come out easy, while others will take a little more effort. I am proud to say that she is my mom and I would most likely do the same thing.

After all doctors still only "practice" medicine.