Dad - South Pacific
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Share your Memories!
This blog is created to celebrate the life of Richard Gordon by sharing the many wonderful memories he left us with to cherish. Please click into this post to read everyones wonderful comments and share your own.
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5 comments:
Gordon was so encouraging and always had a smile for me. I'll miss it.
One of my earliest memories of Rich Gordan was in the Lowe's parking lot soon after they'd moved to Mount Vernon. Patty, Madison and Megan were all on one of those flat loader carts and he was giving them a ride around the parking lot on the way to the car. Everyone was laughing. That is the way I always think of him - having fun with his family. He also was extremely helpful to us when our son was diagnosed with a vascular tumor in Ecuador, advising us and getting us medical expert care. He is and always has been a loving and caring person. We will all miss having him here with us.
Dr.Gordon was a hero in mine and my husbands opinion, back in July of 1978. I had given birth to a beautiful baby girl named Dani. I had been in labor about 3 months too early, and after trying everything, 4 days later she was born weighing 2 lbs.7 oz.and was 12 inches long. My obstetrician told me she had "a snowballs chance in hell of surviving" and the intensive care nurses (NICU wasn't heard of for many years) told my Dr. To get hold of a new pediatrician in Logan named Richard Gordon, they said if any Dr. in Cache Valley could save Dani, it was him! I saw this skinny guy with uncombed hair, glasses on crooked, flood pants and his shirt was buttoned up wrong! The guy me and Bruce thought was the janitor, swept my baby out the door, calling over his shoulder that he'd take good care of her! OOOKKK!
Well he did some surgery on her, completely transfused her blood, then came to tell a very drugged up scared Mommy that her baby girl had a 50/50
Chance of living...wow way better than that poor snowball! Life 6light didn't come to the hospital in those days so it was brought up that the ambulance could take Dani to Logan Airport and a medical helicoptor would meet them there. Dr. Gordon said NO to that cause he did not think she would survive the flight. Never had the old Logan Hospital had such a preemie newborn that had been treated and stayed in Logan.
Later that evening, a different baby was born preemie, weighed over 4 lbs. The flew her to Pocatello but she died in flight.
That night, 11 hours after Dani was born, poor tired Dr. Gordon came into my room again and told me that barring unseen complications, he figured her odds at 90%!
The intensive care nursery nurses told us that if Dani had had any different Dr. That she most likely would not have survived! Wonderful Dr. Gordon saved our tiny baby girl, and today she is 32 yrs. Old with a 5 month baby boy of her own.
I just wanted to share my Dr. Hero Gordon story with you. We loved Dr. Gordon and we are so sorry for your terrible loss!
Love, Kae Eliason Comer Logan
As most of you already know, Dr. Gordon passed away on Friday 27 August 2010. I had spoken with him on Friday just before he left and ironically we talked about retirement. We discussed a perplexing case that he performed that morning. We talked about our families. I asked how long he was planning to stay in practice. He loved his family and stated that he wanted to see his youngest daughter graduate from high school before he retired. He was looking forward to his boat later that day.
The Department of Surgery and the Hospital has truly lost a wise mentor. He was universally liked and respected. His even tempered approach to even the most difficult situations endeared him to all of the surgery staff and to his patients alike. We all mourn his passing immensely. I think perhaps the greatest loss is for those who will not now have the oppportunity to interact with Rich. Think of all the medical students that would have propsered from his wisdom and balanced approach to life and the practice of medicine. He will be sadly missed. Rich was not only an excellent surgeon but a great peer, a friend, a loving husband and father, and a genuinely nice and sincere individual. I encourage all of you to attend his service on Wednesday, if you are able. It is an honor to have known and worked with Rich. His demeanor was inspiration to us all. We shall miss his wisdom and guidance. Thanks to everyone during this difficult time who gives us an extra moment or two as we try to continue our daily tasks amidst such a devastating loss.
I would remind our staff that grief counsellors have been made available to help us during what can be a very difficult time.
Jeff Cartwright, MD
Chairman, Department of Surgery
Skagit Valley Hospital
Thanks Rich for always answering my orthopedic questions. I have no doubt patients got better care because I sought your advice. You were calm, patient, very much the gentleman. Your death is a great loss to all who knew you. Thanks for the opportunity to know and work with you.
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