"Lifetime Call of Duty" - Time Out #157

Years and years ago, and many more years before that, I was busy thinking just what did I want to be when I grew up?

Because my wonderful widower father, Col. C.H. Breedlove, was such a unique, powerful individual, and mostly raised me by himself, I certainly identified him as a true role model.

He allowed me a great deal of independence as I grew up in Our Town, during very different gentler and simpler times.

Just what would my lifelong calling be, I occasionally wondered to myself?

Well, dear faithful readers, I decided my future path very early in my life.

Would you believe at 16-years-old?

In a nutshell, I was troubled as an adolescent with bad acne. So, since Our Town didn't have a true dermatologist, I traveled to Oklahoma City to seek skin specialist advice and care. Because my individual case required many repeat visits, I became familiar with the location, office, doctor and his staff. He helped me with my severe skin issue a great deal, and I was extremely grateful to him for assisting me by improving my physical appearance. Therefore, the doctor helped me build my future confidence, while I was a vulnerable teenager. Without any healthcare professions in my family tree, it was my experience dealing with those office visits to see him that made me seek out this very isolated, special occupation in our complex society. Perhaps, in a future installment, I will further explain my climbing the long educational ladder, with all its ups and downs, to become a physician. Let's just say at this point, my path to be awarded my M.D. degree in 1974 and my specialty certification in 1978, was difficult at times. However, when I received my academic hood on stage at the then Civic Center Music Hall in downtown Oklahoma City in early June, 1974, to become a doctor of medicine, I have taken that oath and its implied responsibilities VERY seriously 24/7/365.

Simply put, I signed up to be on-duty all the time.

Because my bride, Debbie, and I constantly travel Planet Earth, I will specifically list several situations where I have reacted as a good Samaritan in times of human need. Many times over the past almost 45-year-span, I have rendered emergency-type medical assistance. Here, I will mention but 3 of the most recent, vivid situations.

A few years ago when Ms. Debbie and I were in Scotland walking to the colorful Tattoo musical celebration in historic Edinburgh Castle, a fellow tourist with limited vision, took a very hard fall on the rough, cobblestone street, as we approached the venue. He cut himself badly on his forehead, and the accompanying cruise ship land excursion personal wanted to take him away for immediate medical treatment. This would mean he would miss the soon-upcoming Tattoo. I immediately evaluated him, and spent 15 minutes or so with him, helping stop his bleeding, and evaluating his mental state. It was my opinion, he could probably attend the event, and get stitched up later back on-board our huge ship by our ship's medical staff. He chose to do what I had suggested, and, as luck would have it, he sat not too far from us during the Tattoo, so I could easily monitor his actions. A few days later, he saw me on the ship, and thanked me for helping him decide to see an event (the Tattoo) he had wanted to see his entire life.

A little over 6 years ago, on-board a Delta non-stop jet from Iceland to New York, the aircraft's intercom asked for medical assistance in the back of the plane, if there was a doctor among the passengers. I immediately got out of my seat, hurried to the back to offer my medical assistance to a middle-age lady who was having chest discomfort and an irregular heart beat. Again, I spent some time evaluating her physical and mental condition. Soon, the aircraft captain came back to see us, and ask me what I thought he should do? He said he could divert the airplane to Goose Bay, Labrador, land there, have medical personal meet our plane, and let her and her party off the plane. She would then be treated at their land-based medical facility. I told him I though this would be a good plan, and that's what happened. We weren't on the remote air strip long, until we took off, and landed at our initially-intended Big Apple destination, just a little off schedule because of our slight Canadian diversion.

Recently, 3-plus years ago, my bride and I took our favorite (and only) daughter, Michelle, and her wonderful spouse, Mr. Chris, to New York City, to celebrate her 40th birthday, and attend the historic Westminster Dog Show. Within 24 hours in the Big Apple, on 2 separate episodes, I rendered emergency medical assistance. The first was during the intermission period of a Broadway theatre production, when a lady had a major seizure in the lobby. The second time was the next day, when a lady had a major allergic reaction as Mr. Chris and I walked through our mid-town hotel lobby. On both occasions, I immediately went to the aid of the person down, and rendered emergency evaluation and assistance, until New York City's finest emergency first responders arrived on the scenes to take the people to area hospitals.

Again, if the emergency medical situation presents itself tomorrow, next week or next year, I will respond. I signed up for this responsibility almost a half century ago.