Dr. Mary Perry lived in a modest old gray-blue home near Lexington (MA) center in which she held her business as a pediatrician. The waiting area had toys and books all over the place and the small doctor's office -- it probably would have been a den in a residential home -- was made special by a warm and friendly doctor that totally dedicated her life to taking care of kids. If, in fact, we were too sick to make the trek from Arlington to Lexington, Dr. Perry would bring herself with little doctor's bag to our home -- even in the dead of a snowy winter -- and come upstairs to our bedroom to provide medical support.
What seems like a scene from the 19th century actually happened only 43 years ago-- you know, the time of watching Gilligan's Island on television, listening to the top 40 WRKO on the radio, playing a game of street hockey in the neighborhood (translated: getting fresh air), and almost always being respectful of our parents.
I know it seems like another place and time that a doctor would include a house visit as part of her practice, but quite fascinating considering this falls into a time of contemporary history, just a few generations ago.
While we have some amazing doctors out there today -- and tremendous advances in the field of medicine and emergency care, to name a few -- doesn't it seem incredible and wonderful that a doctor like Dr. Mary Perry would come to one's home as part of her medical practice? That personal touch is long-gone, but the specific memory is part of the fabric that made our childhoods special -- just another memorable facet of the neighborhood feeling of our communities where people came together to help each other out.
Did you have a childhood pediatrician like Mary Perry back in the day? Please feel free to share your story!
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Dr. Perry was my physician when I was growing up in Lexington in the 60s. And I remember her house calls. She was a warm and caring person.
ReplyDeleteI just read this.. what a nice little write up. I went to Dr. Perry when I was very young and I don't remember a lot of specifics. But I remember the way she made me felt, which was very well-cared for, and important, even as a little girl. Those feelings are so beneficial to helping us grow up and feel safe in the world. I wish there were more doctors like her! Thank you for writing down your memories.
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