Letter: More than a doctor, he's a trusted friend

Doctor Michael Jones is a wonderful doctor and friend. I have known him since I moved to Carson City in 1978. When I first interviewed him, I frankly told him that I didn't know if I could feel comfortable with a doctor younger than I was. I decided to give him a try.

At first everyone said he had a "terrible bedside manner." I was really only concerned with his medical knowledge and expertise, which always seemed to amaze me. The nurses would always grumble about him because he was so abrupt and curt, but he really cares for his patients, and when he wants something done, he lets everyone know about it. Doctor Jones is not only a doctor of medicine, he is a therapist, family counselor, bearer of bad tidings, and always calls his patients to let them know their test results. He even returns telephone calls.

He has been "there" for me when I got bronchitis. I told him offhandedly that my time clock was running and that I wanted to have a child before too long. He told me that if I didn't quit smoking, he would not treat me if I got pregnant. What nerve I thought he had, but I took his advice. It has been almost 20 years since that day.

Doctor Jones helped deliver my son 19 years ago. He has now treated me and my family for all those years with the best he has had to offer - and more. He and his family even attended my son's first birthday party. He saw my son through all the childhood ailments and fears and he treated our family through many trying times too.

In September of 1992, I went to see Doctor Jones because of a redness and thickening in my right breast. He immediately ordered a mammogram (which showed nothing) and other tests and referred me to Doctor William Thomas, the surgeon. We all watched this thing called Cancer grow. After my certain diagnosis, Doctor Thomas ordered the mastectomy. The whole situation was not only terrifying but much like walking into the twilight zone. After the surgery, Doctor Thomas and Doctor Jones came into my room and told me that the operation went well. I asked Doctor Jones why he was there, and he said that he had assisted Doctor Thomas in surgery. I immediately felt OK because "my" doctor had been there with me. With the help of Doctor John Kelly, the oncologist and the support of the Coping Together support group, I was able to beat the cancer and go into remission.

Last September I had deja vu when I told Doctor Jones about some pain in my ribs. I thought he was going way too far when he ordered a bone scan. (Doctor Kelly ordered those for me as a follow-up to my cancer treatments. The test results were always good. ) I was really terrified to think Doctor Jones thought I had cancer again. How could that be? The pain was different. But he was right!

I want my friends of Carson City to know how much I trust Doctor Jones, Doctor Thomas and Doctor Kelly, depend on them and thank God for them. They have saved my life. What more can we ask for in a doctor.

Oh, that bedside manner thing really changed when Doctor Jones almost died and ended up as a patient in Carson-Tahoe Hospital. We are so very lucky to live in a community with such excellent medical care givers.

SUZI MEEHAN

Carson City