Best Day and Worst Day

Tell us about your first day at something — school, work, as a parent, etc.

Newborn Baby

It was the best day of my life and the worst day of my life. My first child, a boy was born in an Air Force hospital in the suburbs of Washington, D.C.

I was there for the birth. As soon as he was born, he was looking around and wasn’t crying. It was love at first sight. I experienced a supreme joy like never before.

In the morning, he was circumcised. His doctor came to talk to my wife and me. Our baby did not stop bleeding after the procedure so they wanted to transfer him urgently to a major military hospital in D.C. (Walter Reed).

They had pediatric blood specialists there. I planned to drive to the hospital while my son was transported by ambulance.

By pure chance, I saw him in a portable incubator as they took him to the ambulance. He was barely moving and his skin was gray in color.

I thought he was dying. With tears running down my cheeks, I quickly drove to Walter Reed Hospital. I have no idea how I found it.

The doctors there took great care of him. He was given a blood transfusion, which stopped the bleeding and replenished the blood he had lost.

A pediatric blood specialist (hematologist) talked with me. Tests showed that my son had a genetic bleeding disorder, hemophilia A. That is why he couldn’t stop his bleeding from the circumcision.

He was going to survive! Yes, he would need intravenous medication to stop abnormal bleeding, but he would otherwise do alright.

I will never forget that first day when my son was born (pure joy) and then almost died (pure agony).

Peter M. Hartmann, MD

Family Medicine & Psychiatry

Right Where I Am!

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Gulf of Mexico

Where would I live if I could live anywhere? I am already living there! My home is less than 10 minutes from two beaches by the Gulf of Mexico. And, yes, we do see dolphins when we boat a short distance off shore.

We love our house, which is in a safe neighborhood with friendly neighbors. We love slipping into our backyard swimming pool on a hot day. We love the fact that we are within a short drive from friends, stores, a great gym, and our church.

Our church was a great find for us. When you enter the building to attend a service you get a feeling of authenticity, of people who walk the talk and care for those in need. It provides my need for spiritual meaning in my life.

The bottom line: I am blessed to be already living where I would live anywhere in the world that I could. We chose it consciously after learning about it from friends who moved there and after checking it out in person.

You could feel blessed if you do likewise.

Peter M. Hartmann, MD

Family Medicine & Psychiatry