Health beat

I was saddened to see the obituary for Dr. Chadwick Baxter, but glad to have talked to him – however briefly – not long before his death.

I interviewed Dr. Baxter and his wife, Jean, about a month ago for a story about caregivers. Dr. Baxter was quite ill then, suffering from liver cancer and under hospice care.

It was then, though, that I learned of his amazing career as a pediatric surgeon in Spokane. After that story appeared in the paper, I heard from at least a dozen of Dr. Baxter’s former patients (or their parents), wanting to thank him for the tremendous impact he had on their lives. Many sent along cards and e-mails, which I forwarded to the Baxters.

I hope Dr. Baxter was able to read some of them.

Here’s an excerpt from one of those letters:

“Dr. Chad Baxter is an important man in our family. Our daughter, Lisa, 4 years old at the time, was bitten on the face by our family dog, on Labor Day weekend, 1971, exactly 36 years ago. It is an emotional event which brings tears to my eyes even as I write. My husband and I were a young couple, happily awaiting the birth of our second baby, a son, any day, when the accident happened.

“We are extremely fortunate that Dr. Baxter was on duty that holiday weekend at Sacred Heart Hospital. He was truthful with us at the start, letting us know how serious Lisa’s injuries were. He said that the first thing he would do is try to save her left eye. He operated for about four hours, until the middle of the night, using microscopic glasses, taking hundreds of tiny stitches on our little girl’s face. Indeed, he did save her eye, and so much more.

“Lisa stayed a week in the hospital, and for six weeks after, followed a liquid diet to reduce scarring. Dr. Baxter’s incredible surgical skills allowed Lisa to only have one more abrasive surgical procedure.

“Lisa is a beautiful, successful woman today, happily married and the mother of two great boys.

“We would like to thank Dr. Baxter, as we think of him often and how lucky we were to have him as our daughter’s surgeon. He is a blessing to us.”

Miracles, mystics and magic … Oh my!

If you’re into crystals, tarot cards, psychics, angels and things of that ilk, you’ll want to make a bee-line for the third-annual Conscious Living Expo Saturday and Sunday.

The expo, which takes place at the Spokane Convention Center, features a three-hour workshop led by James Van Praagh, known as the “ghost whisperer” for his alleged ability to communicate with the dead.

Tickets are $6 a day or $10 for the whole event. Log on to www.consciousliving.net for a full line-up of speakers and events.

Free depression screening

Feeling blue? Find out if it’s actually depression, which is treatable.

Thursday is National Depression Screening Day. And from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day, St. Joseph Family Center in Spokane will offer free depression screening. Participants can fill out a questionnaire, which will then be scored by a counselor who will go over the results.

Can’t make it? St. Joseph also offers free online screening 24 hours a day. Click here and follow the link for “online screening.”

For more information, call the center at (509) 483-6495.

Idaho flu shots

In my story about flu shots earlier this month, I didn’t give any contact information for immunizations in Idaho … Sorry about that.

Here’s the latest from the Panhandle Health District:

Flu clinics begin Friday, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Lake City Senior Center, 1916 N. Lakewood Drive in Coeur d’Alene.

Clinics will also be held on Oct. 19 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Rathdrum Senior Center, 8037 W. Montana St. in Rathdrum, and also on the same day from 1-3 p.m. at the Spirit Lake Community/Senior Center, 32564 N. Fourth Ave., in Spirit Lake.

The Panhandle Health District will announce more clinics throughout the fall. Adult vaccinations are $25, childrens’ vaccinations are $5.

For more information, call (208) 415-5299.