I am currently reading the book, If I Get to Five: What Children Can Teach Us About Courage and Character by Fred Epstein, MD and Josh Horwitz.
The Book discusses Dr. Epstein’s Life. He was a pioneering pediatric neurosurgeon, now deceased, and the founder of the Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery (INN) in NYC. The book talks of his life and growing up with dyslexia and possible ADD, at a time when both illnesses were “unknown” and children with these illnesses were labeled, mistakenly, as stupid. Fortunately, he had the help of a relative who taught him and the help of a teacher who gave him oral exams, instead of written ones.
Dr. Epstein was determined to become a doctor and to prove those who labeled him as “stupid,” wrong. The author mentions that he only got into one medical school with help. But, he became a pediatric neurosurgeon and went on to take cases that no one wanted and to pioneer different surgical techniques, such as for removing brainstem and spinal cord tumors. Additionally, he founded the INN as a place to not only medically treat patients, but to also care for them. Humanistic innovations included having a clown as part of the staff, having music therapy, and unlimited visiting hours in which parents could sleep over. The book goes into more details about Dr. Epstein’s life and his medical career.
As I continue reading the book, I am finding Dr. Epstein’s story to be truly remarkable, but the most touching sections of the book, are when he discusses his patients, including young children hoping to get to the age of five, and what the children taught Dr. Epstein about life. The young children savored the moments of their short lives and lived with tremendous courage.
As I continue to read this book, the stories of these amazing children are helping me to appreciate life more and to hopefully live more fully. To be grateful for what I have and how to overcome past disappointments.
I hope that no children have to go through what these brave children went through.
Here is an article with more information about Dr. Fred Epstein and his life and his work.
http://www.nysun.com/obituaries/fred-epstein-68-leading-pediatric-neurosurgeon/35920/
-Glenn 
founder,
www.GlennIsHere.com
www.GlennisGreen.com
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