LOOKING BACK: Dr. Hall was a caring country physician

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — It was with great sadness that I read of Dr. Hall’s death. I’m sure many friends, patients and family members felt this same loss.

Back in the ‘50s, when Bill and Zanie Hall arrived in Gravette, my hometown, I probably became their first baby sitter, taking care of Donna, and later Gordon. I was still in high school. My mother worked many years for Dr. Hall and Zanie, baby sitting David, and caring for their home. I lovedthis couple and they were so kind and generous to me and my family. Dr. Hall always "knew" you; he was so approachable. He never got too good to acknowledge anyone.

After Jerry and I married, Dr. Hall delivered all three of our children. Dr. Hall never liked for people to suffer. That was true even in the birth of a baby, so I never had a "natural childbirth." And I’ve never regretted it. Dr. Hall was a man of few words. Once I started questioning him.He simply looked at me and said, "Marie, do you trust me?" I never quizzed him after that. I trusted him completely.

I once wrote a column about country doctors. Here is an excerpt from that article:

"It wasn't unusual for doctors to make house calls, and Dr, Hall continued making them even after his practice grew and he built a hospital. When my step-father had a heart attack, Dr. Hall rushed to Mom’s house and tried valiantly to save him, though he must have known it was no use. I often saw the busy doctor at funerals of his patients.

"I thought doctors had long ceased making housecalls when the father of a childhood friend died from cancer years ago. This man had died at home, according to his wishes, because Dr. Hall was willing to make the long drive out in the country to care for him. This decision allowedan country to spend his last days among his cherished children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and loved ones. Also surrounding the dying man were treasured memories and precious possessions of years past. From his sick bed he could watch the sunlight stream through a window on red glassware his wife had collected and set onglass shelves he'd built for her years before she died."

Through the years I’ve had many doctors. They’ve relieved pain, prescribed medicine and given advice. I’m grateful for doctors who did procedures to prolong and even save my husband’s life. In sickness, I always felt they cared.

I read about Tele-medical-link which connectspatients to doctors thousands of miles apart, bringing medical knowledge closer while doctors are further away. But, somehow, in the Ozarks, though today doctors seldom make house calls, it’s great to know they still care.

Marie Putman is a former Gravette resident and regular contributor to the Westside Eagle Observer.