Women's Focus - February 2008 - (Page 26)

focus on F R I E N D S “I thInk we tend to choose a fIeld where we feel comfortable. a lot of people can’t ImagIne takIng care of chIldren wIth cancer. I can’t ImagIne takIng IN HER shoes Dr. DaviD rosen Dr. David Rosen has been a pediatric oncologist for more than 30 years. His walls are lined with the photographs of children who have passed through his doors and remain permanently in his heart. We thought putting Rosen “In Her Shoes” would add some levity to his day; it turns out there is no shortage of laughter in his office! “We laugh all day here,” say Karla and Sherri, the two sisters that run his office. Karla has been with Rosen for 26 years. “No two days are the same.” she says. “He is an awesome boss. He’s very understanding and the kids just love him. They come in and don’t want to leave.” Sherri, who has been with Rosen for 21 years agrees and adds, “We i n d u l g e y o u r s e l f • Wo m e n s F o c u s . c o m • F E B R U A RY 2 0 0 8 care of adults.” Some even think cancer is a normal part of childhood. One patient asked his parents, “Did Dr. Rosen give you your chemo when you were little?” “The important thing is education,” Rosen says. “We work with the families so they will know what to expect. We don’t pull any punches and we tell the kids what’s going to happen when we tell the parents. The big emphasis for us is that this is just a bump in the road, we don’t want it to take over their lives. We want them to continue with school and discipline. Because, when it’s over, we don’t want them to be outcasts to their peers.” Today the chances of returning to a normal life are better than ever for children with cancer. “When I started my practice 30 years ago, the survival rate was only 25%,” says Rosen. “Today, thanks to advances in technology, it’s 75-80%.” Dr. Rosen’s wife Kim is also an important part of his staff. She is the only certified pediatric oncology nurse in Wichita, and their’s is the only Pediatric Oncology office between Kansas City and Denver. “We work very well together,” Rosen says. “We complement each other and we jump in head first with our families. We’re not afraid to get involved. When they hurt, so do we.” Maybe that’s why they are also able to share so much laughter. become an extended family here. We get so much out of the patients and their families. Many of the children come back as adults, just to say hello. They bring in their children. Parents come in as well, We never want to take time off, we might miss something.” When former patients return, they are always surprised that the doctor from their childhood has not changed. “We call him the Dick Clark of doctors,” says Sherri. “He must have some anti-aging secret, but he’s not sharing it with us.” Maybe it’s the children that keep him young. “The kids are great,” Rosen says. “For them life goes on, this is just the card they’ve been dealt.” ~Maylene Fletcher 26 http://www.womensfocus.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Women's Focus - February 2008

Women's Focus - February 2008 Contents Ask Dick & Jane Romance Versus Reality Valentine’s Day—A Single Girl’s Survival Guide Habitat For Humanity—Women Build 2008 Body Beautiful Knightley Reading 12 Months of Shoes Sierra’s Stars City Culture Day Tripping: Hesston, Kansas In Her Shoes—Dr. David Rosen Tokens of Affection for Him & Her Making a Difference in the Community Forget-Me-Not—Sara Paretsky For the Love of Dance—Miss Diane Gann Wichita’s Next Top Model Contest Love Gardening? Join the Club! Indulge Yourself Yoga for Two Workout Journals When “No” Means NO! Something to Smile About A Romantic Valentine’s Dinner for Four Crafts: Bee Mine Valentine Social Circle Save the Date

Women's Focus - February 2008

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