Dr. Augustine Lawrence- As a general practice, I don't write reviews. This is the first review I have written in years, but it is well deserved. I have been blessed to give birth to healthy children, and have had the opportunity to see many obstetricians throughout my life. At the age of 40, I unexpectedly became pregnant with twins. Somewhere around 12 weeks I started to bleed while on a trip to Disneyland with my family. Immediately following my return to Washington, I had an ultrasound that confirmed I was having a miscarriage, and that one of the gestational sacs had already began to drop. Though I knew how to give birth, it became apparent that I did not know how to correctly have a miscarriage. I thought I could just return to my home and have a miscarriage in peace, and without complication. I thought I was prepared for this, but I turned out to be a little less lucky. My cramping was more painful then any contractions that I have ever experienced having any of my children. My cramps also never let up. Three days later, tissue exited my body, the cramping subsided, and I thought it was over. I was thankful and relieved. What I did not know, is that two days later, the process would start all over again because the other gestational sac was a little more stubborn. Not only did my cramping return stronger than before, I also started to spike a very high fever, accompanied by chills. Day three, in the middle of the night, when I could no longer bear the pain and thought I was going to pass out, I crawled across the floor, sweat dripping down my body, and dialed Women's Family & Health Specialists. The nurse took my report and within minutes the on-call doctor, Dr. Lawrence (who was not my regular doctor) returned my call. I was pretty out of it, and not making much sense. He wasted no time, and asked me a series of questions with speed and efficiency. With ease, he quickly deciphered what was happening. He was kind, sensitive professional, knowledgeable and informative. He told me to come into the emergency room. He stayed on the phone with me for at least 30 minutes and patiently answered every question I could throw at him, even though I was largely incoherent and didn't make much sense. He continued to kindly insist that I come in to the emergency room. I'm not sure I really had the capacity to listen or fully comprehend his instruction. What had been obvious to me even in my diminished state was that he was concerned, and not just a little. Eventually our phone call ended and I considered his request . I was too out of it to move, let alone drive. I was almost too exhausted to care. I laid on the floor, phone in hand, in the fetal position unable to move more than an inch at a time, and an hour later, I passed out. The next thing I remember, was waking up with the urge to push, accompanied by the fear that if I pushed, the unbearable cramps would start all over again. After about a half hour, I decided I would try anyway. Three pushes later it was all over. The pain subsided and I felt a sense of relief almost immediately. I got a glass of water, and moved myself to the couch. My body was weak and exhausted, within about 60 seconds I fell fast asleep. Not an hour later, somewhere a little after 9 AM, the phone rang. I said hello and the kind man on the other end of the phone said, "This is Dr. Lawrence and I'm calling to check up on you." He was no longer the on-call doctor. In fact, he was off work entirely and on his way to a family engagement. He could've been doing anything, (decompressing perhaps) but instead he had used the first free moment he had to call and check on me. He wasn't even my regular doctor but he cared enough to call anyway. He didn't have to. It was way outside the scope of his job. After our conversation, I hung up the phone and noticed tears falling from my eyes. They were not tears of sorrow, but tears of gratitude. Gratitude that in this world there still exists professionals who give everything they have to make a difference because they care, and because they choose to be the best of the best of what this profession has to offer. Thank You Dr. Lawrence! read more
