Michele Sargent

Dearest Andrew:

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for all you did for both of us. Cancer is such an ugly disease and indiscriminate as to who it touches, but we were both very glad we were lucky enough to have you care for him. He knew how upset you were when his cancer came back and you had to tell him he was going to die. I can remember him saying to me that he wished there was some way to make you feel better as it is certainly wasn't your fault he had cancer. Throughout the long moths of this terrible ordeal I watched his admiration and respect for you grow to huge proportions. Even after we had moved more than an hour away from your office, he refused to see anyone else but you. He trusted you without question. I can easily understand why. I truly believe the he almost regarded you as family.

I also wanted to thank you for taking the time to talk to with me the night I appeared in your office unannounced. Your frankness and direct manner have always given you very high marks in my book. I knew if I really wanted to hear the answers to the questions, you were the one I wanted to talk with. I could not have been more right.

Although I had known for many weeks that we were going to lose my husband and thought I had a fairly good grip on the situation, there was no way to prepare for the almost unbearable heartache that overtook me when he actually died. And, even though I know he is in a better place and no longer in that terrible pain, his death has left a void in my life that may perhaps never heal. He was a very special man in so many ways and touched the lives of countless people with his quiet demeanor and easy charm. As testament, more than 500 people attended his funeral.

I cannot thank you enough for your expertise, your skill as a surgeon, your compassion and your friendship.

With great affection,
Michele Sargent