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Dr . Lisa Roark — A Story to Tell
Part 2 of 3
“ I remember during Delta , we had the clinic closed , and I was doing drive-through testing . I was standing in the parking lot of my clinic in full isolation gear , trying to convince an elderly patient that had
Dr . Roark ( back right ) with her loving family during her hair-loss from treatment phase . ( photo contributed )
literally known me since birth that I wasn ’ t going to “ chip her ” with a COVID test . She had lung disease , and I was sure she had Delta ,” remembered Dr . Roark . “ I was in tears . I stripped off my mask and shield and threw them on the ground . I took off my gown . I was wrapping my head because my hair was growing back like little curly pubic hairs . I took off my scarf . LOOK AT ME ! LOOK at me . Look at ME . I have been taking care of you for years . I do not take one dime of government money . Do you think I would put a government chip in you ?” They both cried . The lady got tested and even accepted monoclonal antibodies from her physician .
As a society , we need to learn to tell the truth . Lies not only confuse people , but they also kill people .
To be continued ... Join me again for part three in September for Dr . Roark ’ s journey from anger , illness , and exhaustion to rebirth and joy and her advice to all of us navigating uncertain waters in the future , especially regarding our healthcare .
“ I was sitting in my hotel room at a lifestyle retreat in Florida . I saw it online and I bought a ticket , and I went . I wrote in my journal in big capital letters ... SHOW THEM ...”
Dolores Montgomery Halbin , RN , BSN , and Ordained Nurse Minister , resides in SW Missouri . After her husband passed in 2015 , she retired from nursing . She worked with the 2014-2018 Missouri campaigns for legalized medical marijuana . She continues as a cannabis reform activist volunteering with Canna Convict Project and working toward Federal decriminalization through educational speaking and freelance journalism . Dolores Halbin , doloreshalbin @ gmail . com .
46 August 2023