A salute to a hero on the front lines

To the Times:

Rarely if ever do families have within them what society, past or present, would consider to be bonafide heroes. Many lay claim to sons and daughters who may have given their lives or who were gravely injured in defense of our nation by serving in the armed forces. Police and fire personnel often

reach heroic heights keeping us safe in the critical times that we all face.

Now, thank God, we have our medical professionals, doctors on down to candy strippers who are on the front lines doing battle with a crisis of biblical proportions. I am witnessing a respected loved one, an emergency room specialist, doing her committed and pledged duty, despite the fact that she is a mother of two active young children and a wife who runs a beautiful family.

She would have my scalp if she knew that I was signaling her out because her innate humility and humbleness would preclude any attention she would ever bring to herself in social gatherings by mentioning her vaunted medical status.

My neighbors and acquaintances often ask me what she does for a living. I never mention it unless asked.

My wife and I are planning right now in the depth

of this modern-day catastrophe an-old-world “shindig” to honor her for risking her life to save the lives of others, especially old fogies like me. I am sure that my grandson, her nephew, recently chose to attend her alma mater, Jefferson Medical School,

out of the acceptances he received, based on the respect he has for his aunt, the E.R. doctor. I am following the free medical advice she took the time to write down for me as one whom this granddaddy of all viruses would love to claim - the preconditions kid.