1ST FLAP COPY
Several years ago, while I was rounding at one of the Brigham and Women's Hospital nurseries, a new father shared a funny story with me.
Early the previous morning, this new father went to the hospital lobby in search of coffee and bagels. While waiting in line at the coffee shop, the father noticed a man enter the lobby. He was struck by the odd appearance of this man. In the midst of a brutally cold New England winter, this man was dressed in a bicycle racing shirt, shorts, ski socks pulled up to his knobby knees, ankle weights, a hos- pital ID badge around his neck, and a propeller att- ached to the top of his bicycle helmet.
When he returned to his wife's hospital room, he told her about his experience. This new dad worked in the human services field and was very impressed that the hospital was so progressive as to hire such an obviously mentally challenged person.
About ten minutes passed when the new parents heard a loud knock on the hospital room door. To their surprise, shock, astonishment and horror, the same man walked into the roomcomplete with the propeller helmet, shorts, ski socks, ankle weights. Now the man had a stethoscope around his neck and was pushing a portable crib with their new baby! Greeting the shocked and befuddled new parents, the man proudly announced his arrival. "Hi, I'm Dr. Heller. I'm your pediatrician and am here to exam- ine your baby."
Dr. Dan was, without a doubt, the most unique, charismatic and outgoing individual who one will ever meet. As one mother remarked to me, 'You will always remember the first time you met Dr. Dan."
Bruce Bunnell, MD, Dr. Heller's partner of 15 years at Centre Pediatrics, told this story at a memorial sevice for Dr. Heller in 2005.
2nd FLAP: "Having Dr. Heller for a doctor was like having Mary Poppins for a nanny." -Parent, Sara B. "Dr. Dan was an original-that's the only way I know how to put it. He is such a huge part of our family history that memories keep flooding in. For example, when our daughter finally slept through the night after months of disturbing our sleep, my husband and I were not only shocked: as new parents, we were also worried that her brand new sleep pattern might signal a serious medical problem. Dr. Dan was on when I called, and I will never forget how he questioned me closely about symp- toms and listened very carefully to all I said. Then, as I hung on to every word of diagnosis he could provide for me, he slowly explained, 'That, Mrs. L, is what we in the medical profession refer to as ...a blessing!'" -Parent, Susan L.
Why should today's parents read yet another pediatric advice book? What's changed about babies in the last 30 years? Nothing. What's changed about parents? Plenty. Today both work. Grandparents retire to the sunbelt and aren't around to help. And that terrific neighbor who pitched in when you grew up is hard to find today. Dan Heller, a celebrated Boston pediatrician, saw parents becoming significantly more anxious and less confident about their child- rearing skills. He poo-pooed today's medical system that eschews common sense and favors dependence on pediatricians, pediatric specialists and consultants. He wanted parents to relax and enjoy bringing up children, to understand that most childhood issues are within the realm of normal. He called himself "Crazy Dr. Heller" and this book is his legacy-- very sane advice that can make a difference in your parenting. Daniel G. Heller, MD practiced pediatrics for 28 years before his death in November, 2004. He graduated from Columbia College and New York University Medical Center and completed residency at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children.
Board certified in pediatrics and pediatric nephrology, he was an assistant clinical professor at Harvard Medical School and loved teaching medical students, residents and parents. Nancy S. Heller, MSW, JD is a pediatric practice administrator in Brookline, Massachusetts where she served on the School Committee for several years. Her legal and social work concentrated on children's issues, like foster care, adoption, child abuse. Her three children are grown, and she has one grandson, named for his late grandfather.
