Thank you Heartland Healthcare, Dr. Bentson

This past month felt like everything that could go wrong, did. But even then, it was not a disaster.

 

In April of this year, my two best friends Kyle and Anastasiia gave me their game store, located in Austin. The same one I’ve been visiting since I was 19 years old is now known as “PlayIt Forward Games.” I inherited very little to no inventory, but I did get two very good employees whom I care about deeply. The store changed locations under my ownership, and we had to ‘start over’ almost from scratch.

 

To summarize, the amount of work, rather the amount it feels like since April 1 through today, is equivalent to one week of publishing my three weekly publications, the Pioneer, Star Eagle and Golden Link. Yes, I’m saying the work of managing a game store for seven months, with two excellent employees, an incredible community, is roughly the same stress as one week of the newspapers.

 

I say that simply because, for the first time in seven months, it appeared the game store would interfere with my newspapering.

 

My father went into the hospital this past month, a result of his autoimmune disorder. This could probably have come at a worse time, but it was especially difficult with the sports preview edition set for publication in both the Star Eagle and Pioneer. The short explanation is, we waited a week for the Pioneer to publish its preview (not only because of my dad, but picture day for the various Waseca sports teams was the following Monday). With Deb’s help as a photographer, I tackled the Star Eagle preview stories on my own that weekend.

 

Dad came home before Thanksgiving, but for a few days, it seemed a new health concern was developing–one not related to what we were already acquainted with. More about that soon.

 

At this same time one of my employees, Madi, has a two-week vacation to California planned, which has been in the works for months. She left on Monday.

 

Jarod, my other great staffer, recently got another job in addition to working for me. Even though he specifically listed the days he was not free to work for them, the other employer scheduled him on days he is supposed to work for me.

 

Of course, he started at this new job almost two weeks ago.

 

This left me without a sports editor (a nearly full-time position, especially during preview season) and no staff to run my game store.

 

I am one person.

 

I told Editor Deb I felt like my house was on fire and all I could do was walk outside and hope the place didn’t burn down.

 

By the grace of the good Lord, my dad got a quick diagnosis from the doctor.

 

I hired a new employee, Alex, a longtime customer and friend, and he shadowed (was trained in by) Madi and Jarod before Madi left and while Jarod was able to work. It was probably one of the fastest onboardings in history–maybe 15 seconds. He sincerely thanked me last Sunday for giving him this chance. I simply say, thanks for helping put out the fire.

 

Back to my dad.

 

The same doctor who diagnosed his disorder more than three years ago saw him this week. After receiving his initial diagnosis and treatment, my dad remained healthy for the longest stretch of time I have witnessed since I was in eighth grade.

 

When he wasn’t feeling well, he went to the doctor and told our Mayo clinic physician to test his thyroid. There is a special test that must be and was requested to test my dad’s levels on his thyroid. He has Hashimoto disease.

 

The physician said everything was fine. She didn’t even check his numbers. We found that out when Dr. T, an Allina physician, looked at Dad’s medical records.

 

The ‘specialist’ my dad was referred to three years ago by this same Mayo Clinic physician told my dad he “doesn’t believe in Hashimoto disease.”

 

My dad, and our family, have dealt with this for more than 15 years. The only treatment that worked was what was prescribed three years ago. I remember my dad calling me to tell me he “was cured.” I didn’t believe it until, well, I got three more healthy years back with my father. When I purchased the Star Eagle from my dad in 2021, he told me he didn't think he’d make it another year, let alone three, almost four healthy years.

 

Dad is feeling better and sounds loads better. He returned to work this week.

 

More on Mayo Clinic. I’ve been in pain and discomfort every day since March of 2023. I’ve been to the doctor more than half a dozen times and all they did was treat me with different pills for acid reflux, ulcers or other stomach problems. They did an x-ray, ultrasound, so many blood work ups, and a CT scan.

 

They insisted, despite my stating, “This doesn’t feel like stomach acid,” that it was my stomach. I was told my left side, which hurts, is “part of my stomach.”

 

Finally, I’d had enough.

 

After going in, I asked for the darn endoscopy, which the same physician (the same one as my dad had) insisted I get. It was denied. I was told by the doctor to take the same stomach pills which I previously stopped taking because they actually made my stomach hurt.

 

So I went to Dr. Bentson at Heartland Healthcare, a private clinic in Janesville. For $55 and 35 minutes of my time, he found out what was wrong. I suffer from “slipped rib syndrome.” He told me to see a chiropractor, prescribed me some topical treatments and told me this is a problem I will have to deal with essentially forever. It can get better, but I must be very aware of how I move my body, especially when lifting things and the like.

 

He applied a topical agent: 10 minutes later, I felt fine for the first time in a year and a half. I’m very, very grateful.

 

I should have known it was a slipped rib. More than once during my teen years, I found myself in immense pain visiting the chiropractor in New Richland. He told me numerous times my rib has a tendency to slip and cause me back pain. Unfortunately, this slipped rib was in a different spot than the previous ones.

 

I would simply like to conclude by thanking Dr. Bentson, and also the Mayo Clinic staff. Yes, they made mistakes with my father and me, but those folks have dedicated their lives to helping people and deserve respect for doing so. We all make mistakes.

 

P.s. My car was vandalized and deemed totaled, although still drivable, by a bunch of ‘bored’ teenagers in New Richland. That same evening, my truck broke down.

 

P.p.s. I turned 27 last week. Two columns have been partially written and I hope to share the positive details of my birthday weekend. Thank you, Mikhail Rostislavovich and Dwight Tostenson, for hosting a wonderful Murder Mystery Party during said weekend. It was great fun. Next week I will recap three great Thanksgiving celebrations.

 

"Wherever you go, go with all your heart" - Confucius.