February
14, 2003
Happy
Valentine's Day.
Each
year on February 14th, I think of Dr.
Sidney Valentine Haas who developed SCD. I tried to
give a little of his history in "The Celiac Story,"
the supplement to BTVC. But there is one small story which
will show you the kind of man this was.
Don't
forget, we found him at the age of 92, his gray hair pinned
back with a bobby pin, working away in his mahogany-panelled
office on Park Ave. and 91st St., NYC after 3 years of fruitless
searching for an answer for Judy stricken with UC and horrendous
night siezures resembling schizophrenic siezures.
He was
the first doctor of 15 to ask me. "what is your child
eating?"
To fast
forward, she became well - rid of all of the above within
a year and one-half so each Valentine's Day, Judy and I
would make homemade candies (some recipes in the book) and
fill a heart-shaped box with them and send them
Here
is the note he sent after one Valentine Day present:
Dear
Judy,
Thank you for the candy
And thank you for the rhyme,
I suppose one can expect this
If one is a valentine.
You helped make my birthday wonderful.
With much love,
Sidney V. Haas.
I would
say that this was a doctor for you.
Happy Valentine's Day everyone.
Elaine wishes us a happy Valentine's Day