In this busy age of booming Medical and Insurance profits, Urgent Care Centers popping up in every town, and Primary Care Doctors that are happy" to see you for 5 mins to refill a script while blandly asking about side effects and the obligitary "How's work?"... Dr. Renzi is a true breath of fresh air and an excellent physician. My grandmother is unfortunately diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease. Though her diagnosis is recent, she has been seeing Dr. Renzi for years, and truly loves him! She trusts him, feels like he respects her opinion and listens to her voice without judging her. She laughs every time lhe cracks a joke to lighten the mood, and says she reminds him of "His Mother." How she knows this, I can't say, but as her live-in and 24/7 caretaker, I appreciate what's important to her.
As for my personal take on Dr. Michael Renzi, I think he is a superstar. A truly outstanding member of the Medical Profession. Although I have only been deeply involved with her care for the… past six months, I have gone to three appointments with her and walked out each time thoroughly impressed. He takes his time to answer any and all questions I have, explain the disease but do so gently. He always encourages her, and it makes a great deal of difference in her mood and cognition those days. I wish my family was a bit more open about her previous conditions, because I would have liked to see his procedures then as well. His approach was holistic, taking into account her emotional wellbeing, physical activity, eating, activities to keep her occupied and let out the stress she feels when she realizes she can't remember as well as she once did. He slowly tapered her meds, waiting to see the the results of one until we tried to the other. Very thoughtful considering her weight and stature as well as the unpredictable nature of this terrible disease.
One thing that really struck me as remarkable, was when I left a *personal* message with the front desk for Dr. Renzi himself. After Christmas with her, and finally the Super Bowl, we noticed a huge change her immediate and short term memory. She'd lost weight and confessed to feeling depressed and lonesome. We decided with her blessing to move in with Grandmom with the intention to help and pay rent while save some money for our wedding, my fiance and I were blindsided with the initial "Dementia" diagnosis we heard 2 days after moving in.
What would the future hold now?
Did my family know that this was going on but couldn't accept it?
How long had she been living alone and deteriorating? Was it too late?
*How could we afford to live if I stayed home to care for her as Doc recommmended? My family istill asked us for money even though they are very well off, she owns her home and we split the bills. As well as cook, clean, drive, shop, plan days, hangout, and enjoy each other and also deal with the daily reality of never knowing what to expect.
*Will we make it as a couple through this heartbreaking journey with all these unnecessary stresses now added? What does OUR future look like now?
*Can I forgive and get through to my family (her children)?
*Will we be able to handle the emotional toll of watching the person we love so dearly fade away, lose dignity, get angry with HERSELF while remaining positive and affirmative to let her know this is not her fault and she can tell us anything?
*Will I be a good enough care partner? Will my family think so?
*What level of care does she need now and what is her honest to God prognosis & rate of decline as you see it?
Basically... HELP ME Dr. Renzi!!! My questions myriad. not so simple or often even medically relevant , he called me back the following work day. He was honest, snared personal insight, pulled no punches about how things look, but said from our few meetings, he knew I was the one to take on this service with love, creativity, assurance and respect. He said her next appointment EVERYONE had to come, so I wrangled the family and we made it through unscathed,
His entire staff are wonderful as well. I honestly intend to see him myself! You may have to wait in the office, but we only experienced that once, so to me, it's worth it for a unique and authentic style of care. Grandmom likes to describe him as "An Old-Fashioned Physician. The kind that actually cares and gets to know you as an person, not just throws medicine at you." I wholeheartedly agree. Thanks a lot Dr. Renzi! Your care of my beloved Grandmom means a great deal to me. (And actually, come to think of it, we'll be coming to bug=you tomorrow!)
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