JEANNE BRAGG, Post Columnist
Posted: Sunday, July 12, 2009 8:02 am

We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful medical community in Murfreesboro.

Murfreesboro has attracted among the finest physicians in the country, thanks to groundwork by the late physicians. Carl Adams, Sydney Garrison, John Cason and Lois Kennedy. Jim Arnhart and staff hired the best nurses and technicians, and together they formed a capable medical community, ensuring the very best services at the time. Our community now sets the standards for excellence.

I recently read an article about a machine that basically employs robotic commands for certain surgeries. Surgery by a robot. Hmm....

Years ago I worked at State Farm Insurance Companies and we were blown away by a “robot” who handled mail. The robot was a “pioneer” over 25 years ago, novel and amusing. It performed the task at hand – without requisite pay raises, medical benefits and vacation time. But using one for surgery? That’s a whole different ballpark for me.

Apparently the incisions performed by these medical robots are less invasive, leave less scarring, blood loss and subsequent cause for infection. They are operated, of course, by a physician, but still the idea blows my mind. How would an older patient (me) feel if presented with robotic surgery? Optimistic, I hope.

I remember when the Murfreesboro Medical Clinic was across University Street from Middle Tennessee Medical Center (formerly Rutherford Hospital). It was in the building of the present NHC Health Care facility, and pediatrics was just inside the front door. At that time the only pediatricians were Dr. Jim Garrison, Dr. Charlie Lewis and Dr. Jerry Campbell. Nancy Allen, former county mayor, Janice Walls, now an interior designer, and Betty Cunningham, still a nurse at the clinic, were the receptionists and nurses for those pediatricians.

My husband Tommy’s dad was one of the first patients of the new medical clinic. I think just before he passed away his chart showed his patient number as 0034. My children (the oldest born over 30 years ago) had patient numbers in the six digits if that gives you an idea of how much this city as grown.

When my oldest child Beth was young, she suffered from stomach problems. It was back in 1987 that the clinic welcomed its first gastroenterologist, Dr. Robert Ingle. One visit with Dr. Ingle diagnosed Beth’s chronic illness. Seems like just yesterday.

Since that time, we have had so many wonderful physicians come to our town. We have neurosurgeons, urologists, internists, oncologists, et al., all of whom are highly respected in their professions. We have specialists in EVERY field.

How lucky we are.

We were at a function recently with our friends Debbie and Bob Dray. Bob was one of the first urologists in town, and we sang in the choir together at St. Rose Church. Our children played as we practiced and sat in the front row as we “performed.” They must have been in primary school at the time.

We have remained good friends. As an aside, daughter Anne and Sarah Dray are sharing a “play date” with their young children this week.

At that function, we discussed over coffee how new associates in Bob’s practice add to the talent of the group and how the older associates help the younger ones. And for the first time in my life – honestly – I looked at the four of us as Bob said “new associates” and thought: “Oh, Lord. We are old.”

In my mind, we’re still the parents of those precious youngsters, who now have children of their own.

Just one more jolt into REALITY, one more reminder that tempus, indeed, does, fugit.

‘Til next week.