We stumbled upon Dr. Selber years ago even before he joined the team at HSS. At the time, Anna Leigh was seeing many specialists (such is life with Cerebral Palsy (CP)) but she connected with very few of them. In fact, at that time, she rarely spoke or made eye contact with any of her providers. Like most kids, she dreaded all medical appointments. She sat silent and distant as the adults in the room spoke *about* her instead of *to* her. That all changed one day when Dr. Selber walked into the exam room.
We were scheduled to see another provider but had unknowingly been added to Dr. Selber’s schedule last minute. I’ll never forget how he came in and walked directly to Anna Leigh first, introducing himself and immediately warning her of his famous “tickle machine.” She tried to ignore him in true 5-year old fashion, but we could see a smile begin to emerge as he promised her that they were both a bit “cheeky”, so they were going to be great friends. He spoke to her with kindness and understanding, treating her as if she were the most important person in the building. He explained everything in detail offering answers to questions that we didn’t even know we had. We learned more in that first appointment than we had in years with other providers. Dr. Selber immediately became our favorite doctor and we knew we’d follow him anywhere.
The thing about Dr. Selber is that while he so perfectly understands CP and the way it impacts his patients, he also equally understands what it means to just be a kid, and later an adult with CP. He understands that after each appointment, procedure, or surgery, his patients have to go home and live their everyday life with this condition. He understands that when you are 11, basketball is your life, not CP. So often, many doctors will recommend unachievable or miserable expectations when it comes to treatment and living with CP. Dr. Selber perfectly balances treatment with quality of life.
Anna Leigh never fears appointments, procedures, or surgeries because her experience with Dr. Selber over the years has always been one where he makes her life easier and better. Even during the tough recoveries, she knows the end goal is to help her because Dr. Selber has left no stone unturned when explaining “why”. Even when the news is tough… whether it be a new AFO or another surgery, Anna Leigh trusts him fully. We trust him fully. Thanks to Dr. Selber, Anna Leigh has gotten to truly experience childhood and all that comes with it. From the little things like just wanting to wear flip flops or basketball sneakers like other kids, to the big things like hiking volcanoes and running barefoot on the beach. Dr. Selber helps make it all happen. Are there surgeries and procedures in between? Of course. But it’s simply that. Some “tune-ups” in between that help her to live her very best life.
Dr. Selber treats his patients in a way that CP doesn’t define them. It’s just one small piece of their life that he can help manage. As Anna Leigh prepares for her next surgery in a few weeks, we know she’s in the best hands. Most importantly though, Anna Leigh knows that she’s in the best hands with Dr. Selber and the team at HSS.
Pediatrics
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