I wanted to create a place where people who knew our mother, Dr. Dorie Wickman, could share stories about her. I have heard from so many different people since she died, family, friends, patients... about how she impacted their life in some positive way.
Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories, sadness or happiness here. I think sharing this will help her spirit to live on even after her life here has ended, and will help ease the grief that we all feel.
Amy
Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories, sadness or happiness here. I think sharing this will help her spirit to live on even after her life here has ended, and will help ease the grief that we all feel.
Amy
So great to see this beautiful photo of Dorie so happy. We all miss her so much everyday . . . and not one day goes by that I am not reminded of her in one way or another. A patient will ask about her, or express their sadness at her passing. I can't tell you how many patients were truly and deeply touched by her spirit and caring way.
ReplyDeleteI have really tried to incorporate the things she taught me and the advice she gave to me into my life as a physician, a mother, wife, and friend. She was one of a kind. And as sad as it was to lose her, she will never be forgotten around these parts. A legend. I want to live every day to the fullest and be the best I can be in doing so. I hope your Mom would be proud of me.
Blessings.
Jennifer Moran
My mom was one of Dorie's first patients. They quickly became friends. Her daughter Amy became my sister Erin's best friend for the longest time. In some ways, she was like a second mom to the Krafcky family and she'll always be missed.
ReplyDeletePeace,
Matt Krafcky
I miss her dearly. I'm am so lucky to have met her. I was just getting to really know her when she left us. She and I had talked about taking a trip to Michigan together and hitting all the surrounding winery's. Ha Ha Now that would have been fun! She was trying to convert me into a red wine drinker instead of white. Whenever I have a glass of red wine,I raise it and toast her. :)
ReplyDeleteIt all seemed to happen so fast. It's hard to let go. She was a beautiful ray of sunshine on this earth. And still is.
Love,
JoAnne Cloutier
Her life ended all to soon by our books, but was God's perfect time...
ReplyDeleteI will always remember how she would take the time to really talk & connect with her patients & the nurses and really cared about them. She was a genuine person, very smart, and very sweet. I will never forget her...
When I was in labor with my oldest son, I was surrounded by my husband, a very pregnant nurse, a med student and my very special doctor... I was in the middle of pushing, so my memory is a bit fuzzy... but I do know that my husband started quoting Planes,Trains and Automobiles... with "...Her first baby came out sideways, she didn't scream or nothin." Next thing I know... they all started in, laughing... having what seemed from my view a great time... then the angel at my feet... in the middle of laughter, calmly looks at me and tells me to push harder... then joins back in again in the merriment... I am sure I was a bit ticked at the time... but, my boys can't watch the movie without asking about Dr. Wickers... she is a piece of their memories and we are blessed to have her there....
ReplyDeleteIt seems as if at this time of one’s life, when you pass your middle 50’s, you dare to look back. The kids are well into their chosen careers and you reflect back on significant people (and events) that helped you, and hence may have shaped you in one way or another. Your mother was a classmate of mine in my high school algebra class at Willowbrook…yes way back in 1968 or so (and perhaps at John Albright Middle School, too) . I had been reticent in electing algebra my freshman year at Willowbrook even though I had actually been placed in the advanced full algebra section by testing; I elected “intro to algebra” instead. Well, that lasted only one week and my counselor transferred me to the advanced section. The teacher was not welcoming; despite the advanced math scores, he did not want a purported intro to algebra student in his class. My quiz scores were in the middle of the pack for the advanced class, yet he still persisted to find ways to make me feel uncomfortable. One day I solved a major problem on the blackboard for the class using a more creative, and efficient process…the teacher admonished me for my non-routine thinking, but not for long. Enter Dorie Wickman (who had everything to lose my in rubbing the instructor the wrong way): “I don’t see what is wrong with his solution. It’s actually better than yours.” He snapped back something about it not being fully complete. Dorie: “No, he’s addressed that too” (pointing to a step in the solution). I eventually was transferred four weeks later to yet another advanced section that was already full. I also ultimately achieved a perfect score on the math section of my ACT my junior year. Although largely a private person, during those weeks in the class Dorie exhibited all the traits that folks talk about today: the droll sense of humor (Note: I loved the story about the gentleman with the broken foot on the cruise boat, i.e. Dorie: “I could help him if he was having a baby”…that is vintage Dorie; authenticity, caring about what is important (not fads); going the extra mile; unassuming humility. Courage, class and grace. I tried to instill the same traits in my daughters.
ReplyDeleteThis teachable moment, in the form of the courage exhibited by Dorie, had a delayed, but major impact on my career when I transitioned to college teaching. One of my specialties now is doing “repair work” (so to speak) on students who have had lousy math teachers, specifically those with “unrecognized” higher mathematical aptitudes.
Oh, I also think red wine is better; she was right there, too!
Dorie is listed as a Distinguished Alumni on this site:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.alumniclass.com/willowbrook
Page down to the link, Distinguished Alumni; you do not have to join the site to view the tribute.