RAINER'S RAMBLINGS
To the Blairsville Community
By RAINER ARNOLD Union Sentinel Publisher

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The following letter to the Editor was written by Dr. Walter Mashman, a cardiologist who has been a integral part of this community who has served the health needs of many of the members of our community. Since the letter was too long to put in as a regular Letter to the Editor, I decided to give up my space and editorial this week to accommodate a person who has helped so many in Blairsville and Union County.

By WALTER MASHMAN, M.D., F.A.C.C.

When I began to see patients in Blairsville twelve years ago, I had recently finished my training to become a cardiologist. I had just spent seven years in training after medical school, and I was excited to join the best cardiology practice around. I was eager to get started. My partners had been coming to the north Georgia mountains for many years, and they thought Blairsville would be a great place for me to get to know people and get established. Twelve years later - after a strenuous decision process - I have chosen to stop coming to Blairsville to see patients.

In the beginning I would spend the day to drive up from Atlanta once a week and I would see one or two patients. The early days were lean and modest. Some of you will remember the trailer where I was assigned to see patients. (It stood next to Dr. Breedlove and Dr. Sarrell's current office). And yes, it was heated and it did have hot and cold running water. I was lucky enough to get to meet many wonderful people, a lot of whom I still feel very close to. Very quickly, things began to get busy and the days filled up. I started to come up more often to see everyone. I would always bring the patient charts up with me from Atlanta in the trunk of my car. I usually got home between ten and eleven o'clock at night. I had no children and my wife was working hard too. This was a very exciting time in my life, and I very much enjoyed getting to know so many wonderful people in Blairsville. Eventually Dr. Berger joined my practice, and then Dr. Carlson. We continued to grow and got busier and busier. We not only saw patients in the office, but we also helped care for the sickest patients in the hospital, supervised the majority of the stress tests, and read most of the nuclear cardiac scans, and echocardiograms. We realized that Blairsville could support a full time Cardiologist, but it was hard to find the right person. Many people suggested that I move up to Blairsville, and believe me I thought very seriously about that possibility. This was not a realistic option, however, because of my wife's work.

As much as I love being in Blairsville, the driving and long hours have become tiresome. For a long time, I drove up twice a week and there were times that I came three times a week. I have estimated that over the years I have spent over 2500 hours driving to and from Blairsville, and traveled 125,000 miles. This is equivalent to driving around the world (at its widest distance - the equator) five times. I have burned about 5000 gallons of gasoline in these trips. I have driven several different routes. They are all about the same distance and take about the same amount of time. (I recently found a shortcut in Atlanta that saves me about 1.2 minutes on the way home). I am so familiar with the drive that my kids (I now have three) are amazed that I can tell them within one to two minutes exactly when I will arrive home. It's really a pleasant trip, and I enjoy listening to music or making phone calls along the way, but to do it all of the time has become very hard.

I am very happy and proud of the fact that all of this hard work and commitment has culminated in Blairsville's first full time cardiology office which opened in April of 2005. We have a beautiful office with a wonderful fulltime staff and all the gizmos and gadgets that you would expect in a modern cardiology office. This ain't no trailer. I hope that everyone recognizes what a nice benefit this has been to the community.

We have also been fortunate to attract my partner Dr. Westermeyer to become Blairsville's first full time cardiologist. Dr. Westermeyer has been with us nearly two years now and is quickly earning respect in the community due to his keen skills, his intellect, his dedication, and his kind manner. I have been comforted in my difficult decision to leave by the knowledge that my patients will be left in the good care of Dr. Westermeyer and our great office staff. Please welcome him to your care and to your lives - as you did me.

I will always feel that I came as an outsider, but earned a small modest place in the wonderful Blairsville community. I will always be grateful for the chance to do that. I will remember all of my patients who have had a much bigger place in my life than they will ever realize. I will always remember the gifts (homemade bread, home grown vegetables, a homemade pencil holder) and - more importantly - the love with which they were given. I will always cherish the stories of your lives that you have shared with me. I have loved your stories of D-Day, Vietnam, family gatherings, travel, and of love. You have shared with me pain, sorrow, frustration, grief, tragedy, despair, and triumph. I have been honored to see you through terrible medical conditions and major operations. I have seen many of you on death's door and have been with you as you have fought to regain your strength and your dignity. We have had many painful losses. I am honored to have shared with you and your families in the pain and in the triumphs. Such is the essence of trust, such is the essence of family, and such is the essence of community.

My practice in Atlanta has matured and continues to grow. There are many exciting things happening at Cardiac Disease Specialists and at Piedmont Hospital. I am looking forward to my continued involvement in clinical research, and in local, regional, and national cardiology organizations. I also expect to cherish these upcoming priceless teen years with my children. I have much still to teach them (now aged 11, 8, and 6 years) in a fairly short amount of time. I will also try to enjoy more quality time with my wife, and I hope to elevate my guitar playing.

I wish to publicly thank all of the wonderful healthcare providers (formerly known as doctors) who have been supportive of my practice over these years, and for whom I have great respect. Blairsville is very fortunate to have so many great physicians and physician extenders. I also want to thank the administration and employees of the best small hospital. We've come to know each other well over the years and it has all been good. You're a great bunch. I want to thank the Blairsville Cardiac Disease Specialists office staff - Shirley, Penny, Jill, Brenda, Kathie, and Laurie. It has been a true joy to work with each of you and to get to know you personally. You are all the best. I am grateful to Ken Lyda, NP for his expertise and unparalleled kindness. Thank you to Paige Arnold, RN for your dedication and hard work though thick and thin. You have been my right-handwoman. I would like to thank my wife, Darlene Mashman, for her patience and support, and my three children, Devin, Connor, and Carly, for their unconditional love. Thank you to Dr. Scott Westermeyer for leading the future of cardiac care in Blairsville. Lastly, and most importantly, thank you all of my friends in Blairsville and the surrounding communities for your confidence in me.

As a parting gift to the community, I humbly leave you several bits of advice. Eat right, exercise regularly, and do ditch the cigarettes for crying out loud. Be skeptical, but not cynical. Read everything and don't be afraid to call it like you see it. Love each other. Don't cut down too many trees. When you're in Atlanta, please drop by.