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as told by Susan Peterson
One of the biggest days of my son Brian’s life was just months away and he wanted to look his best. But 25-year-old Brian, like his younger brother, Michael, and me in my younger days, suffers from severe acne.
 For my son Michael, a bright, outgoing kid who liked to play trumpet in his high school band, his acne would get so bad he couldn’t play his instrument. We went to several doctors and tried all types of medication with only limited success. Then a friend told me about a laser light treatment offered at Gundersen Lutheran.
We went to see Chris Rowe at Gundersen Lutheran’s Dermatology department. It didn’t take long before we saw dramatic improvement in Michael’s acne. And not just us; people at school and church told him how good he looked.
Michael is now in college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He continues to drive to La Crosse once a month for treatments to keep his acne in check as he deals with the rigors of college life.
As a teenager, Brian also had acne but not as bad as Michael did. But Brian wanted clear skin for his impending wedding so he too went to see Chris for treatments. Like his brother, Brian soon saw significant improvement. Problem solved, right?
Well, Brian lives in Dubuque, Iowa, which means a five- or six-hour round trip each month for treatment. Being new at his job at the time, Brian had little vacation time and what little he had, he was saving for the wedding and honeymoon. I looked for someone in Iowa to provide the treatments; I even called the laser manufacturer. I was disappointed to find there wasn’t anyone near Brian offering the treatments, but I was pleased to learn they, too, thought highly of Chris at Gundersen Lutheran.
So, Brian made the trip to La Crosse. Chris was wonderful, making every effort to accommodate Brian’s schedule.* She came in after hours, on weekends, even rearranging a family event to provide Brian’s treatment. Now in his wedding photos, and on his very special day, Brian looks really handsome in his tuxedo.
Thank you, Chris, for helping my boys face life’s mileposts with the confidence that comes with a clearer, healthier face.
*Special thank you to James Baumgaertner, MD, Dermatology, who also accommodates Brian’s after-hours schedule to serve as the supervising physician. |