Christmas is the time for family and friends to be together; to hold each other and to remember, we love.
Most area families this week are together. They’ll be giving presents, swapping stories of Christmases past and enjoying each other’s company. And, many area families have this opportunity because of the efforts of a very special man.
And, it is sad that this man’s family will not be celebrating a joyful holiday. They’ll be gathering, all right but this special man won’t be physically with them.
Dr. Bob Aranosian who has headed up Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital’s emergency medicine for decades, died in an auto accident last week.
Like many in the area, I first met Dr. Bob under extremely trying circumstances. In the late 1980s my sister Nancy, then a student at Clarkston High School, was involved in an auto accident with a school bus on Waldon Road. Independence Township firemen who were at the rescue scene, when they see me, still talk of the carnage of that accident.
For whatever reason, I was the first member of our family to arrive at POH. When I checked in, Dr. Bob took me to a room and explained the situation. In as kind and caring voice as I’ve heard he said, ‘We have two girls and we don’t know who is who. One of them is alive — and it sounds like it is your sister, but be prepared.?
I followed him for the longest 40-feet walk of my life. We walked into a trauma room and in the far corner, behind a opaque plastic curtain was a patient. I saw her hand sticking out from under the curtain. I noticed the fingers on her left hand, and I knew it was Nancy.
Nancy was alive!
She endured many years of surgery and pain after that accident, but she has survived. She has a good husband, Al Piper and they have two wonderful daughters, Ally and Katlyn. They have big dogs, a nice home and lots of love. She had a chance at life and took it. I always thank the efforts of Dr. Bob.
Since Nancy’s accident I talked to Dr. Bob maybe two times. That’s it. But, whenever I read about him in the newspapers, whenever I saw his picture on a billboard, when I saw him as Grand Marshal of Clarkston’s Fourth of July parade a few years ago, I silently thank him. Whenever his name was brought up in a conversation, I always tell the others in the conversation that, ‘He saved my sister’s life.?
Dr. Bob was a special guy — not only because he saved many lives, not only because of his charitable works, but because I think he was plain and simple, a good man. In nearly 20 years in the news business I cannot remember anybody saying one bad thing about him. Which is odd, because somebody always knows somebody who knows something about everyone. I shudder to think what stories are floating around town about me. Northeast Oakland County’s rumor mill has the goods on us all.
But, not on Dr. Bob.
It’s ironic he died in an auto accident — that nobody could save him as he had saved so many. It’s sadly ironic that some reports say he wasn’t wearing his safety belt.
It is just sad that one man who so positively touched the lives of so many in the area was unexpectedly taken away. Other doctors will come in and fill the void at POH and heroically save lives as he did, so I am sure the area’s wounded will be in good hands. And while the area has lost a good man, it is sadder yet to think that his wife and children have lost a husband and father. We can replace a doctor. They cannot replace him.
Life is funny. It takes unexpected turns and has its ups and downs. Life has all that going for it, but one thing it isn’t — forever. Life is short, so this Christmas when you are gathered with friends and family remember the gift of Christmas is love. Get over petty squabbles, don’t start any arguments. Get together and hug and love and say a prayer of thanks that you still have each other.
Some families are not as lucky so say a prayer for them, too.
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