My MDVIP story may be a little different from other people.

My MDVIP story may be a little different from other people. I was with Dr. Barbara H. Shonberg, Internal Medicine, for many years before she became a MDVIP affiliated doctor. During those years, I was quite frustrated when I would call for an appointment to see her and I couldnt. I usually ended up with another doctor in the practice instead of her.
Then, in May of 2007, my husband and I attended a meeting at a local hotel to find out about the MDVIP Program of Personalized Health Care. I debated with him about whether or not to stay with her, as she transitioned to having a MDVIP-affiliated practice. We talked about the added expense and decided that we could afford it. My husband wanted to stay with his own doctor, who was in a different traditional-based practice. So, the decision was made for me to continue to be one of Dr. Barbara Shonbergs patients in her new practice. And I thank God that I did!
On July 10, 2007, she opened her new MDVIP practice with her partner, Dr. Ronald Goldstein. 4 months later, my husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Because of her affiliation with MDVIP, she was instantly accessible to me, at a time in my life when I really needed her compassion and expertise the most. During his 31 day ordeal in the medical maze of hospitalizations and surgical procedures, I was trying to continue to work. After 10 days and three trips to the hospital by ambulance, in the early morning hours, I stopped working and stayed by his hospital bedside. I was traumatized by the intensity of his hospitalizations and his constantly shifting medical condition, as well as, the looming uncertainty of the remaining time that he had left to live; which the doctors estimated at 2 days, 2 weeks or 2 years! It turned out that he only had 2 more weeks to live.
After his death, I was grieving very heavily. One day, my sister, Anne, who was staying with me, took me to Dr. Shonbergs office because she thought that I was having a heart attack. I was still dressed in my pajamas for over 30 hours because I didnt even have the energy to change into regular clothes. Dr. Shonberg gave me an EKG in the office and never even mentioned anything about my pajamas! My heart was fine, but, I was having panic attacks. She prescribed anti-anxiety medications for me.
Since I was unable to work after his burial, Dr. Shonberg wrote to my employer to request that I be allowed to stay home for the next two months. She wrote prescriptions for anti-depressants for me. She recommended literature about bereavement for me to read. We were able to talk about my feelings and experiences as a widow without the time restraints of a traditional practice; where if you are lucky you get a 15 minute time slot. She was addressing both my mind and my bodys health issues. I felt like she really cared about me as her patient and as a person. She understood how this stressful experience had affected my overall health and well being.
Now, it has been six years since his death and I am engaged to be married to a wonderful man. I retired from being a special education teacher. I am enjoying my new life with Henry, my new love. And Dr. Barbara Shonberg has been with me on every step of my journey to this new chapter in my life. I thank God for Dr. Barbara H. Shonberg and MDVIP.