September 30, 2020 Issue, Page 4 of 24

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HOMETOWN HEROES |Wednesday, September 30,2020 PGS Firth Pediatrics discovers the joy of children By Sheryl Ponce, Contributing his love for the profession. difficult ones, but a 4-year-old acts writer Even when the kids are faced like a 4-year-old.” The decision to specialize in pe- with a serious illness, he noted As the couple turned their focus diatrics was not really a decision that they can bring peace to those to the current medical situation, but a calling for Dr. Paul Firth. around them. During his time at COVID-19, they discussed how As he completed his rotations Children’s Hospital, he saw cancer procedures have changed and the during his last year of medical patients and that seemed to touch differences they have had over the school at the University of Okla- his heart because of their opti- scare. homa, his wife Cheryl recalled the mism and ability to deal with what “Paul and I don’t fight or even difference in his step between his ‘was going on their lives. disagree much, but when all of this stint at the VA hospital and Chil- “T saw these kids give comfort started, I was scared and argued dren’s Hospital. to their parents during their dark- with him about it,” Cheryl said. =< “When he had to do rounds at est times, he said. “The kids still “T had one microbiology class Cheryl and Dr. Paul Firth in front of their the VA, I worried about him get- wanted to play and carry on.” that gave me enough information to scare me, but Paul has had a home, located in Elk City. Photo by Sheryl ting there,” she said. “He would Cheryl could also see the same lot more microbiology classes so Ponce. set the snooze several times before innocence with their son, Sam. He he finally got up to go to the hospi- suffered from kidney failure when he understood it a lot more about germs than I did.” anyway.” Cheryl told the story of Paul do- tal. Then, when he was on rotation he was 5-years-old. As she told the Paul explained the six-foot for Paul now does tele-visits and ing a home visit: “The child was at Children’s Hospital, it didn’t story of rushing him to Children’s 15 minutes rule, which is when a has found these to be popular so happy that Paul could see her matter what time it was, he was so and seeing Paul worried, she saw person who is infected is around among parents and children. They room and things. This was rare, excited to go. That’s when I knew Sam being oblivious to the seri- someone less than six feet away also have the patients and par- but I think they both liked it.” he was going into pediatrics.” ousness of his situation. She said for more than 15 minutes is more ents wait in the car until a room Firth Pediatrics staff all wear The joy of taking care of chil- that through it all, Sam still want- likely to catch the virus. He also is ready, so there is no waiting medical grade masks for the pro- dren, according to Dr. Firth, is in ed to go to the Troy Aikman room talked about what a mask does to room full of sick children running tection of each other and the pa- the shear joy of being around chil- to play. help the situation. around, tients. Paul explained that if they dren. He found that no matter what Firth Pediatrics was opened do that and someone contracts it, children face, they are honest and in Elk City 22 years ago, and he “We know that children rebound “The tele-visits are great,” he and most do not become seriously said. “I had a parent who went to they all do not have to be in quar- inspiring. Each day he delights in has never looked back. He seems antine. He also said that because ill,” he said. “It is the seniors, el- school, got her child out of class being able to care for them. to love his patients and what he derly and ill that are at risk of the and we had the visit in the hallway of the way they are seeing pa- “There is nothing better than is able to do each day. Paul and tients, there is less wait time and virus. Children are more likely to of the school. The child did not having a 4-month-old baby look Cheryl love children and they die from the flu than from CO- have to check out of school and they are able to be more efficient up at you and smile. I get to have gravitate to their innocence and VID-19. How each person reacts drive to Elk City for our office in the way they take care of the about 15 minutes of fun with a playful nature. Cheryl said that she and how their bodies fight the call. I have had a lot of visits while children. child every day, then give him and Paul both are actually about virus is very individual. We have the family is at the lake, in stores Dr. Firth practices with two back to his parents to do the hard 12-years-old. changed the way we do things at or in the child’s room. They like it nurse practitioners, Kathi Hender- part. I do that about 12 times a “Children are the only patients the office, but we found that those that I can see where they live. It is son and Salena Dixon, along with day,” Firth grinned as he disclosed who act their age and I love that,” were things we needed to look at something we will continue.” 12 others on staff. Dr. Firth said. “Parents can be the Thank you for all our your dedication! ofess ionals! 19676 Rte 66 N, Elk City, OK 73644 580-225-0225