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(916) 984.3060/(530) 888.0530
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Local Doctor Makes Christmas Evening House Call, Saving Senior’s Sight.

Dermatologist Doc Saves Senior's Sight on Christmas Night.

Sacramento area dermatologist, Dr. Timothy Rosio spent the Christmas holidays out of town visiting with friends in another city. After many tasks and a long drive, Dr. Rosio finally arrived home, and was settling in for a quiet Christmas night of rest. Little did the doctor know that his Christmas night would suddenly become very busy and very serious!

A very caring woman, who knows of Dr. Rosio’s extensive charitable community service, called to ask advice on behalf of a senior gentleman named Marcel, whom she had invited to her Christmas dinner. She said the elderly man had some sores on his face. His HMO and an emergency room physician told Marcel not to worry, the sores were just scratches and would heal on their own. Marcel’s son subsequently wanted another opinion but couldn't get him into any urgent care on Christmas---there was "No room at the Inn."

Dr. Rosio was too concerned to give much advice on the phone, so he decided to make an emergency house call on Christmas. Thank goodness he did! Marcel’s vision had been slightly cloudy that morning. Dr. Rosio’s immediate diagnosis was Zoster Keratitis, a potentially permanently blinding viral infection of the eye requiring urgent treatment. Marcel’s face was also severely affected, and could scar and cause permanent pain. Anyone who has had chicken-pox can suffer a reawakening of this virus which can affect any area of the body. Hours can literally make the difference, when the virus attacks the eyes.

Dr. Rosio wrote special anti-viral prescriptions. Desperate calls to all known pharmacies were unsuccessful. They were all closed because it was Christmas night. So, Dr. Rosio returned home, where he kept some medicines and supplies in the freezer, just in case of an emergency such as this. He said, “I’m a scout leader and I try to remember our motto to ‘Be prepared’. I’m so glad I was and able to help Marcel and save his sight for a lifetime.”

Marcel’s vision, pain and facial sores are improving. The elderly gentleman is so grateful to the exhausted doctor who left his home on Christmas night to treat a stranger, free of charge. Isn’t that what Christmas is all about?

AnewSKIN
Center for Dermatology, Mohs Skin Cancer & Laser Surgery
Timothy J. Rosio, M.D.
www.anewskin.info

Office Appointments: Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom-Grass Valley Areas 530.888.8830

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