http://dloewenstein.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by David L. en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 23:45:29 GMT 2009-12-31T23:45:29Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977435178     I was first asked to consider writing a book several years ago by the Medical Director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). In 1995, our daughter Rachel had been . . . Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:43:39 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977435178 David L. 2008-08-31T15:43:39Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977372982 I close my eyes on some days and can see the vivid images of twelve years ago as if they were only yesterday. Through burning tears, my wife and I had stared down upon my tiny daughter Rachel, born four . . . Sat, 14 Jun 2008 06:20:38 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977372982 David L. 2008-06-14T06:20:38Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977348753   As time went on, each hour that I spent with Susan made we fall more head over heels for her, She was loving and accepting in ways that I had never imagined. Talking with her was as effortless . . . Mon, 19 May 2008 16:32:39 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977348753 David L. 2008-05-19T16:32:39Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977346988 How I Met Your Mother... As a boy of twelve or so growing up in Southern Florida, I made extra money mowing lawns for our neighbors. During these jobs I would often ponder my future. I often wondered . . . Fri, 16 May 2008 17:55:13 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977346988 David L. 2008-05-16T17:55:13Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977342674 Chapter 1- Born Too Soon Part 2       Susan took a deep breath and softly said to the nurse. " I need to see her... please." My wife's voice trailed off as she . . . Sat, 10 May 2008 13:50:38 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977342674 David L. 2008-05-10T13:50:38Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977288823 "For the Love of Rachel: A Father's Story" Wins Best Nonfiction Book   of the Year Award in the   Reader Views 2007 Annual Literary Awards (Austin, Texas) "For the . . . Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:11:42 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977288823 David L. 2008-03-19T23:11:42Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977253938 Would you like to win something? Do you like to read? A free copy of "For the Love of Rachel: A Father's Story" will be awarded this week, sent to the winner from Amazon.com. . . . Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:37:37 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977253938 David L. 2008-02-25T21:37:37Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977211383 As I reflect upon this holiday season my youngest daughter Amy age 7 is sitting on my lap teaching me how to make snowflakes with paper and scissors. My oldest daughter Rachel is glued to her computer . . . Sun, 23 Dec 2007 20:54:10 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977211383 David L. 2007-12-23T20:54:10Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977194822 The experience of having a daughter born 4 months early once weighing 14 ounces and then adopting an 11 month old daughter from China has perhaps taught me more than all of my years as a Clinical . . . Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:28:49 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977194822 David L. 2007-12-05T11:28:49Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977185487 In the halls of academia as a Full Professor, I have become used to being accorded a certain degree of respect from my Psychology, Psychiatry and research trainees. However at home with my two daughters, . . . Sat, 24 Nov 2007 18:19:23 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977185487 David L. 2007-11-24T18:19:23Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977179534   As the Thanksgiving holiday season approaches, I find myself reflecting on the many blessings in my life. My daughter Rachel, born 4 months early at only 18 ounces is now in the . . . Sat, 17 Nov 2007 03:53:53 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977179534 David L. 2007-11-17T03:53:53Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977172240 It has been nearly 12 years since Rachel's birth at 510 grams, or about 18 ounces. Since then, considerable progress has been made in saving the tiniest babies, premature infants weighing 1,000 grams . . . Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:28:28 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977172240 David L. 2007-11-09T16:28:28Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977164912 There was once a little boy who dreamed of nothing else than one day being able to swim in the ocean like a dolphin, wild, free and unbounded. He spent endless days and nights imagining what it would . . . Fri, 02 Nov 2007 01:30:55 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977164912 David L. 2007-11-02T01:30:55Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977162942 In every age men and women have made spiritual pilgrimages in search of the knowledge and the wisdom necessary for personal enlightenment. These journeys have frequently taken them to distant lands where . . . Wed, 31 Oct 2007 02:35:41 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977162942 David L. 2007-10-31T02:35:41Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977146112 No one takes particular notice of the small, cylindrical shaped cocoons found attached to the bark of trees, the walls of old buildings and which are abundant in any wooded forest. Yet, deep within these . . . Sat, 13 Oct 2007 10:31:13 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977146112 David L. 2007-10-13T10:31:13Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977143055 That evening, we are introduced to our adoption guide who also served as our translator. She was accompanied by a physician who would be available if needed for any of the babies. Since we could not visit . . . Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:36:47 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977143055 David L. 2007-10-10T12:36:47Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977141925 My work life and home life is a study in contrasts. By day, I spend most of my days engaged in research on neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. In the halls of academia . . . Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:02:36 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977141925 David L. 2007-10-09T09:02:36Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977140556 I have often been asked about the single most important lesson that I have learned based upon my 14 ounce daughter's heroic struggles. Upon reflection, I would have to say that Rachel's journey . . . Mon, 08 Oct 2007 00:03:22 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977140556 David L. 2007-10-08T00:03:22Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977140089 We were taken by bus to the Great Wall of China. From the north to the northwest of Beijing, this serrated wall goes from east to west across the mountains. Construction of the Great Wall began in the . . . Sun, 07 Oct 2007 13:29:49 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977140089 David L. 2007-10-07T13:29:49Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977139274 The surgeon continued to work against seemingly impossible odds. With the finest surgical skill he cut out one third of Rachel's small intestine, but in the end he could not remove or or patch all . . . Sat, 06 Oct 2007 14:27:30 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977139274 David L. 2007-10-06T14:27:30Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977138976 During the flight, Susan and I periodically looked at pictures of Amy and were shown  pictures of other waiting children by proud adoptive parents. As the plane took us across the ocean and numerous . . . Sat, 06 Oct 2007 03:38:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977138976 David L. 2007-10-06T03:38:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977137749 Susan and I could barely contain our excitement as we waited for the delivery truck to arrive. We heard a knock on the door and ran to retrieve the large precious envelope. Susan's hands trembled as . . . Fri, 05 Oct 2007 01:23:30 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977137749 David L. 2007-10-05T01:23:30Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977137456  Learning to accept the challenges and limitations of special needs children is a task that the child and family members constantly face. However, in the end, the grace of acceptance can be quite . . . Thu, 04 Oct 2007 19:51:45 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977137456 David L. 2007-10-04T19:51:45Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977135998  Chapter 1    BORN TOO SOON       There are certain moments in life that are indelibly etched into our memories. They may involve great joy or great sorrow . . . Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:12:42 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977135998 David L. 2007-10-03T13:12:42Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977132996 The Things That I Learned From My 14 Ounce Daughter I always considered myself to be quite fortunate. At 35 years of age I was on the faculty at a major medical school and on the fast track for . . . Sun, 30 Sep 2007 22:18:10 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977132996 David L. 2007-09-30T22:18:10Z