Epilogue--September 2016

More than five years have passed since the accident that changed the trajectory of my life.  I guess it's about time to write a little more of the story.  Many of you know that I ultimately had to leave my orthodontic practice due to the fact that my visual acuity never fully recovered following the accident and reconstructive surgery. Consequently, I was unable to continue practicing as a clinical orthodontist.

Currently, my wife and I are serving as humanitarian missionaries based in Lima, Peru.  If you are interested, you can see some of our adventures chronicled at the link below.

Press here to link to our humanitarian mission blog

Leaving practice was the most excruciatingly difficult experience of my life. I had decided at the age of 12 that I wanted to be an orthodontist and had worked toward that goal my entire life.  I loved practicing orthodontics--the interaction with the wonderful people who were my patients, their family members,  our assistants, and my younger brother who was my partner, the intellectual challenges of treatment and continuing education to try to continually improve the care provided to patients--I loved it all.  So much of my identity was also wrapped up in that professional sphere--as a business owner in the community, as a leader in the profession, as a doctor to our patients, employer to our staff, provider for my family--that it was emotionally wrenching to be involuntarily separated from all of that.  I never would have chosen that had it not been imposed by circumstances.

We still had two children remaining at home and while I did not welcome my departure from active orthodontic practice, it was wonderful to become the "stalker dad" who showed up to all their tennis matches, cross-country meets, and musical events.  I think they eventually got used to me being around more and I certainly enjoyed being around them more.

My friend Dr. Shurtz invited me to take the coursework from Washington State University to become a Master Gardener with him.  We both completed those requirements and served as Master Gardeners in the Wenatchee area. I have found some of the information and skills acquired there to be useful in our assignment here in Peru.

Our last two children have now left the nest.  Natalie served a mission in Guatemala for 18 months and is set to graduate from BYU-Provo with a degree in Elementary Education in April 2017.  Brian graduated from Eastmont High in 2015 and left shortly thereafter to serve as a missionary in Sao Paolo, Brazil for two years.  He will return and attend BYU-Provo where his sisters have all earned degrees.

Mary and I decided to make ourselves available for volunteer missionary service when Brian left for Brazil and we received an 18 month humanitarian assignment to the South America Northwest Area and are living in Lima, Peru.  That has brought opportunities and rewards that would not have been possible in any other way and I am grateful to be here.  We will return home shortly before Brian finishes his mission and get ready for his return and then will be sending him off to school.  We will also become better acquainted with our grandchildren!

After that, we really don't have fixed plans for what we will do or where we will serve.  We trust in the Lord and that "He shall direct (our) paths."  (Proverbs 3:5-6)  I am grateful to all who have helped, prayed, and supported during this challenging time for me and my family.  After five years, I can finally talk about it without completely tearing up.  We are enjoying our service in Peru and looking forward to our next adventure, wherever that may be.

Rob & Mary en route to Lima, Peru