Maintainisolation-practicegoodhygiene-wearamask-bekind.WeallknowthesemethodsoffightingCOVID-19,butthisprescriptioncomesfromthe1918experienceofDr.PierreSartor,whobattledtheworldwideinfluenzapandemicinhissmalltownofTitonka,Iowa.Dr.Sartorwroteaninspiringfirst-personaccountofhowhetreatedmorethan1,000patients-andbyhisreckoning,lostonlyfive-whichlayforgotteninalockboxoffamilyartifactsuntilitwasdiscovereddecadeslaterbyhisgranddaughter,BethObermeyer,ajournalistandauthorofthreepreviousbooks.Bethknewhergrandfatherthroughherteenageyearsandgrewupabsorbingfamilystories.BaseduponDr.Sartor’smemoirandheryearsofresearch,shevividlyreconstructshislifefromchildhoodinLuxembourg,whereheovercameadebilitatinghearingproblem,tomedicalschoolinChicago,courtshipandmarriage.Apioneerinthegeographicaswellasthemedicalsense,Dr.SartorlefthisflourishingurbanpracticeandsettledhisyoungfamilyinruralIowawhere,hesaid,“Iamneeded.“ThosewordstookonspecialresonancewhenDr.SartormovedtoanotherIowatownintheearlymonthsof1918,amidthegatheringstormoftheinfluenzapandemic.HehadbarelysettledintothecommunityofTitonka,when,ashewrote,thedisease“spreadlikewildfireonwildprairieland.“Dr.Sartortraveledforhoursandmilestoservehispatients,buthedidnotgoalone.Hissteady,reliablecompanionwasGuidoSartor,hisson,whodroveahorse-drawnsleighaswellasthefamily’sModelTFordsoDr.Sartorcouldreachhispatients.Twelveyearsoldatthetime,Guido,inhisknickersandmask,wasanableassistantonmanytrips-includingoneFebruarydaywhenhedrovethroughablizzard-asearingjourneywhosedenouementwouldoccurmorethan30yearslater.Inthemeantime,Guido,inspiredbyhisfather,becameaphysician.TheauthorisGuido’sdaughter.Growingupinamedicalfamily,Bethwriteswithinsightandcandorofthestrainthatwell-intentionedcaregiverscanplaceuponthepeopletheylovemost.HumorwasasavinggraceforDr.Sartor.BethtakesusalongwhenyoungGuidogetstheircarstuckfastinmud...andwhen,Pierre,exhausted,wasrousedfrombedbyaringingtelephone.Heansweredallthepatient’squestionsbutthencouldnotforbearasking,“Why,whydoyoualwayscallmeatnight?“Whereuponthepatienthelpfullyexplained,“But,doctor,you’resobusyduringtheday!“WhywasDr.Sartorsuccessful-soaccomplished,infact,thathewasnamedGeneralPractitioneroftheYearbytheIowaStateMedicalSociety?Amongmanyfactors,Dr.SartorestablishedaclosecollaborationwithMayoClinic,about130milesaway,startingadecadebeforethepandemicandcontinuingthroughouthiscareer.Referringpatientsandsharingbestpractices,Dr.SartorpersonifiestherespectfulrelationshipsthatMayoestablisheswithcommunity-basedphysiciansthroughoutthecountry.Beth’sstoryisrootedinacertaintimeandplace.Yetitspeaksacrossgenerationstothequalitiesthatmakeacompassionate,skilledphysician-acompellingexampleofdoingthebestofthingsintheworstoftimes.Because,whenwintercomes,weallwantadoctorlikePierreSartor.
