Good Mornin’! Good Mornin’!
Friday is the big day. The opening of the Phillips Health Center in Moorhead with the governor himself, Phil Bryant, coming home to give the keynote speech. It all begins at 10 a.m.
Just look for the crowd of folks near the railroad tracks and depot where the old library used to be just down the street from the old picture show.
Dr. A.M. Phillips brought a whole bunch of babies into this world in the Delta and the governor was just one of literally thousands.
I wonder how many doctors, lawyers, athletes, rocket scientists, farmers, accountants, neurosurgeons, coaches, CEOs, CFOs and COOs Dr. Phillips actually helped deliver?
He was our family doctor even though he didn’t deliver me; that was Dr. Lucas over at Greenwood Leflore County Hospital. Dr. Phillips had his very capable staff of nurses that included Mrs. Frances Foley, Chuck’s mom, and Mrs. Berta Wakham. They did all the nursing and he did all the doctoring.
There wasn’t anything called a well visit back then. You only “visited” the doctor’s office if you were sick or hurting or both.
And it usually meant a shot of some sort. I can remember Dr. Phillips coming into the examination room with a needle and I jumped off and hid behind my dad’s khaki pants but dang if he didn’t find me and give it to me anyway.
I got to see Dr. Phillips out of the office as well as his son Redigo, who was/is one of my best friends and I was at their house often just hanging out waiting for trouble to find us.
He was quite the entertainer during the holidays with stories and there was always music playing. He’s one of the reasons why I know who the Mills Brothers are and can sing many of their songs on my iTunes.
There was always food, fun and much more going on at the Phillips’ home.
Back before the days of SUVs, travel trailers and RVs, Dr. Phillips bought an old bus, fixed it up and created his own.
I guess he had to with so many kids. It just made sense. I never got to experience a “trip” on the Phillips bus but I’ve heard they were quite memorable for the family.
Dr. Phillips cast a long shadow in Moorhead and it’s incredible that his son Courtney, now CEO of South Sunflower County Hospital is helping bring his dad back to Moorhead in a way to treat new generations of patients from across the Delta.
The Phillips Health Center will have Nurse Practitioner Terry Green Dorsey, CFNP, to help patients “through every stage of life.” She’s accepting new patients and walk-ins are welcome.
Who knows maybe the next governor or president will get his/her baby shots at the Phillips Health Center soon under the capable care of Mrs. Dorsey?
Just don’t hide behind your dad’s khaki pants, kid. That trick doesn’t work.
Welcome home, Dr. Phillips. We’ve missed you (but not the shots!) and Good Luck, Mrs. Dorsey!
