I live here; learning to heal through embracing your own story by Lori Ellen Poland

Author:Lori Ellen Poland [Poland, Lori]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lori Poland, LLC
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

For most of my senior year of high school, I was happy. I was in relationship with A.H. We were prom king and queen, and I was homecoming queen. I belonged, and life was stable and happy for a bit. Things were good. It was in this year when I had leaned into my story and experience. My confidence boosted; I was okay with simply being me.

I’d taken an AP telecommunication class at school to learn about the upcoming technologies moving their way down the line. Our term project for the class was to create a new form of technology that would allow people to communicate better and more easily. Bear in mind, cell phones for anyone without money were not possible yet. Pagers were still really cool! I wanted people all over the country—in rural communities, in small towns, far and wide—to have access to doctors and treatment providers like I had after my kidnapping.

We were assigned to interview someone who could speak to our plan. I thought there was no time like the present to reach out to Dr. Krugman, who helped me fifteen years prior. So, I dialed up the University of Colorado Medical School Dean’s office. A remarkably kind, helpful assistant, Patti, answered. I told her who I was and what I was hoping for. She put me on hold for what felt like nine years, but really, it was less than three minutes.

When she came back on, she said, “Dr. Krugman would like to speak with you, Lori.”

What? Really? Isn’t he like, a God, or something?

A familiar, soothing voice popped on the line. If you’ve ever heard Dick talk, you know how it sounds when he talks. His voice is distinct. His kindhearted tone reminds me why he’s a pediatrician, and his humor immediately makes me feel warm and safe with a brilliant human who is beyond accredited.

“Hello, Lori. It has been a long time. How are you? What can I help you with?”

I explained to Dr Krugman that I was doing a project and had a list of questions I needed to ask an expert. Dr. Krugman asked when my paper was due. I told him Friday. (It was Tuesday).

He replied, “No problem. How’s tomorrow at 3 p.m. look for you?”

I took the meeting on the spot. Twenty years later, I learned that Dr. Krugman had been scheduled to meet the Chancellor of CU about moving the medical school to another city. A job worth many hundreds of millions of dollars. He blew off that meeting to meet with little ole me.

I arrived at Dick’s office so nervous. Everything there was large, plush, dark, rich. Yet, I walked in with pride, humility, and gratitude. After Patti led me into his office and provided me with a water, I sat in an incredibly comfortable seat in front of Dr. Krugman’s massive desk with the oversized green office chair fit for a king. Dr. Krugman and I smiled easily at one another and carried on with conversation as though fifteen years hadn’t passed.

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