Georgians Celebrate Legendary 112-Year-Old Woman Doctor

Teresa Neumann : Feb 11, 2010
Joe Vanhoose - Athens Banner-Herald

"When you walked away from your visit, you felt like you were doing the greatest job on Earth. Dr. Denmark had a way of making you feel so special being a mom."

(Athens, Georgia)—Dr. Leila Denmark, who practiced pediatric medicine in Atlanta and Athens until she was 103, turned 112 last week and thousands are celebrating her birthday. As reported in the Athens Banner-Herald, Denmark is being celebrated not so much for her age as for the huge impact she has had on her patients and community in general.

Said one patient, Ron Haigler (whose mother took him to Dr. Denmark, and who took his own children to her): "When you had to take your shirt off for an exam, she'd put it on the radiant heater and keep it warm for you," he said. "When she'd look into your ear, she'd whistle like a bird. When she'd prick your finger, she'd do it on the side instead of the tip. It was just common-sense practices that not every doctor would do." (Photo: Athens Banner-Herald)

According to the report, many mothers were blessed by Denmark, saying her advice to them was as valuable as the care she administered to their children.

"When you walked away from your visit, you felt like you were doing the greatest job on Earth," said one mom, Gina Booth. "Dr. Denmark had a way of making you feel so special being a mom."

Author, Madia Bowman, wrote that Denmark taught her that being a stay-at-home mother "is the greatest job in the world," and "empowered mothers to nurture their children."

"She really gave you a sense of confidence that you could determine what was best for your child instead of always having to look to parenting magazines," Bowman said. "She would say, 'You didn't come to live with that child. That child came to live with you. You're the one that the child needs for direction.'"

Read more about this truly extraordinary woman by clicking on the link provided.