A doctor who wrote a Gospel

On Sunday, October 18, the Church remembers St. Luke. St. Paul calls him “the beloved physician” in his letter to the Colossians, and Luke is the author of the Third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles.

Luke also gave us a story you may have told your child at bedtime. The parable of the Good Samaritan is found only in his Gospel. A stranger stops for a hurt man, tends his wounds, and makes sure he keeps being cared for.

We wrote about the works of mercy earlier this week. Today is smaller and closer to home. What does a physician saint say to a parent deciding whether to book a checkup?

Caring for the body is part of faith

The Catechism, in its section on Christ the physician, teaches that Jesus came to heal the whole man, soul and body, and is “the physician the sick have need of.” It adds that his love for the sick has drawn Christians through the centuries to care for those who suffer in body and soul.

Nothing in that teaching asks you to be anxious. It does not treat good health as a trophy. It says the body matters to God, so ordinary care of it is a quiet form of love. We made the longer case in A temple, not a trophy.

What a yearly checkup does

HealthyChildren.org, the American Academy of Pediatrics site for parents, says seeing the doctor at least once a year helps keep track of your child’s growth and development. The same page says regular screenings of vision, hearing, balance, breathing and heart function can identify possible problems, from mild to life-threatening.

It also says the doctor can ask about mental and emotional health and offer guidance on nutrition, physical activity, sleep and a family media plan. That is a lot of help for one appointment.

For some healthy kids, the back-to-school visit is the only time they see a pediatrician. That page is written with August in mind, but October is not too late to call. Ask the office what they recommend for your child.

What to bring

• A Medicaid or CHIP ID card, a list of your child’s medications, current immunization records, and a list of your questions, which is the checklist one Texas health plan gives its members.
• Your one-page family health history, if you made one after our earlier post on that.
• One thing you have noticed lately. It might be loud snoring, a tired child, a sore tooth, or a comment about their body. Small details help a doctor.

If your child has Medicaid, the visit is free

Texas Health Steps is free healthcare and related services for children birth through age 20 who have Medicaid. The Texas Health and Human Services page lists medical checkups, dental checkups starting at 6 months, health education, and rides to the doctor or dentist. A state eligibility handbook describes one checkup a year for children 6 through 10.

Not sure where to start? The Texas Health Steps toll-free number, 877-847-8377, can help you find a doctor or dentist and set up a checkup.

The state’s family resources site adds that Children’s Medicaid and CHIP cover regular checkups, hospital services, dental care, vision and hearing services. If you are not sure your child qualifies, our earlier post on uninsured children in Nueces County walks through it.

A checkup is not a verdict

Some parents put off the appointment because they dread a talk about weight. That is understandable, and you are not alone in it.

If the topic comes up, you can ask the doctor how to talk about it at home, in words your child can hear without feeling ashamed. We covered why “just lose weight” fails children in an earlier post. The short version is that the visit is for noticing and helping, not for scoring.

Think of Luke’s work this way. A physician’s first skill is paying attention. You have been paying attention to your child since the day they were born, and a checkup lets you share what you see with someone trained to help.

Where Ignite Fit fits

Ignite Fit is the free family fitness and nutrition program for children run by Ignite His Glory here in Corpus Christi. It is open to everyone. Our sessions open and close in prayer, and families are invited, never required. Faith is never a condition of help.

Our coaches are not doctors. We do not diagnose, and we do not replace your child’s pediatrician. We hope to work beside your doctor by giving your child a place to move, learn about food, and have fun with other kids and with you.

Season One dates will be announced soon.

One next step

This week, call your child’s doctor’s office and ask for the next available well-child visit. Write down two questions before you go.

If coverage is the hurdle, the Coastal Bend Food Bank lists free application assistance under Social Services at 5442 Bear Lane, phone (361) 887-6291. Call and ask what they can help with for your child’s application.

St. Luke, patron of physicians, pray for our doctors, our nurses, and the children in their care.