The heroic struggle to speak that Joanna Buoniconti described in her column “The Voice I earned” (Gazette, Feb. 7) reminded me of Dr. Francis Duda, a pediatric pulmonologist at Baystate Medical Center. In my decades of experience as a pediatrician, Dr. Duda was one of the smartest, kindest, hardest working and most conscientious physicians I have ever met. Patients and families loved him. Dr. Duda was one of the few specialists to call me about my patients, expressing his concerns and astute suggestions.

It was often a challenge to understand him because Dr. Duda had cerebral palsy, which affected his ability to walk, talk and otherwise use his body, but certainly not to use his mind. I learned from Dr. Duda that sometimes a person who is most difficult to understand might have the most to say. Thank you, Ms. Buoniconti for your courage and eloquence, and thank you, Gazette, for carrying her regular column.

David Gottsegen, MD

Belchertown

]]>