The following letter to the editor was reproduced from APMA News, with the permission of Mr. David Zych, editor.

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Why?

To the Editor:

August 15, 2005, saw the way-too-premature passing of Dr. Gerard Vincent Yu. He was a devoted husband, doting father, friend, colleague, lecturer, and brilliant foot and ankle surgeon.

Why? I think God had someone newly arrived in heaven who had a foot problem. "You said when I got here, all my pain would go away, but it still hurts. I've had three surgeries already, and not one helped. What am I going to do? Eternity can't be like this with all this pain and deformity."

So God summoned all the eminent podiatric and orthopedic foot and ankle surgeons who were already in heaven together for a brainstorming session. One can only imagine the various opinions rendered about what to do with this person's foot. God was getting annoyed with the lack of consensus. He asked for silence and then pleaded with them to give Him the name of someone who not only could treat the person, but also could explain the diagnosis and surgical procedures necessary to eliminate the pain and deformity.

Almost without blinking an eye and in unison, they shouted, "Have Dr. Yu from Cleveland examine the patient. He is the best. He will know what to do and then will help educate all of us for the benefit of the next person who comes along with a similar problem."

God summoned Dr. Yu, who examined the person, performed some calculations, and looked at the radiographs. "Why this person has a rather subtle Type IV posterior tibial tendon disfunction and would benefit from pantalar arthrodesis."

The doctors were amazed at how they all missed the salient points. Dr. Yu gave a cogent talk on the problem and its treatment. They were all spellbound.

God waved His hand and the patient immediately had all the bones fused for a pantalar arthrodesis. The patient couldn't believe how well his foot felt and looked. "Bring on eternity," the person exclaimed. "I feel great!" (Everyone has to feel great in heaven.)

Dr. Yu beamed from ear to ear at the fact this his patient did well. As he did so many times after a lecture, he took everyone out to dinner for a sumptuous feast.

God realized that maybe He was too hasty calling Dr. Yu, because there were far too many people who needed him: his wife, children, parents, family, friends, and colleagues. How to make up for such an earthly loss?

God infused in many people the desire to love and support his wife, children, and family. People came from all areas of the country to be with them. They all pledged to help the family in any way feasible.

Somewhere along the line, God realized that the podiatric profession would be without one of its truly talented. He decided to impart some of Dr. Yu's qualities into a few podiatric physicians. He never told me who or when. But God did say that we will be able to recognize them by their enthusiasm, love for the profession, pleasant speaking style, and merry twinkle in their eyes after delivering what they knew, as Dr. Yu did, to be a "home run" lecture. And after that, they would all feast!