I will never forget the day we arrived at Boston Children’s Hospital. I was five years old and had just been diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Dr. Mark Rockoff met us in the lobby and walked us to my room. My dad knew him well—he had completed his pediatric anesthesia fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital with Dr. Rockoff being his advisor.

At five years old, I had no idea what was happening. But I remember walking down the hallway to my hospital room, my dad on my left holding my hand, and my mom and Dr. Rockoff on my right. The hallway was bright, and as we walked, Dr. Rockoff quietly spoke to my parents.

The surgery went well, and after a few months of radiation, life slowly returned to normal.

Ten years later, at fifteen, I was back—diagnosed with another brain tumor.

Early that morning, on the day of surgery, we sat in the hallway as I hugged my dad’s arm and tears rolled down my face. Then we went back to pre-op, where I was handed a gown and asked to change in the bathroom. Standing alone in that bathroom, I started to sob. I had known this day was coming, but now it was real.

When I walked back into pre-op, Dr. Rockoff was there. Instantly, I knew I was in good hands.

The surgery was performed by the incredible Dr. Michael Scott, with Dr. Rockoff providing anesthesia. Over the years, these two doctors became so much more than my doctors—they became family. Their care went far beyond medicine.

Nearly three decades later, Dr. Rockoff is still part of my life. He has hired me to speak, worked alongside my triplet sister Valerie, and remains a constant reminder of what it means to be a doctor who does so much more than save a life.

Kelsey Tainsh and Mark A. Rockoff at the Boston Children’s Hospital Photo Sharing Event

Video Clip: https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:9z905m15c

Takeaway
Healthcare workers don’t just care for patients — they shape the memories patients carry for the rest of their lives.