Open Wide: A Special Family Finds Great Dental Care

Nov 11, 2019 | News

When Tim Hathaway’s dental appointment shows up on her calendar, CHP dental hygienist Kristabel Vargas lights up. He is a longtime patient, and Kristabel has a special fondness for him and for other dental patients who have special needs. Tim has Down syndrome.
People with Down syndrome often need more frequent dental care than typical patients, and Tim is happy to take a seat in Kristabel’s chair. Tim, 50, has a 10 year history with CHP
Family Dental Center in Great Barrington. Tim’s mom, Nancy Duryea, also a patient of CHP Family Dental, knows good health care when she sees it.
For 30 years, Nancy was the head coach of the Red Raiders team in Berkshire County Special Olympics, consisting of athletes from southern Berkshire. In that role and now as an advocate for her son, she has seen a wide range of capabilities among health care Clinicians. She’s impressed with CHP Family Dental Center in Great Barrington, and with Kristabel and dentist Dr. Lina Bermudez.
Advocating for Tim has comprised much of her life’s work as a mother. It’s something she does on a regular basis, as Tim is not able to advocate for himself.
It was 45 years ago, when Nancy was working at a former residential school for children with disabilities in Great Barrington, that she met a little blond boy with a Dutch boy haircut. Occasionally, she would invite some of the children to her home for a day or weekend, for a home-cooked meal or change of scenery. Tim kept coming back time and time again, until finally in 1982, with the blessing of his biological parents, Nancy adopted Tim and they became family. Tim now has two families!
Tim’s family story offers a beacon of compassion and commitment, and inspires CHP in its work with patients of all backgrounds and abilities.
Tim’s friendship with Kristabel Vargas goes beyond the patient/Clinician relationship. Tim recently spent his 50th birthday having pizza with family and friends, including Kristabel. Says Kristabel, “Tim, is really special. I look forward to seeing him. It is not just my job. I take pleasure in also taking the time to get to know him, beyond his oral care.”

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