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  • Dr. Chad Krilich meets with the Robles Flores family after handing them the keys to their new home in Valle Verde, near Tijuana, Mexico.

    Dr. Chad Krilich meets with the Robles Flores family after handing them the keys to their new home in Valle Verde, near Tijuana, Mexico.

    The holiday season is a time for helping others

    by Dr. Chad Krilich

    Christmas is a great time of year. As a youth, I fondly recall presents, family gatherings and of course our typical Northwest “winter” weather. We would pray for snow every December and usually end up with rain or a rare, clear day. Nowadays, Christmas looks and feels different to me. As a father, a doctor, and a Christian, the spirit of the Christmas season takes on a much deeper meaning.

    It means attending concerts, organizing family events, and presents. Admittedly, my lovely wife Julie gets most of the credit for this coordination but I do contribute. It has been great to attend Drew (age 7) and Alli’s (age 5) school Christmas concerts.

    To our family, the holiday season also means helping others.

    In early December, Drew and I participated in one of the great holiday traditions that residents see at retail stores around the South Sound. We rang bells for the Salvation Army at the Safeway store in Gig Harbor. It was cold, but we were happy to be out there raising money for people who don’t have enough during this holiday season. And this year there’s more than ever. We greeted shoppers and thanked them as they dropped their change into our collection bucket.

    It was a good opportunity to underscore one of my strong personal values -- charity -- and a good time to reinforce that with Drew.

    As a doctor, I am privileged to hear the joys and challenges of the holiday season in our clinics. It means a lot to be able to share in this experience with my patients. I hope that everyone finds a reason to celebrate this holiday season.

    Dr. Chad Krilich is Regional Medical Director in South King County for MultiCare Medical Associates. He also practices as a family physician in Gig Harbor.

    Posted on Dec 25, 2011 in Covington, Gig Harbor, South King County