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Pediatrician remembered for her love of children
Published Thursday, July 9, 2009
CLANTON — Pediatrician Christine Creus never had any children of her own, but the way she figured it, she had all the kids in Chilton County to look after.
Creus
Creus died Saturday, July 4, after a six-month battle with lung cancer. She is being remembered this week for her love of children and involvement in the community.
Ajay Patel, from Clanton Internal Medicine, is a friend and colleague of Creus since she moved to Clanton in 1996.
“She’ll be missed as a great, caring person overall, but especially for the children,” Patel said.
Patel said somebody once ask Creus why she never married or had children. Her answer reveals much about how she felt about her work at Chilton Pediatrics.
“She said all the children she treated are her own and she didn’t want to become biased by having her own,” Patel recalled.
Creus was born Dec. 15, 1957, in the Philippines. She graduated as a Doctor of Medicine from the Cebu Institute of Medicine in 1984 and completed her residency in pediatrics at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi, Texas.
She moved to Clanton in 1996, and considered Chilton County her adopted home.
“She was very loving and really had a heart for taking care of the community,” said Rachel Acreman, who handles insurance claims at Chilton Pediatrics. “She feft like that was what God called her to do. That was her ministry.”
Creus worked as the county’s sole pediatrician for 13 years, but coworkers said her caring attitude extended beyond her work as a doctor.
“We’re a close-knit family. She has seen us through marriages, divorce, births … deaths,” Acreman said. “She wasn’t just our boss. She was our friend. We love her, and we’ll miss her.”
A gifted musician and devoted Catholic, Creus played at church and for several charity concerts. She was also active in Special Olympics, Relay for Life and other community fundraisers.
Before she died, Creus was working to bring on a second doctor at her practice.
Dr. Gladys Alolod, who currently is working in Montgomery, will start work full-time July 20.
Other doctors are fulfilling office hours and are on standby in the interim, Acreman said.
“We are still going and are still going to be here,” Acreman said. “We are going to honor her by doing that.”
Funeral services for Creus were Tuesday, July 7 at Resurrection Catholic Church. A separate funeral service will follow in the Philippines.
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Comments
Posted by PhilBurnette (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dr. Creus was greatly loved and will be sorely missed. Best wishes for Dr. Alolod as she assumes the role of pediatrician here.
Posted by concernedcitizen (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree. She was greatly loved and will surely be missed by many. She has been my children's pediatrician since she came to this county so many years ago. It will be very hard to get used to another doctor. We are all so used to Dr. Creus not only knowing who we are as we come in the door, but who are families are and what diseases and hereditary things run in our families. We all welcome the new doctor with an open mind, but we also remember that she has huge shoes to fill.
Posted by mrjones0913 (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you to Dr. Creus, thoughshe only saw one of my children, one time. She was an outstanding doctor and by her quick actions saved at the time my 3 year old from loosing his foot from infection. Now he is 6 and thanks to a caring doctor is running around like crazy. God bless you and you will always be in our hearts.
Posted by livinginthorsby (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My condolences to friends, family and patients of Dr. Creus. My son saw her one time and she acted like we were her favorite patients. Very classy.
Posted by PhilBurnette (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone agree that Dr. Creus should receive some sort of formal recognition for her contributions to our youth and city? She exemplifies the type of person I would rather see as Citizen of the Year (decade anyone?) than another politician, even if it is posthumously.
Posted by Rickey (anonymous) on July 9, 2009 at 8:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you Dr. Creus for taking care of the children of Chilton County. You will forever be loved and admired. And though we shall miss you greatly, God has called you home to take care of his angels. He has that much faith and confidence in you ... as do we all. 'Sumalangit nawa ang kanyang kaluluwa.'
Posted by hezblesdme (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 12:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My daughter, and I will miss dr.Creus greatly. She had been my daughters dr since she was born 13 years ago. She was like a part of our family. When we were concerned, she was concerend. When we grieved, she too grieved. I will miss her caring heart, and loving kindness. It will be scary getting used to a new dr. but if dr. Creus trusted them, then so will I. Because she would not want someone in her office that couldnt love the kids as she did. I will miss you dr. Creus so much. My condolences for the family, and friends as well as other patients! Vicki Garvey, and McKalyn Rheaume
Posted by mapmom (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 7:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree she needs to be remembered.....maybe naming the pediatric ward at the hospital after her would be a start if it hasn't been down already.
Posted by temisia23 (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
She'll be missed she was my kids doctor for 3 years and into i moved to Montevallo but she did her job well and even when my youngest son was sick thanks Dr.Creus you'll be missed god took you for the best
Posted by twin25 (anonymous) on July 10, 2009 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SHE WILL BE TRUELY MISSED I NEVER FORGET THE TIMES SHE SEEN MY KIDS SHE ALWAYS MADE ME AND THEM LAUGH! WE WILL ALL 1 DAY SEE HER AGAIN!
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