OXBOW - It was a sad but celebratory farewell at the New Hope Church in Oxbow, where more than 100 people came together with cakes, fruit, songs and thanks to say farewell to a husband-and-wife physician team that has made a lasting impact on the community.
Moving on to Regina, Dr. Karen Bodemer and Dr. David Hyman have taken care of the medical needs, both big and small, of this community for years.
The event was on the very anniversary of Hyman’s arrival 25 years ago. On June 10, 1998, Hyman first came to Saskatchewan expecting all he knew of Canada, which was trees, mountains and lakes. Bodemer arrived at Oxbow in 2017 and has practised for the last three years.
Hyman having first come out alone from a city of five million, shared, laughing about it now, what he was thinking when driving to Oxbow.
“I thought, Oh God, let Oxbow just be bigger than this town, and then at the next town we passed, please be bigger this this town,” he said.
Arriving to his new house with the ugliest yellow carpet he had ever seen, he shared that his thoughts were to get out as soon as he could. His heart, however, soon changed.
“This is a really loving community that welcomed me and then my wife,” he said. “You truly touched our lives and I thank you for it.”
He described how the relationships in this community became the connecting and overlapping rings in their lives through the years.
“Good comes in unexpected places; we met amazing people and church family,” he said.
Hyman talked about how patients speak to him about his wife.
“People always said that when you are in front of her, she is just super involved with you. You have her whole focus that is just the way she is.”
Looking back in the crowd at his wife, he said, “I thank God for you, my love.”
During the program, Councillor Mark Barnes and then Cameron Nordin, on behalf of the RM of Enniskillen, said a few words of appreciation. Music, which is so important to Hyman, was a large feature in the program.
There was a musical duet set with Kathy Kyle singing with Erin Brown on guitar. Brown had been in a band with Hyman called the Jimmy G. and the Cable Guys.
Kyle and Brown took care putting together a set list to fit the occasion. They started with I will Always Love You. Kyle spoke between songs.
“We chose songs that hold that appreciation when you are in an emergency. When we come to the hospital we are so vulnerable. We need our doctors,” Kyle said.
Lyrics they sang in unison rang true throughout the crowd from other songs. One song had the lyrics “And he walks with me and he talks with me tells me I am his own” and they also sang the Beatles’ In My Life.
Appropriately Dottie Peoples’ It’s Not Goodbye but See You Later was in the mix. They ended the set with the haunting parting song If I Go, I’m Goin’ which brought great applause,
“Thank you for fixing my broken bones and all my troubles,” Brown said emotionally on stage.
“And all our families’ too,” Kyle added.
MC Sylvia Mohrbutter also praised the couple.
“The community got together because you have given the gift of your talents to this community, God be with you in all your endeavours.”
She shared the story of when she invited Bodemer to go curling with her for the first time, shortly after Bodemer had arrived.
“Karen wasn’t afraid to join in on anything or try anything,” Mohrbutter said, “but she only came once saying it was too cold for her feet.”
To end the musical program, Karel Marek lead a rendition of Joyful Joyful, We Adore Thee on his trumpet and had a surprise at the end when the crowd stood up to join the song.
“David is exceptional on the piano. It amazes me that he was so talented and played here on Sundays,” said Marek.
He also shared that Hyman was one of the standing speakers that gave sermons on Sunday mornings and was a great orator.
Hyman got a lot of laughs talking about when he was using a parasail kite.
“It was crazy to fly it that day. One moment later I was 20 feet in the air” before he let go and fell in the lake.
“A new adventure awaits us. And we did have fun,” he added.
Using the story of two friends, a bear chasing them, and a one of the men’s desperate first prayers, Hyman showcased his mixed feelings about this move.
“For that which we are to receive, let us be truly thankful. That’s how I feel about Regina.” Hyman ended his speech with a last blessing and protection for the community, quoting Numbers 6:24-26.
“May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.”
