He leaned his forehead on mine and said, “Everything’s going to be OK,” and that was exactly what I needed to hear (three years ago).

This sort of hands-on compassion isn’t common in the medical world, but it isn’t uncommon for Dr. Thorn. Many women (and even men) will attest to the compassionate side of Dr. Thorn. He wasn’t afraid to hug you, and you knew his heart broke when yours did. He stayed positive and firm, but he acknowledged your pain and listened to your concerns. I started seeing Thorn at the recommendation of my mom when I was pregnant with my first child 12 years ago. Boy, did I fall in love (yes, patients can fall in love with their doctors); he made me feel important, and he smelled good, too (ha ha — every patient of his will also attest to this). I went on to have an additional two more with his care; however, my third was during his time off prior to his beginning in Mason City.

I followed him to Mason City after I had a devastating pregnancy loss at five months due to a fatal diagnosis with my fourth. I needed reassurance again and trust; I needed someone I knew. With his help, I was able to get pregnant again with my last child, and I can’t thank him enough for the support and expertise he lent me during that time. Dr. Thorn is more than a knowledgeable physician and he is more than just a nice man. He was blessed with a gift — a God-given gift — and I hope he truly knows how many people he has helped and how many lives he has changed during his career. He deserves the recognition for his service, and I’m happy to see the article on his career. I’d also like to thank his wife and family. You shared him for so long with so many people. I know it couldn’t have always been easy. God bless and enjoy!

Lacey Koopal

Hartland