For four generations and counting, the Merrick, Hadley and Klimper families have always turned to Memorial Regional Health for their healthcare needs.

Shylar Merrick’s first memories inside of MRH are as a child. She remembers when the new hospital was built 10 years ago, and when she had to get used to saying “Memorial Regional Health” instead of “The Memorial Hospital.” She also remembers how young she was when she started to visit Dr. Larry Kipe for her routine primary care check-ups.

Being a native of Craig, it’s a comforting déjà vu for her knowing that her 2-year-old son, Josyah, is receiving the same care from the same doctor in the same community that she did.

“When you find a doctor and staff that you just really love and trust, it’s hard to want anyone else,” Shylar said.

Shylar could list at least 20 relatives off the top of her head who also see Dr. Kipe, family medicine provider, and other MRH staff. She knows how lucky her family is to have one, go-to person that knows the details of their medical history, right in her hometown.

Though the drive to Russell Street will soon be nostalgic, the new Medical Office Building starts a new chapter for her and her family.

“It’s always been the place we’ve gone to,” she said, “and my hope is that it always will be.”

How the Relationship Began

Dr. Larry Kipe met Frank Hadley, Shylar’s grandfather, in 1988 when he first moved to the Craig community. Now, more than 30 years later, Dr. Kipe still sees family members of Frank’s on his schedule, including Shylar, Josyah and Shylar’s husband, Greg.

Though Hadley passed away in January, his relationship with Dr. Kipe is what set the foundation of trust for the Merrick family and other relatives. Knowing the family for so long allows Dr. Kipe to better monitor their health; he knows what conditions to be wary of and to watch for certain family medical trends.

“This is the dream for all family doctors: to take care of an entire family over time with established relationships,” Dr. Kipe said.

Memories at Memorial Regional Health

When she thinks about everything that has happened at MRH throughout her life, Shylar is overwhelmed with memories.

Josyah was born at MRH two years ago, which was a miracle in itself. Shylar shared that it took nearly five years for her to get pregnant due to complications with infertility, and four of those years she worked with Dr. Scott Ellis, a specialist in obstetrics and gynecology at MRH, who never gave up on her.

Shylar miscarried before having Josyah, and she remembers Dr. Ellis being there for her not only medically as her doctor, but also emotionally.

“It didn’t matter if it was 10 o’clock at night — he always wanted to make sure I was OK after everything that had just happened and all the emotions we were dealing with,” she said. “He was a big part of the adventure for my husband and I becoming parents.”

Shylar also remembers the tremendous support offered by Dr. Kipe when her grandfather, Frank, died earlier this year. After nearly 20 years of battling cancer and struggling with the side effects of dementia, Dr. Kipe was a positive constant in Frank’s life until the very end.

“Dr. Kipe was one person my grandpa always remembered,” Shylar recalled. “He always handled my grandpa in the best way possible and knew how to calm him down when he was having his dementia fits. My grandma, Velda, still talks about that to this day.”

Even in the hardest of times, Shylar said the staff at MRH made her and her family feel cared for and like everything was going to be OK. That’s what keeps them going back.

“It’s a comforting thing for my whole family — knowing you’ve found a doctor and healthcare facility that everyone loves and that your entire family uses,” Shylar concluded.