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Friday, October 30, 2026Oct 30

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Good Deed: ER doctor helps citizen in an unexpected way

Dr. Jeffrey Atherton is seen here removing several expired stitches for parking garage attendant, "Junior," who had been injured after defending his wife from an attacker several weeks ago. Junior hadn't been able to go back to the hospital since the incident, and Dr. Atherton was just coming off a shift in the ER. / Contributed photo by Kyter Steffes
Dr. Jeffrey Atherton is seen here removing several expired stitches for parking garage attendant, "Junior," who had been injured after defending his wife from an attacker several weeks ago. Junior hadn't been able to go back to the hospital since the incident, and Dr. Atherton was just coming off a shift in the ER. / Contributed photo by Kyter Steffes Dr. Jeffrey Atherton is seen here removing several expired stitches for parking garage attendant, "Junior," who had been injured after defending his wife from an attacker several weeks ago. Junior hadn't been able to go back to the hospital since the incident, and Dr. Atherton was just coming off a shift in the ER. / Contributed photo by Kyter Steffes

When you are an ER doctor, the whole world is your operating room. We caught a sweet moment recently when Dr. Jeffrey Atherton stopped to remove several expired stitches for our parking garage attendant, “Junior,” who had been injured after defending his wife from an attacker several weeks ago. Junior hadn’t been able to go back to the hospital since the incident, and Dr. Atherton was just coming off a shift in the ER.

It’s nice to be reminded of the kindness Chattanooga embodies.

Kyter Steffes