Mr A. came in to the animal hospital yesterday with his dog that had been in a bad fight a few days earlier. The skin on the face had that hue that I am all too familiar with, the obvious sign of devitalized tissue and necrotic flesh just below the surface. The doggy was running a high fever, was very lethargic and just looked like she felt like total crap. I felt so sorry for her. She didn't even move as I probed the wounds and evaluated what I knew was going to be a long road to recovery.
The healer in me thought, "Yes! A big wound treatment! I can provide supportive care, daily flushes and debridements, and the necessary surgeries to remove dead tissue and close the defect created by the rotting flesh. I can use my magical sugar/betadine treatment and I know I can make this dog heal and go on to live a happy doggy life!"
The business person in me thought, "Yes! Hospitalization for several days, a lot of physical labor to manage the wounds, at least two surgical debridements and countless medications to keep her free from sepsis during the healing phase. Great income for the clinic!"
Mr A told me during the exam that he lost his job, his house and now his wife. He was out of money.
The human and friend in me thought, "There is no way I can make this person feel guilty for not being able to afford what I know MUST happen to get this dog to heal."
So I recommended we put her to sleep instead. It alleviated her suffering, it alleviated his added stress and removed the always-present issue of not being able to afford the necessary treatment to heal his pet.
I am most definitely going to go broke. My dad did predict this years ago when he told me I'd be the "poorest" vet he knows because I have far too much compassion when it comes to people and animals.
He was right.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Ode to My Beautiful Women
I wanted to start an "Ode to the Wonderful Women in my Life" blog and felt the most perfect place to start would be with the newest generation of them. My brother had his first baby a year and a half ago after many years of trying and many medical visits. They were finally blessed with a beautiful baby girl who, apparently, is now giving the world absolutely hell!
I would have never posted pictures of my baby girl on here until she was older but since her mommy has her face on Facebook, I figured it would be ok. :)
The next generation of strong, spicy, intelligent, precocious, independent hellion women:
I can't decide who she looks more like, so I'll say she's the perfect mix of my brother, his wife Peggy, my sister Donna and me. It was a long time in between the birth of Alisha, who is now 25, and Jonalee, who is almost 2, since I decided a few years back that I didn't want kids, and my sister decided she was NOT going to have more than one! So Jonalee was a welcomed addition to the family.
The daredevil in her and my brother trying desperately to keep her safe:
The look that will either slay you or make you tremble in fear. Ha!!! I cannot express how much I love the fact that she has the little gaps in her teeth just like her daddy. Just makes my heart melt!
It's good to have you here, beautiful baby girl. And I'll always be the liberal nanny who lives out west where you'll want to visit when you hit your rebellious teens. :) Your dad will protest but you'll come visit anyway. And I'll make sure you get to college and find your independence before you get married and have babies. I know your mommy and daddy agree. That's what Nannys are for. :) (If you're not careful daddy might not even let you date - ever!! :))
Baby Boy Ian and Baby Boy Rohan are here, too, but that'll have to be for another blog. :)
I would have never posted pictures of my baby girl on here until she was older but since her mommy has her face on Facebook, I figured it would be ok. :)
The next generation of strong, spicy, intelligent, precocious, independent hellion women:
I can't decide who she looks more like, so I'll say she's the perfect mix of my brother, his wife Peggy, my sister Donna and me. It was a long time in between the birth of Alisha, who is now 25, and Jonalee, who is almost 2, since I decided a few years back that I didn't want kids, and my sister decided she was NOT going to have more than one! So Jonalee was a welcomed addition to the family.
The daredevil in her and my brother trying desperately to keep her safe:
The look that will either slay you or make you tremble in fear. Ha!!! I cannot express how much I love the fact that she has the little gaps in her teeth just like her daddy. Just makes my heart melt!
It's good to have you here, beautiful baby girl. And I'll always be the liberal nanny who lives out west where you'll want to visit when you hit your rebellious teens. :) Your dad will protest but you'll come visit anyway. And I'll make sure you get to college and find your independence before you get married and have babies. I know your mommy and daddy agree. That's what Nannys are for. :) (If you're not careful daddy might not even let you date - ever!! :))
Baby Boy Ian and Baby Boy Rohan are here, too, but that'll have to be for another blog. :)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Future Opps
I've been working on the veterinary school applications/recommendation letters for my two girls at work for the last few days and it's so much fun! But it's so much work. And, as I'm writing these letters, I'm realizing how proud I am of these girls! They are mini-me's. Smart, college degrees, intelligent decisions about their futures, and now applications for vet school. And it's soooo much fun to re-live this experience through their eyes!
So very few people - eh hum, dare I say, women - get the chance to pursue this career. Many *say* they want to do it, but the bottom line is very few have the guts much less ability to actually pursue it. This is one field where saying you want to do it is definitely not in the same universe of actually doing it. When I think about all that I went through to get where I am today, I realize how truly unique and privileged we veterinarians are.
We are doing what very few get to do. We are healers to those who cannot speak for themselves.
Ok so what I'm getting at, that may or may not seem important to those not in my field, is that there is a chance I will get to become the Humane Society vet for the local juvenile detention dog training program. Yes, little kids who are in trouble, underprivileged, uneducated and probably hurting on many levels, have been enrolled via the Humane Society to help train dogs so they can be more adoptable. My role would be not only to be responsible for the medical care of these wonderful doggies, but to help educate these kids on responsible pet ownership.
I would get to influence these underprivileged, troubled kids in a good way, using my doctorate.
What else can you ask for? One of the most rewarding, specialized, unique careers in the world and get to help underprivileged kids at the same time?
Come on, top that. :)
So very few people - eh hum, dare I say, women - get the chance to pursue this career. Many *say* they want to do it, but the bottom line is very few have the guts much less ability to actually pursue it. This is one field where saying you want to do it is definitely not in the same universe of actually doing it. When I think about all that I went through to get where I am today, I realize how truly unique and privileged we veterinarians are.
We are doing what very few get to do. We are healers to those who cannot speak for themselves.
Ok so what I'm getting at, that may or may not seem important to those not in my field, is that there is a chance I will get to become the Humane Society vet for the local juvenile detention dog training program. Yes, little kids who are in trouble, underprivileged, uneducated and probably hurting on many levels, have been enrolled via the Humane Society to help train dogs so they can be more adoptable. My role would be not only to be responsible for the medical care of these wonderful doggies, but to help educate these kids on responsible pet ownership.
I would get to influence these underprivileged, troubled kids in a good way, using my doctorate.
What else can you ask for? One of the most rewarding, specialized, unique careers in the world and get to help underprivileged kids at the same time?
Come on, top that. :)
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Perspective
It occurred to me today that, even though I've owned my hospital for nearly 2 years, I am actually only just now claiming ownership of it. I'm not sure quite how to explain this, but I'll try. It used to be that I was fairly strict on some of my rules. I now see that it was an attitude that I inherited by being an associate and not an owner. I would complain if I had to do a spay or maybe a dental on a Saturday, or if I had to accommodate a client in some manner that annoyed me. It was definitely not my thing to go to people's houses and do things like euthanasia; that was tech work and I didn't go to school for 9 years for that!
But now, I find myself seeing the world more and more from my client's point of view. I want to be there for them when they need me. Or, at least, I sure am trying hard to do that. If a client now tells me they work hard all week and can only do that dental next Saturday, well then we'll get it done next Saturday.
Today I had the grumpiest owner in the world come in with his dog who had a sore on her foot. I'd seen her in May and the sore was not there then. The first thing out of his mouth was that he TOLD me about it in MAY but I didn't DO anything about it. I reminded him that was nearly 5 months ago and he should have come back in before now! Either way, I convinced him xrays were needed and he agreed. What I found was a mangled, nasty looking toe. Talked to him again and then had my tech go into the room with an estimate for a toe amputation.
Next I hear, he not only wants to remove the toe, but he wants ONLY ME to do it. Uh huh, no part time or relief doc will do; he wants to wait until I am in the office so I can do it and no one else.
So I gave in and told him I'd stay late today, on Saturday, and do that surgery for his dog. Never mind my lunch plans with friends; this guy and his doggy needed me.
That's what I mean - the old me would have scheduled it for next week; the new me just wanted to help this guy and his dog.
Not to say I don't have days when I still vent and I still get angry and defensive; but all in all, how can you take offense or get angry when a client only wants you? Another client of mine got really mad when he came in for an exam for his dog only to discover I was on vacation. Boy did we hear about that one! He was pissed! So at first I was defensive and got angry and responded in kind, but then I thought about it and realized... how could I be mad because he requested to see me and didn't get to see me and was therefore angry because of that?
I should have been flattered.
I could make the argument that the depression in the state of CA (yes it is a depression, not a recession) is causing me to be more humble and more open to doing things I wouldn't have done before, but that's not it. It's not that I'm feeling humble and bowing my head over these things; in fact, I'm proud as hell that we are providing such good customer service and surviving this evil, awful economy. I still won't do a C Section, (I do spays, not c-sections) I still won't crop ears or do other things just because an owner wants me to do it. I give the core vaccines every 3 years because it's the best thing to do, and I require exams every single year for all of my patients. I'm proud of these things because it means I truly care about my patients and I'm not just in it for the money.
If the universe sees fit that I am not supposed to stay in this place and that the depression will bring about the failure of my business, then I'll leave it with the knowledge that I gave it my best and didn't compromise my values for anything, especially not for money.
And my anus will stay intact. :)
But now, I find myself seeing the world more and more from my client's point of view. I want to be there for them when they need me. Or, at least, I sure am trying hard to do that. If a client now tells me they work hard all week and can only do that dental next Saturday, well then we'll get it done next Saturday.
Today I had the grumpiest owner in the world come in with his dog who had a sore on her foot. I'd seen her in May and the sore was not there then. The first thing out of his mouth was that he TOLD me about it in MAY but I didn't DO anything about it. I reminded him that was nearly 5 months ago and he should have come back in before now! Either way, I convinced him xrays were needed and he agreed. What I found was a mangled, nasty looking toe. Talked to him again and then had my tech go into the room with an estimate for a toe amputation.
Next I hear, he not only wants to remove the toe, but he wants ONLY ME to do it. Uh huh, no part time or relief doc will do; he wants to wait until I am in the office so I can do it and no one else.
So I gave in and told him I'd stay late today, on Saturday, and do that surgery for his dog. Never mind my lunch plans with friends; this guy and his doggy needed me.
That's what I mean - the old me would have scheduled it for next week; the new me just wanted to help this guy and his dog.
Not to say I don't have days when I still vent and I still get angry and defensive; but all in all, how can you take offense or get angry when a client only wants you? Another client of mine got really mad when he came in for an exam for his dog only to discover I was on vacation. Boy did we hear about that one! He was pissed! So at first I was defensive and got angry and responded in kind, but then I thought about it and realized... how could I be mad because he requested to see me and didn't get to see me and was therefore angry because of that?
I should have been flattered.
I could make the argument that the depression in the state of CA (yes it is a depression, not a recession) is causing me to be more humble and more open to doing things I wouldn't have done before, but that's not it. It's not that I'm feeling humble and bowing my head over these things; in fact, I'm proud as hell that we are providing such good customer service and surviving this evil, awful economy. I still won't do a C Section, (I do spays, not c-sections) I still won't crop ears or do other things just because an owner wants me to do it. I give the core vaccines every 3 years because it's the best thing to do, and I require exams every single year for all of my patients. I'm proud of these things because it means I truly care about my patients and I'm not just in it for the money.
If the universe sees fit that I am not supposed to stay in this place and that the depression will bring about the failure of my business, then I'll leave it with the knowledge that I gave it my best and didn't compromise my values for anything, especially not for money.
And my anus will stay intact. :)
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