Several years ago, I developed fairly severe asthma-triggering cat allergies. Before that I did not have asthma. Or allergies. I figured I was home free after not having allergy issues as a kid. I was not.
Thank God all this nonsense started well after our amazing Max the Cat had passed away. Poor Russ has had longstanding cat allergies and suffered through sixteen years with our awesome cat. If I tried to do that today, I could not.
“I can’t stop seeing cats as patients,” I told my allergist. I knew he would sympathize, and he did. His father was a veterinarian, and he knew personally how rewarding it is to practice in a medical career that you love.
“You don’t have a choice,” he said.
I protested. He waited.
“Oh,” I whispered, “I will figure it out.”
My boss at the time graciously allowed me to stop seeing cats as patients, and the rest of the team adjusted their workload to see more cats and keep me safe, as has every boss and team member since. THANK YOU. You saved my career and my life. Are continuing to save.
My good friend Dr. Neubert recommended an allergist whose team our whole family sees now. Blue and I go weekly for immunotherapy injections. Too soon to tell if it is helping. Fingers crossed! I mean, please Universe. I mean, keep praying!
Our allergy team is amazing. I am SO thankful for them and to them. THANK YOU ASHTMA AND ALLERGY TEAM!
The office is a stone’s throw from the Twin Creek area :) Eh, it is good to be back around my old stomping grounds. I have wonderful memories from those two years. And I love the area. We get to visit the Huffman produce stand and walk the beautiful trails and frequent the fun businesses in the area, some owned by previous clients and old friends.
This past week was the first rough stretch in months. I was fighting a respiratory issue, which I am sure set me back. The team, as always, guarded me fiercely. But it was a rough go.
Today is cat free and amazing. Remind me to appreciate breathing well when I get used to it again!
There is a very kind technician I sometimes see as a client who had to leave boots on the ground practice because of allergies. I call her The Ghost of Christmas Future. I, as she did, will do everything in my power to stay in day to day practice as long as possible. And it IS possible. I am thriving. I just need to be careful, and have my family, friends, team and community behind me. And I do. You are amazing.
I miss you, cats. I hope to see you again someday. Until then friends, keep sharing all the cat photos and stories with me. Thank you for trusting me with your dogs, and thank you for trusting my colleagues with your cats.
I love your cats so much. I love this career so much and am so grateful for this path forward. Onward and upward, inhaler in hand =^..^=