![]() ![]() ![]() I have learned to not be so hard on myself… As most of us in this profession know, we are our own harshest critics. What I have told them is that I have tried to be honest about my mistakes and to acknowledge what I don’t know I have tried not to have tunnel vision when working up a case and I have learned not to engage with bullies (clients and co-workers) to protect my mental health. I have been fortunate to be able to speak with students at WCVM for the past several years and so much of this message comes from what I have said to them and what they have asked. So as my year of President’s Messages comes to an end, I have decided to write on what veterinary medicine has taught me. It has given me friends, experiences, and a way to help the animals that I care so much about. I wish I had the words to articulate what veterinary medicine means to me and I suspect to so many of you. I have met people who have never given up - applying year after year to veterinary schools, continuing on in the face of personal and financial hardships and putting so much of their lives on hold to follow their dream. Overcoming obstacles on the path to becoming a veterinarian is not a story that is unique to me. Well, I did walk into school that day and for that decision I will be forever grateful. I can still remember sitting in the parking lot of WCVM after the funeral and thinking, “I am done.” I no longer cared about becoming a vet and only wanted to drive back home and figure out the rest of my life. A dream come true! But during Christmas of my 2nd year my mom died. So it was little wonder that the day I got accepted to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) was one of the happiest of my life. From work to entertainment, there wasn’t much in my childhood that didn’t involve animals. I was so lucky to grow up on a farm in rural Saskatchewan with almost every type of animal a child could imagine - dogs, cats, horses, cows, donkeys, goats, sheep, ducks, and even a llama. We are committed to full transparency in outlining what information we collect about donors and visitors, how it is used and how you can opt-out of those programs (online or by traditional communications) if you so choose.There was never a time in my life when I didn’t want to be a veterinarian. Dreams Come True respects the privacy interests and preferences of our donors and website visitors. We recommend that you consult with your CPA to determine the extent of tax deductibility. Your financial contributions may be deductible for federal income tax purposes. Your Donationĭreams Come True of Jacksonville is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Since 1984, Dreams Come True has fulfilled the dreams of more than 4,300 children in North Florida and South Georgia. We are not affiliated with any national wish-granting charity and 100% of all donations go toward fulfilling dreams, unless otherwise directed by the donor. We can do this because of the generosity of our donors, business partners, program sponsors, and the support of our Board of Directors. Whatever the dream may be, it’s the momentary reprieve from doctor visits, tests and medical treatments that makes all the difference.Īs the First Coast’s only locally-based organization dedicated to making dreams come true, we are proud to say that we have never turned away a dreamer and we never will. For others, the dream is seeing snow or snuggling with their very own puppy. ![]() We’ve Never Turned Away a Dreamer and We Never Willĭreams come in all shapes and sizes some children ask for a trip to Disney World, a cruise or the opportunity to meet a celebrity. Paul Wharton, they launched Dreams Come True, a non-profit organization dedicated to granting the dreams of children with life-threatening illnesses. Partnering with his friends, Hugh Jones (Chairman of Barnett Bank), Jay Stein and Jack Williams (Stein Mart) and Roy Baker (Chairman of the Board of Directors of University Medical Center), as well as his godson, Dr. McGehee realized the power of a dream fulfilled. That could have been the end of the story, but Mr. A year later, George lost his battle with cystic fibrosis and was buried with his prized driver at his side. This simple act of kindness not only meant the world to George, but also his family. Following an exciting round of play, Couples gave George his driver. George loved golf, and when McGehee learned this, he arranged for George to play with Fred Couples in the Pro-Am of the The Players Championship (TPC). McGehee, Chairman of Mac Papers, and his wife, Delia, met a 17-year-old boy named George Lee, who was battling cystic fibrosis. Support Dreams Come True Who We Are It All Started with a Simple Act of Kindness
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