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[Guest guest]

Hello group,

I have been lax at posting due to my heavy work load, but

I DO read each post and get so much from the sharing. Sue,

your poll on Self-Esteem is a really good idea and I just

wanted to add my thoughts on the issue in relation to my life.

I was diagnosed with CMT as a kid and had 2 surgeries and

was out of school for a time, but had a tutor. In a way,

she became sort of a mentor, because she was a polio survivor, and even though

I was in my teens, she really

gave me a lot of good advice and help. Especially in the Self-Esteem

department where I was suffering...you know,

being 15 and being 'different', etc.

She was quick to pick up on my love for animals and also

for my interest in sciences, and was the first one to encourage me to consider

Vet medicine as a career, which I later did, even though my family didn't

think I could handle

the rigors of years of school, plus the career itself. I

promptly let 'those thoughts' float in one ear and out the

other...long story short, I have been a Vet now for about 20

years and I share my practice with one other Vet and I get

great satisfaction out of helping the sick and injured animals as well as

calming the owners.

I feel that somewhere along the line those people that showed me compassion

helped my self - esteem and that has helped me calm the nervous owners and

even be with an owner for a few hours if I have had to put their beloved down.

Gretchen, I know you asked me to write something about my career for the

newsletter, and I am sorry I ignored you so that is my ONE resolution and I

WILL do it!

Life with CMT can certainly be a hard one, and I do believe

a good healthy self-esteem can make things easier. Sorry this is so long, I

also promise to post more often when time permits and to be more of an active

participant in the group. Remember, everyone, despite our CMT we have good,

useful brains, talents and abilities!

Happy '02 to all!

JJ

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