THE RED JASPER
Dr. Twila Canion
Associate Veterinarian, Meyer Veterinary Hospital | Associate Veterinarian, La Porte Animal Hospital | BS 2014, Central Michigan University | DVM 2019, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine
My Story
Red Jasper is the stone of endurance. It is a stone that provides great clarity, strength, and energy. I believe this stone expresses my belief of positive energy is contagious. One can conquer any obstacle with a positive perspective. My goal as a mentor is to uplift and inspire people.
A dream + action = reality
As far back as I can remember I have always had a sensitive spot in my heart for all animals, however, there is one story I would like to share. I was in middle school around this time when I was walking home and a happy Pit Bull Terrier walked up to me. She was very trusting and sweet. I reached down to pet her when I saw the skin of her neck was cut from ear to ear and hanging. I was astonished that she was not actively bleeding and she did not outwardly show any pain. Some guy came running down the street yelling for the dog and she went with him. I was confused and heartbroken. All I could think at that time was “The dog needs a doctor!” From that experience, I thought about spearheading this “new profession.” When people would ask me what did I want to be, I would proudly say “I want to be an animal doctor,” until one day a teacher said, “don’t you mean you want to be a veterinarian?” Feeling silly I looked up the word veterinarian and I replied to myself “yes, that’s exactly what I want to be.” My love for animals grew as time went on. I found my love for the sciences in high school and undergrad, which complimented my life’s goal because you really can’t have one without the other. I never forgot that dog and her emotional impact on me. I did not get a lot of exposure to veterinary medicine as a young girl. My own animals never went to see a veterinarian nor did anyone’s animal that I knew. I was naive to this beautiful profession and that day I believe my calling found me.
My Struggles
I grew up in the inner city of Detroit Michigan. My mother raised 6 kids and did the best she could. We faced the plight of poverty and violence that engulfed the city. There were many moments that were less than ideal, however, my childhood toughened my skin and gave me a different point of understanding from my peers. I learned to endure and conquer any situation but remain a listening ear for any and everyone. In my 3rd year of vet school (Class of 2018) my mother had been diagnosed with cancer and was given 6 months to live. I took off the rest of the school year and I was by her side in her last moments. It was a big risk to leave school as there were no promises that I could return the following school year. My mother lived two and a half months from her time of diagnosis and I do not regret my decision to leave as I understood vet school will be waiting on me when I returned. I did receive the great news that there was a spot to join the Class of 2019. I completed the third year and moved on to 4th year. The intense stress of 4th year, depression and anxiety did not mix well when it was time to take the NAVLE. I did not pass and I felt like a failure. The second time around I struggled to believe in myself, the stress of losing my contract and future place of employment weighed heavy on me. My second chance had come and gone; I failed again. I did lose my contract but my boss offered me employment as a veterinary assistant. During my studies, I had support from my Purdue mentors, my boss and the entire staff re-enforcing that I have the potential to beat the NAVLE. I started to meditate and find myself again. I believed I could and on the third time, I PASSED! Now I can hold my head high as a licensed veterinarian. I absolutely love my career.
My Heroes
My hero is my mother. She is the epitome of strength and endurance. She took the lemons life gave her and always made lemonade. I watched my mother suffer from depression and addiction my entire childhood. Every time she fell down she would always get right back up. In 2011, my mom enrolled at Phoenix University. Going to school gave her purpose and a distraction to the world around her. In 2014 at 52 years old she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Medical Administration. My mom never gave up and I always think back on her journey in this lifetime. Her story keeps a fire lit in my spirit. I can do whatever I put my focus and energy in.
My Typical Day
A typical day as a general practitioner is unpredictable (lol). In general practice, you may have a full schedule of animals experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, limping, and urination outside of the litter box etc. on top of surgeries (spays, neuters, laceration repairs, eye enucleations, spleen removals, and many others). THEN you have the surprises of the day; walk-in emergencies. Nevertheless, I am a problem solver. It is my job to figure out what’s going on. I assess the animal, run tests on blood and urine, take x-rays and refer to a specialist when called for. There are also many recheck appointments to monitor the progress of treatment. I am a new graduate, so there is always a case that I’ve never seen before or a surgery I’ve never done. To stay on top of my game I refer to the books and my mentors when needed.
My Stressors
I can’t always pinpoint specific stressors when it comes to dealing with depression but honesty is key when I am not feeling myself. When I go home, I focus on my self-care routine doing the things I want to do. I leave work at work and focus on me and how I currently feel. I try to think of why I may feel this way and what can I do to change this feeling. Sometimes just going for a walk to get sunlight, meditate, read an interesting book or talk to a family member or friend. Staying in tune with myself helps keep me grounded.
My Why
I love to learn. The information and innovation in veterinary medicine are constant. I love that I can make a difference in the lives of an animal and its owner.
