A Thankful Visit

So this wasn’t going to be a classic, unforgettable Thanksgiving. And I know you choose your own attitude…but I got the feeling Jimmy Stewart aka George Bailey was gonna have his work cut out for him this year selling me on “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

When I start thinking back about all of the amazing Turkey/Ravioli family Thanksgivings past it’s easy to fall into that void I visit more often as each year goes by, missing the people I’ve loved most who were also the most generous givers of unconditional love.

And my new home is awesome, but this was my first year ever spending Thanksgiving in a home with no family history. And not only that, but let’s face it; even my beloved USC football Trojans stink this year.

And after years of being in solo practice, we were taking on an associate and also looking at the opportunity to physically expand and live into a long-term vision we’ve had for our business- Big-time choices coming up and no true consigliore. Even two of my fave team members were missing in action for over a week. Ugh, I got your turkey right here.

But I do work at staying positive. Each day I drive into the office the first thing I do is recite everything for which I am grateful. The exercise goes something like this: “I’m grateful for Mom and Dad and (my brother) Jay and Aunt Clara and the whole family. I’m grateful for my education, being a dentist, having my own business, working with people I love and doing something I love. I’m grateful for being healthy and active and still thinking young. I’m grateful for the chance to be creative. I’m grateful for all the great experiences I get to have and I’m also grateful for the challenges I get every day. I’m grateful for my travels; going to Sicily and seeing Piana deglis Albenese (my mom’s family’s hometown). And most of all, I’m grateful for my having had the opportunity to help out Mom.” And you would think... But I was still walking around all depressed (as my dad would describe) like a (figuratively) disgusted millionaire.

Then, yesterday, Allison arrived for her 11AM appointment.

I hadn’t seen Allison since July. During her first visit Allison was in tears over her pain and frustration at not being able to sleep. Allison was a young mom with three children, aged one to four; the oldest child was being treated for cancer. Allison had been diagnosed with sleep apnea but couldn’t tolerate her CPAP appliance; Allison also wore an appliance that helped her manage severe headaches. During her visit, a consult for the possibility of delivering an appliance that would help manage her sleep apnea, Allison told us she thought we were her last hope.

We made and delivered an OASYS sleep apnea appliance for Allison. With her rigorous schedule (Allison also works full-time) following up was difficult. But yesterday was a good day for George Bailey and me.

A new smiling Allison walked through our door yesterday. “I thank you so much and so do my husband and children. I get to be a real mom and wife again.” Allison was exercising daily, had lost 25 pounds, and had the kind of energy that could even make Super-Dental Assistant Kolleen, high-on-caffeine, envious. Allison was sleeping 70% better (her estimate); the headaches were gone.

Allison will soon be having another sleep study to see if adjusting the oral appliance can take that 70% improvement to the next level. And guess who just got added to my AM grateful list?

Years ago, when I started out, I never dreamed a visit to the dentist could transform a life. And even more surprisingly, I never dreamed it would be mine.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

_fV