Inspiring Conversations with Jamesia Showers-Alford

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamesia Showers-Alford.

Hi Jamesia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As a young child, I dreamed of becoming a veterinarian. Growing up in small-town Prentiss, Mississippi, I spent a lot of time on my grandfather’s farm, developing a strong love for animals and nature. Fast forward to May 2010, Tuskegee University granted me the opportunity to complete my lifelong goal. After graduation, I moved to the fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada became a small animal general/emergency medicine practitioner. I also performed relief services at the local shelters/rescues/set up community clinics. As a veterinarian, I have marveled at the very special bond between humans and animals. Pets can make our lives so much better. I am a living witness.

My final years spent in Las Vegas, I gave birth to a son Micah who passed away five months afterwards. Of all the things I have encountered in life, this was the most difficult and made me re-evaluate many of my life decisions. I desired to be near the people that I loved and who loved me most and decided to move to Atlanta, Georgia. I am convinced God used my son Noah and my pets Chyna, Brown and Chandler to aid my healing. They kept me off the “Not One More Vet” list that is unfortunately long enough. My move to Atlanta was more healing than professional. I started my normal professional routine but quickly noticed that I wanted to pursue my inner calling. I wanted to become a mobile practitioner focused on personal/home care (euthanasia, hospice, preventative medicine, ER transport.) Here I am today a living testimony, a living dream!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has definitely not been smooth. As a child, I dreamed about growing up, keeping God first place, working hard to accomplish my goals and then living my best life. Easy right? You could have never told me as a kid I would have overcome as many things that I have. Things that seemed major are now minor from growing up in a single-mother household, living in a disadvantaged hometown, attending schools from a state that consistently ranks #50 out of #50. I can share stories for days; however nothing compares to having a sick baby and watching him through his 5-month journey.

A journey I thought I would not survive. I had convinced myself that I needed to end my life so he could have a parent with him. I knew he would be ill prior to giving birth but holding close to my faith and being unable to see a physical abnormality before giving birth, I decided to give him a chance. This was the hardest best decision I could have ever made. Micah showed me that through weakness, you can still reach heights that people say you can’t. He was given one week up to a one-month life span. God saw fit to let him stay five months. During the five months, he taught me to fight and never give up no matter what the odds are. Prevail! He showed me he is a part of me and what is within me and if he could keep pushing so can I. I know I will forever keep pushing and make him proud. As the hospital team correctly named him Miracle Micah!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Dr. J Personal Vet provides mobile veterinary care all over the great state of Georgia. We will travel anywhere to provide service. We focus on four specific areas: preventative care, emergency stabilization/transport, hospice care and at-home euthanasia. We also set up Dr. J’s Mobile Clinics and serve communities providing preventative care, diagnostics, and therapy for pets. We take pride in being able to come directly to communities and being able to care for the patients in the comfort of their homes, especially during their final days. It can be difficult to transport a senior/disabled pet to a hospital, even if it’s nearby. This can be alleviated by booking Dr. J as your personal vet. Dr. J comes directly to you and is at your service 24/7.

What’s next?
Professionally I would like to open a brick and mortar. I have some other wild future plans that I won’t share today. However, we discuss them when I am at that stage of my career/life. My personal plans would be getting more involved in the community, my son’s school and starting my non-profit Miracle Micah N Motion.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: drjpersonalvet.com

Image Credits
Marcus Gholar Tony Lathon