Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Reeves.
Jamie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Today, I woke up with clarity! God has a purpose for my life! I’m well aware now! I am usually very private. But today I’m sharing! On May 21, 2015 my mother called me in the middle of the night. She was in so much pain. I was in Atlanta and she was in Detroit. She called me in a panic. She was having chest pains. I told her to go to the emergency room. She eventually got up and went. They sent her home with medications as she waited on her results. The following week, I was leaving work and I had several missed calls from my mother. I was walking out of the building and my best friend/mother dropped the biggest bomb on me. My life as I knew it was about to be changed FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!! My mother told me she had CANCER! It was like a slow-motion movie. My heart dropped, I was sweating, numb, and scared. I dropped to the floor and screamed and cried sssssssssssssooooooooo HARD!! I’d forgotten I was in public. I ran to bathroom and locked myself in there for a while. My mother was trying to be strong and this was now my job.
She was only 66, why my mother? Why? She was diagnosed with lung cancer. She had not smoked in over 30 years. She didn’t drink and never participated in any drug use. She worked for the Detroit Board of Education for more than 35 years. She had retired. And she back to work part-time. I flew home immediately. I just wanted to hug her. November 19, 2015 my mother turned 67. The doctors told her she needed to have surgery. She had stage 4 lung cancer. Why would she want surgery??!! My mother was old school and believed that doctors could help her. I flew up there and begged her not to have the surgery. They had my mother on over 12 medications—morphine, oxycodone, etc. I was heartbroken. I fired one doctor. I flew back to Atlanta, and my mother was getting worse. So, I flew back and my mother and had the surgery. One week later, I flew back to Atlanta. On December 14, 2015, my siblings called me and said my mother was not well. I felt something wasn’t right. I flew up there, and my mother slipped in a coma. She waited for me to arrive, and I lost it. I cried ssssssssssssooo hard, and I told her it was ok. She could go after squeezing my hand tight. Heaven gained an angel on December 15, 2015. My mother waited for me! I saw my mother take her last breath. A pain that is indescribable. My mother taught me how to live with her, but she never taught me how to live without her.
Having faced all of that, I was now having severe stomach pain! Being used to pain, having a very bad menstrual cycle, I now had unbearable pain. I called my sister and described my pain. She suggested I schedule a doctor’s appt. and also asked me to be checked for fibroids! Unfamiliar with what they were, I said ok. One week later, I went in for a Pap smear and ultrasound. I waited for my results and sure enough. I had four fibroids, stage 4 endometriosis, and a cyst. Not knowing what to do with this info, I had a doctor ready to schedule me for a myomectomy immediately. I told him, “NO”! I wanted to learn what is was and get a second opinion! I was not comfortable with his bedside manors, so I scheduled another appt with a specialist. Now, with another doctor and a different procedure suggestion and After the long research, I was scheduled for a UFE outpatient procedure. I had the procedure, and I felt great! It was the best decision for me. My cycles were much lighter. Then, almost two years later, I’m in pain again. I called my doctor. I was way familiar with this pain at this point. Having experienced it before, I scheduled another appt. This time, I went to 10 doctors and four specialists. I went to as many doctors as I could because some of the doctors I went to were male doctors, that were a little insensitive to my matter. Nothing wrong with male doctors, but these male doctors I went to, did not have the best advice for me and my body at that time. The women doctors were more thorough and suggested a less invasive way to proceed on my body. A male doctor opened my mother up with stage 4 lung cancer. Why?!!! So, I was more educated on my body and knowing exactly what I wanted for me! Always do your research! Most research is FREE! Now, having to have another surgery, I was terrified! I had four doctors that worked on me at one time, and three surgeries later, I felt wonderful! I had the best doctors. I had the best health insurance. So, grateful, but I couldn’t help but think about the women that didn’t have any insurance or the knowledge. My hospital bill was 80,000.00 per night stayed two nights 3,500.00 per doctor. I had 4 (14,000) 800 pain meds was my medication at the time for pain. All covered at 100% because it was my second surgery before the year ended, and I met my deductible. Just imagine a 200,000.00 bill with no insurance. Or, would I have gotten the best care with different insurance. We have to do your research! Now, three years later. I still feel good! Having gone through all of that, I was a branch manager at a bank. So, when I went back to corporate America, my branch numbers were way down! Leaving from number 5 in my region for sales and number 1 in the region for customer service. This was not fair!
So, it was time to leave Corporate America. I decided to step out on faith! I went to 3 franchise meetings. I was determined to become an entrepreneur! Not, having the exact blueprint, I knew it was FREEDOM!! So, having researching and moving in silence. I realized everyone wasn’t going to see my vision! So, I wanted few opinions! I had a puppy years ago and could not keep him. After, having a puppy I remembered what joy he brought me! So, I went online and for 1 month I did my research! I found a shih-Tzu breeder. I called her and I went to see the liter. After, I researched some more, I went to see the puppies again and bonded instantly with Gigi! I took her home. After, trying to figure out what to feed her, her poor little stomach was upset. She was on one dog food that made her sick. I took her to the vet. After trying their recommendation, that they put her on, her stomach was still upset. After, researching and learning how many recalls both brands had. I took her off both foods. I went to an organic pet store. After, being educated on her food, I now knew what to feed her. I realized this was so common in pet lovers. So, I knew what I wanted to do. I was patient about it. After, more research within 60 days. I opened a specialty pet store. I am an entrepreneur! I DID IT!
My two year anniversary is in a couple of months, and I made it! The business is profiting, I am healthy, I am debt free, 820 credit score, and I am HAPPPYYYYYY! Every day is still a process! Through prayer, therapy, great friends and LOVE, I SURVIVED! PRAY THROUGH THE PROCESS! PRAY THROUGH THE PAIN! I’ve been through it. To get here! There isn’t anyone that hasn’t been through something, but… it’s your bounce back that matters! Thank you for sending me your email. I hope you have enjoyed my story! Make it a great day! Because I WILL! Love, Loving me MORE! A New WOMAN!!! Jamie
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
NO. Absolutely, not. There is going to be struggles sometimes. My struggles were losing my mother and health issues. However, even becoming a business owner, there are always struggles. I have found a balance in working out and becoming the best me I can be!
Purrefect Paws Pet Boutique – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
We specialize in natural and organic cat and dog food. We sell accessories, leashes, collars, clothes, CBD, beds and anything for cats or dogs. I am 1 of 5 African Americans out of over 200 with a specialty store in Georgia. I absolutely love what I do, and Gigi gets to come to work with me every day, it a complete joy! I am most proud that I stepped out on faith and did it with no help, and now the community supports me. What sets us apart is giving great customer service and also we deliver to our customers on Sundays, just to the local neighbors, like the elderly, people that are sick or expecting moms. We care about our neighbors.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career is able to help others help their fur baby. Also, employing other people.
Contact Info:
- Address: Purrfect Paws Pet Boutique
6590 Sugarloaf PKwy ste. 104
Duluth, GA. 30097 - Website: purrfectpawspetboutique.com
- Phone: 770-299-1881
- Email: purrfect@purrfectpawspetboutique.com
- Instagram: purrfectpawsatl
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