I wasn't sure where to post this, so I am guessing this is the right place.  After nearly two years of not working (I used to be in real estate... enough said), I spent the last few years going back to school to get into a more stable career.  Since everything pointed to health care as the "safe" place to be, I pursued a degree in Health Information Technology, which is the degree one gets to become a Medical Coder.  I graduated this past June, yet all summer I applied to job after job after job, but didn't get a call for a single interview. No bites whatsoever. 

Back when I was in school, I started to learn about Cancer Registry, and became fascinated with it, particularly because of the journey I traveled with my Tripawd, Queen Nova, and her (stupid) Osteosarcoma.  A Cancer Registrar must have a very in-depth knowledge of anything and everything related to cancer.  Even though I hate cancer with a passion, I want to learn everything I can about it, its causes and treatments.  I wanted more than anything to find a job where I could learn more about what my sweet Nova was up against.  

In September, a job opportunity came up at the University of Michigan Medical Center, pretty much the most prestigious hospital in the State of Michigan, and pretty much the "ultimate" place to work in my area when it comes to benefits, pay, etc.  It was a long shot, but I tossed aside my "usual" cover letter and wrote an impassioned one, talking about my journey with Nova and how it led me to abandon real estate and helped drive me into healthcare as a career path.  It was a big risk to send what I did, because I knew if the person who read the letter was one of those "a dog is just a dog" type of people, they would have tossed it in the trash and declared me a freak. Either it was going to inspire someone to call me, or inspire someone to think I was a total whack job.

Yet, after several months of constant job hunting, that one single letter generated my one and only interview.  And now, a month later, after being up against dozens of other potential candidates for this coveted position, it has resulted in a wonderful job offer.  I am proud to say that I am finally employed, and my new career path was TOTALLY inspired by the one and only Queen Nova, my sweet, cancer-butt-kickin hunka burnin' love Great Dane.  This November she will reach her 3 YEAR ampuversary.  Just thinking of it brings me to (very happy) tears.

Thank you, Big Girl, for being my inspiration and my good luck charm.  All Hail the Queen!

The "Queen Mum", Dane Mom Sue