Navigating The Los Angeles Wildfires with a DPC practice
As the winds picked up on Jan 7, many of us felt fear and dread. A firestorm was making its way through the Southern California landscape, ravaging everything in its path. Some watched in horror as their homes burned while others felt the extreme pain of knowing loved ones did not escape. Firefighters, both civilian and inmate crews, and those from countries, fought against nearly impossible odds to preserve as much as they could. Power lines sparked before they were shut off to prevent worsening disaster. Tensions grew and stress compounded across the land. My practice is a few miles away from the Eaton Fire and I was afraid it would also burn down. I have spent time clearing ash and debris outside my office feeling a chest tightness and sorrow for those who have lost it all.
Living with severe asthma has been a monumental challenge in my life and I began to feel the familiar panic of breathing in toxins that render me breathless. Thankfully I have been able to heal from this chronic condition through much therapy, gut health protocols, dietary changes, immunotherapy and leaving no stone unturned. The other major way I healed was to leave my previous employment in corporate medicine about a year and half ago.
I turned on the air purifiers everywhere, donned an N95 and goggles and went to work in tending “my garden”. I cleared what I could, cleaned what I could and offered support to my patients, community members, loved ones and anyone in my path, as best as possible. My body did not allow me to go and volunteer as the fatigue has been significant. I have learned that I do not need to be the hero, but rather, do my part with love. And so that is what I have done. I am present and listening for those who are stressed from the fires. I am available to my patients with compassion, care and medical care. I am also learning that to keep my patients from worrying about me, I need to model excellent self-care. What have I learned in having a new DPC during the time of Los Angeles Wildfires? I have learned that that taking care of myself with kindness, gentility and compassion means that my patients and community get the best of me. My practice of medicine is no longer a mantra of sacrifice but rather love and respect that starts with me and can overflow to others. In that truth, I have been able to find peace and equanimity with enormous gratitude.
