Little Miracles Everywhere: My Unorthodox Path to Holistic Veterinary Medicine

by Marcie Fallek D.V.M.

Join holistic veterinarian Marcie Fallek on an unconventional healing path that puts love of animals and their wellness first.

In this funny, honest, and illuminating memoir, Marcie Fallek, a skeptical New Yorker and animal lover, embarks on a journey to become a veterinarian. She begins her quest at an Italian veterinary school, where most students flunk out. Her struggles lead her to India, in search of Divine help. She vows, following a series of cathartic experiences there, to devote her life to caring for animals, with her conscience as her guide.
 
Eventually licensed and working, Marcie discovers that the driving force for many of her colleagues is money, not a love of animals. Unscrupulous vets fake test results, perform unnecessary procedures, and prescribe drugs and food to line their pockets. In fact, Marcie discovers that many of the very prescriptions and procedures designed to heal her charges might, in fact, be leading to more injury and illness. Though she risks losing everything that took so long to build, she sets out to learn the truth.
 
This quest is not without consequences. Yet Marcie stays true to her ethical compass, refusing to compromise her morals and values. At each dark turn, a succession of instances (coincidences? miracles?) leads her down an unconventional healing path, where her spiritual and professional self merge. Marcie finds her true purpose in healing animals—including those destined for end-of-life measures—using her wits, wisdom, intuition, love, and holistic care.

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 29, 2024

Reviews

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcie Fallek, DVM, CVA, the Author of “Little Miracles Everywhere” writes an intriguing and compassionate memoir. Dr. Fallek describes her journey of both self-awareness, and love of animals. I appreciate the author’s honesty, vunerability and the dash of wit, to describe her experience in becoming a vet. Dr. Fallek starts Veterinary School in Italy, where she is under pressure to take. many tests. She goes to India in her personal quest for “Devine help”

After working for different Vets and practices, she realizes that some Vets work in traditional ways, and others work for profit in prescribing expensive medications, and surgeries. Dr. Fallek often thinks of dogs and cats in relation to being people, and researches holistic methods of treating the animals. She takes acupuncture courses, and does have great success with that, and also uses homeopathic and holistic formulas to help. She is unconventional in many of her approaches, but also successful, and often has “Little Miracles” when there was no hope. I recommend this Memoir of a Veterinarian truly helping animals out of love, and in her way.

[Rachel Gable · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 65%

When I read the blurb for this book, I thought it would be an interesting and informative exploration into a branch of veterinarian medicine I've been curious about. Instead, it's a lot of random stories that I feel portray the author to be painfully immature (even after 7 years of practicing regular veterinary medicine at one point) and a peculiar amount of random kind of "name dropping". The last story she tells of meeting a woman at an international conference about veterinary acupuncture made me laugh out loud and give up on the book. This woman, Leslie, tells her that she works part time at NASA as a physicist, which is "much easier than being a vet". She proceeds to tell Fallek about a psychic who can talk to animals and when she told her coworkers at NASA about this psychic, they all laughed it off. Fast forward a year and one of Leslie's NASA colleagues contacted her for this psychic's number since their whole family had been murdered in their house, apart from the dog, and they wanted to see if the dog could tell them anything....lo and behold the psychic spoke to the dog and they were able to find the murderer...too far fetched for me! I'm sure some people will like this book but it's not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

TITLE: Little Miracles Everywhere: Memoir of a Holistic Veterinarian
AUTHOR: Dr. Marcie Fallek, DVM, CVA
PUB DATE: 10.29.2024

I love an inspiring memoir and the story of people’s life journey to success with all of its ups and downs. I absolutely adore our vet and think that she is one of the most brilliant and kind hearted people I know. Dr. Marcie Fallek is so inspiring as she follows a strong moral compass in her practice and her unconventional wisdom in providing care to animals.

This is my first book for Nonfiction November and I highly recommend it.

[Peter Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this for a friend and myself, I don’t read physical “books” often and settled in for a short read… but got stuck because I couldn’t put it down. I’m trying to put my own life in order and working to make space for different ways of looking at problems… too much instead of surrendering to passivity and being driven by what definitions of “normal” and necessary to be accepted by others… so I very much connected with this book. So now that I “sampled” it I need to get another copy because… well, you get the idea. Thumbing through the chapter list brought a quiet smile but I resisted—as best I could—jumping around. The prologue had me hooked. Before I knew it I got a new one for the gift since I wasn’t going to hand it over. I smiled knowingly because I really connected with a number of Marcie’s “situations” and waited to see how she pressed forward to navigate some pretty tough obstacles. Her story also describes how one can and needs to have faith in ourselves, cast off negativity that can be strangling… to challenge our fears and place trust in that “inner voice” for guidance when things seem impossible. To allow good things to happen through that faith. Is there a “higher authority”? This book will help answer that question. I felt recognition and a comfort in this story, and a calming satisfaction by it’s end. I’ll look forward to the author’s next chapter… I hope? Highly recommended!

[Chrisann Justice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much through reading this book. When I was a child in Honduras I knew an American man who was studying to be a vet in Honduras. I can't help but wonder how his education compared to what the Italian system was like. I really wanted to be a vet as a teenager and young adult but gave up on that dream after taking my first chemistry class in college. I can't help but wonder if I might have been able to fulfill the dream if I had considered studying abroad. I'm happy with my life path but it is still very interesting to consider all of the ways to get where you want to go. It was painful to read about her severe anxiety but I am grateful that she shared so openly. One question I never felt got resolved was whether the holistic methods she learned for helping animals ever helped her with her own anxiety. I loved knowing about her journey to understanding how to best help our pets.

[Cassie’s Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful honest and moving story of the authors journey to becoming a veterinarian, and bringing her love of animals to each and everyone she cares for. Dr. Fallek starts her education for Veterinary School in Italy, She the. goes to India in her personal quest for “Devine help”. After working for different Vets and their practices, she soon realizes that some of the Vets work in traditional ways, and others work to make profit and they start prescribing expensive medications, and even surgeries. She believes in the possibility of treating the animals in a holistic methods which is less invasive. She takes acupuncture courses, and even homeopathic and holistic formulas to help. She begins to see some success in which she calls Little Miracles” when there was no hope left . I recommend this book for any animal lover.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really touched my heart. First of all, because I’m such an animal lover, but secondly, because I had wanted to be a veterinarian. Like Dr. Fallek, I struggled with many of the ethical issues that go on in vet schools, so along with other life factors, I never pursued it after my undergrad degree.

Her holistic and natural approach to treating animals would have surprised me more had I not known a few people in my life who swore by acupuncture, massage, and even chiropractic measures for their dogs. I loved that Dr. Fallek cared so passionately for animals and was dedicated to giving them the best treatment.

Dr. Fallek’s is an insightful, warm, and entertaining journey everyone will enjoy.

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @holisticvetusa for a spot on tour and a gifted ebook.

[Kim Wilch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book resonated with me - after an adverse reaction to the medication, I chose not to give my dog heartworm meds. Many years later, when he started sneezing blood, the vet had me in tears, accusing me of pet neglect by not giving him the meds. I asked if there was a test to confirm heartworms - he tested NEGATIVE. I immediately found a new vet, one who cared more about my precious pooch than money. Best decision ever.  

This is a must-read for anyone who loves their fur babies. The author dedicated her life to saving animals and shares her knowledge with us. The story of how she became a vet is equally enjoyable. After working for various vets, she explored a more holistic approach to treating animals. She has seen “little miracles everywhere” and you will too.

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an animal lover, I found this memoir to be very compelling. Dr. Fallek shares her journey from vet school in Bologna, Italy to how she became certified in using acupuncture and holistic treatments to help animals.

Dr. Fallek gives multiple examples of how traditional vaccinations in animals have led to problems with their long term health. It is definitely thought provoking.

I have never heard of a holistic vet so I found the descriptions of her practice and process to diagnose and heal animals fascination. I also appreciate that she uses traditional veterinarian practice notes to help her with her diagnosis and treatment.

Dr. Fallek shares her love of animals and dedication to their well being as well as sharing her journey that got her to this place.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this memoir. It is the journey of veterinarian, Marcie Fallek and her love of animals. Having suffered abuse as a child and an eating disorder, her story of self discovery and eventual fulfillment as a holistic veterinarian is so remarkable. Her trip to India while she was in vet school was fascinating and a turning point. I also loved how she explored all options and worked with a variety of different vets to find what was best for her and her morals. I could not put this book down! It appealed to me is so many ways. The writing was well done and conveyed the emotion and purpose behind her choices.
I definitely recommend!

[Christy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lifelong animal lover and 20 plus year pet mom I suspected I would enjoy this book. It far exceeded expectations and it was truly unputdownable. Marcie’s journey (from her studies in Italy to becoming licensed in the US) was fascinating to me. Then what an incredible path she followed as she transitioned from standard to holistic practice! I love that her faith helped her “keep on keeping on” despite hurdle after hurdle. I was completely consumed reading about the animals she helped with acupuncture and homeopathic remedies and saddened by the resistance she met from traditional vets along the way. The pictures she included of her family and beloved furry friends were an added bonus.

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful journey!
Last year, when our sweet Frida got sick, we went from vet to vet trying to find a good treatment and in the end we found a good vet that truly showed his love to animals. I loved learning Marcie’s story and her journey to become the veterinarian she is today.

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours for this tour invite.

𝗟𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 by Marcie Fallek releases October 15, 2024.

[Air · Rating 4 out of 5]

Make sure to note this is a memoir! We’re taken through the authors life and beginnings as a vet. Her self discovery and even discovery of what makes the vet world tick. I think this was very very interesting especially because I live in a place that either has incredibly expensive vets or places that are seriously lacking in the taking care of the animals department. It’s always nice to see every approach!

Thank you so much Suzy approved book tours!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Read! Opened my eyes completely! Thank You Dr. Fallek!