Celebration of Life at Michigan State University

I spent Saturday afternoon at Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
They annually hold an open house to honor what they call "Miracle pets". Members of the clinic staff nominate these pets.  It includes receptionist through Veterinarians.  They are the cases that build the animal human bond and become family.    You can tell they are more than a case number.  The spectrums of cases are honoring those that survived miraculously or those having passed on despite the supreme efforts of animal, owner or medical team efforts. There were horses, dogs and cats to pocket pets being honored.  The number of pets selected this year was sixty out of the twenty-two thousand cases that were seen and treated during the last year.

Two animals from our clinic were selected this year as "Miracle Pets". I have written about Toby, the Golden Retriever with lymphoma. He had a break out from remission that returned with a vengeance in January of this year. His battle with lymphoma ended in January of this year.

The other was a dog-named Abby, a Jack Russell Terrier, owned by Steve Gibyleau of the Lighthouse Coffee Shop. Abby had a convulsive event happen. During the episode, a dog attacked her. She took her first to the Animal Emergency Clinic in Ann Arbor. There was tremendous damage to the trachea, neck and muscles of mastication (chewing muscles). She was put back together again.  Abby was given a grave prognosis. She needed extensive surgery and transferred to MSU VTH. Dr Brandi Garcia-Pereira  was one of her  critical care providers. Abby engaged many surgeons during her stay at VTH. She is a tough cookie her trachea healed. She occasionally chokes on bigger pieces.

I have tremendous respect for the staff and first year veterinary medicine students that gave tours of the whole facility. They take time out of a very busy schedule to honor the pets and their people.  Seeing the ceremony from the aspect of an observer allows one to see the planning, thoughtfulness, and exposed emotions of veterinary medicine people.
We tend to get involved in our patients and the people they live with. We do this to extend the love story as long as possible. Seeing the tears of sadness, hearing the emotion in voices, and the genuine empathy expressed to owners is a reaffirmation of the heart, soul and essence of the caring profession.  Seeing respected Veterinarians sharing in the grief and remembrance of an animal's existence shows me emotions from the heart and central location of inner feelings. This is to me a huge common uniting factor.  By seeing the intensity of caring shown by a kind word, a hug, and a teardrop, you understand the depth of passion veterinary medicine people have about those under their care and treatment. People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.

It was heartwarming to see Dr Pat LaBlanc, director of the Veterinary Clinical Center, show his eager enthusiasm while acting as Master of Ceremony.  I noticed Dr Barb Kitchell, Head of the Oncology Department showing gratitude for those charges that had been under her care. I spoke with Dr Kitchell and I thanked her for her efforts in combating cancer. She expressed how different it is mixing and talking to people without the daily pressures of getting tests done and reports interpreted. It is relaxing and very emotional time at the ceremony. It is a marvelous place to honor animals and their families. It is a wonderful method of closure for those that have passed.  

I wish to thank our VTH tour guides Jessica and Amy.  Special thanks to the receptionists Liz, Sally, and Veterinary Technician Sarah. You added   a personal touch and insight to the ceremony and a special thanks the care for Toby.

We in the profession do not really do it just for the money.  Those that focus on money end up working for pennies instead of working for passion. I personally understand the need for money in a veterinary practice medical supply bills and payroll are two examples.  I could not do the medical or surgical procedures needed without the devotion, care and assistance of my staff. They are one of our practices biggest assets. They give out warm greetings to pets and their owners. They also make it possible for me to have the time needed to get to meetings after clinic hours. Thanks ladies, you really are the difference in showing excellence in our practice.

Seeing the inner joy expressed when pets and people reconnect after a treatment or a procedure is a personal point of pleasure for me. Words seem to be inadequate when defining the pleasure with a reunion of pet to its people.  This is one of the perks of being a veterinarian that I really love.

I have been hearing stories of how one pet will act as a Seeing Eye critter or will run obstacle interference by getting between the impaired animal and giving shoulder bumps and guiding them back up the deck stairs. Can you imagine the intuitive caring critters out there taking on this duty with out prompting by us humans? In my opinion, animals do Christian acts also. They sometimes are better examples than we mere mortals are.

Although this item is not animal related, I heard the "Peter Pan" play put on by the Milan High School Drama department was outstanding this weekend. Our granddaughters were spellbound and captivated by the performance.  The whole cast put on an outstanding show. 

Do not forget to tell your loved ones how much they mean to you. You will get the appropriate animal response. Then you understand the importance of the animal human bond.

For more information about a specific case, consult your veterinarian.         
The outside of a pet is good for the inside of a human.