While waiting in line at the funeral home yesterday I was behind a man that looked so familiar to me and, apparently, I looked familiar to him, too, b/c he kept turning around and looking at me. Then someone walked up to him, shook his hand, and asked about his son and if he was going to pursue a career in veterinarian medicine. After the man left, I finally asked "Are you a vet, too?" and he told me that he had worked w/Dr. LeBeau, so I asked his name. When he told me, I don't know how I ever could have forgotten except that we're both 9 years older and he has a lot more gray hair and is wearing a beard.
When I rescued Creamsicle, Dr. LeBeau was on vacation, so I went to this vet. I had never heard of cerebellar hypoplasia and had no idea what was causing her to appear to be drunk and falling down all the time. He, too, either hadn't heard of it or he just didn't care b/c he said "I think this is from rabies and I would advise having her PTS". My head was spinning and I didn't want to give up on her but I sure didn't want her to suffer from the effects of rabies. I had to go to work so I left her there at the clinic and I later called from work to check on her. He brought up the subject of euthanasia again and b/c she was so tiny at only 5 weeks old, he said that the needle would have to be injected directly into her heart. My own heart was pounding at that point and I said "Would it be painful for her?" and he said "Yes, very painful". At that, my heart dropped and I said "Don't touch her. I'm coming in to get her". I made my excuses at work and drove to the clinic, called them from my car to make sure that Creamsicle wouldn't be touched. I was assured that she wouldn't be but I was so frantic that I said "If you hang up, I'll just keep calling back" so they stayed on the phone w/me.
Well, you know the rest of the story. Creamsicle is now 9 years old, has improved greatly and is the sweetheart of everyone who meets her. I later sent a letter to the clinic w/a photo of Cgirl enclosed and said "This is what hope looks like". Imagine...meeting up w/him after all these years and not recognizing the man who would have ended her life and robbed me of all these wonderful years w/my special little Creamsicle.
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