H.E.A.R.T
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Animal hospital
AS VETERINARIANS WE ARE EXPOSED TO MANY SITUATIONS IN ANIMAL HOSPITAL SETTINGS RANGING FROM TRAUMA TO NEW PUPPIES AND KITTEN EXAMS. IN ADDITION, THE MANY DIFFERENT PERSONAL SITUATIONS TO DEAL WITH AS WELL. I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED THE LIFE EVENTS THAT CAN CHANGE ONES SITUATIONS DRASTICALLY WHICH HAS AFFECTED THE ABILITY FOR ONE TO PROVIDE CARE FOR A FAMILY PET/MEMBER; FROM THE FAMILY WHO HAS CHERISHED THEIR PET FOR MANY YEARS AND HAVE ENDURED THE SUDDEN LOSS OF A SPOUSE OR A CAREGIVER; TO THE MOTHER OF THREE THAT HAS RECENTLY WENT THROUGH A DIVORCE AND NOW HAS TO CONSIDER RE-HOMING HER PET BECAUSE SHE IS UNABLE TO AFFORD THE VETERINARY COSTS, THOUGH THE LOVE FOR HER ANIMAL HAS NOT CHANGED, IN-FACT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A LARGE PART OF HELPING HER THROUGH THE TRYING TIME.
THESE SITUATION HAPPEN FAR TOO OFTEN AND ALSO HAPPENED TO ME. I WAS STUDYING MY FOURTH YEAR OF VETERINARY MEDICINE WHEN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT HAPPENED TO MY KING CHARLES CAVALIER - `SAMMIE``. HE WAS A BEAUTIFUL RUBY COLOR AND HAD A PERSONALITY THAT ONLY I SEEMED TO GET. HE WAS MY BEST FRIEND IN THE ENTIRE WORLD AND HE SEEMED TO UNDERSTOOD ME TOO! I TOOK SAMMIE EVERYWHERE I WENT. HE BECAME VERY FOND OF THE VETERINARY TEACHING HOSPITAL, AND TAUGHT ME HOW TO DO MANY OF THE BASIC PROCEDURES YOU LEARN IN FOURTH YEAR. BEING A KING CHARLES - HE HAD A HEART MURMUR AND WAS THE FIRST HEART MURMUR I HAD EVER HEARD - THANKS SAMMIE.
UNFORTUNATELY, AS A FRIEND WAS VISITING HE OPENED THE DOOR AND SAMMIE GOT OUT. I SPENT THE NEXT 8 HOURS LOOKING FOR HIM BUT TO NO AVAIL. I CALLED ALL THE VET CLINICS AND TO MY RELIEF SAMMIE WAS NOT LOCATED AT ANY OF THE CLINICS. THEN IT HAPPENED, MY UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL CALLED AND TOLD ME SAMMIE HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN AND HAD BEEN HIT BY A CAR AND THEY NEEDED ME TO GET THERE AS SOON AS I COULD. ON ARRIVAL AT THE HOSPITAL I WAS BROUGHT IN TO SEE SAMMIE BY ONE OF THE VET NURSES AND WAS BRIEFED ON HIS CONDITION. HE HAD BROKEN HIS LOWER BACK. I WAS DEVASTATED. THE NEXT MOMENT THE ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON ARRIVED AND TOLD ME HE STILL HAD DEEP AND SUPERFICIAL PAIN WHICH MEANT HIS CORD WAS NOT SEVERED BUT WOULD NEED EMERGENCY SURGERY TO REPAIR HIS BACK. AT THE TIME I WAS A STRUGGLING VET STUDENT TRY TO MAKE ENDS MEET WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND A WIFE SUFFERING WITH PPD. IT WAS A ALREADY HARD ENOUGH. I EXPLAINED TO THE SURGEON (WHOM I KNEW) THAT I COULD NOT AFFORD THE $7000 DOLLAR SURGERY ALL AT ONCE BUT I WOULD GET A SECOND JOB (AND I MEANT IT) TO PAY THE BILL. UNFORTUNATELY THE POLICY WAS NO PAYMENT PLANS (EVEN FOR VET STUDENTS). I ASKED WHAT MY OPTIONS WHERE AND WAS TOLD THAT WITHOUT THE SURGERY I NEEDED TO HAVE SAMMIE PUT TO SLEEP. I HAVE NEVER CRIED SO HARD IN ALL MY LIFE. HE HAD SHARED SO MUCH WITH ME HOW WAS I TO SAY GOODBYE. IT WAS A MOMENT THAT CHANGED MY LIFE. I WAS SO ANGRY AT THE SURGEON, HE FELT SO COLD AND DETACHED FROM MY EMOTIONS AND WHAT SAMMIE MEANT TO ME. FOR MANY YEARS I HELD ON TO RESENTMENTS TOWARDS THE SURGEON. HOWEVER EVEN IN SAMMIE’S LAST MOMENT WITH ME HE TAUGHT ME THE MOST VALUABLE LESION IN MY LIFE - EMPATHY.
HAVING THESE MOMENTS UNFOLD DAILY BEFORE MY EYES IS VERY DIFFICULT AND WRENCHES AT MY SOUL AND HAS LEAD TO BURN OUT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION - SOMETHING WE NOW KNOW IS CALLED COMPASSIONATE FATIGUE (CF) OR A SPECIFIC TYPE OF PTSD. IF I COULD I WOULD DO MY JOB FOR FREE HOWEVER I HAVE FAMILY AND STAFF THAT RELY ON ME, ACCOUNT PAYABLES, MORTGAGES ETC. MANY THAT HAVE KNOWN ME FOR A LONG TIME HAVE SEEN ME GIVE MY ALL EVEN AT MY OWN EXPENSE (FINANCIALLY AND HEALTH WISE). HOWEVER, DURING MY MOST RECENT CF EPISODE I HAVE REALISED THAT I CANNOT SUPPORT TWO IDEOLOGIES (PROVIDING TREATMENT TO EVERY ANIMAL AND AT THE SAME TIME SUSTAINING A VIABLE LONG TERM PRACTICE. THE PERSONAL DILEMMA OF BEING FORCED TO DECLINE TREATMENT DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS HAS BEEN A VERY REAL BATTLE EVER SINCE I LOST SAMMIE, SINCE I NEVER WANT ANYONE ELSE TO EXPERIENCE THAT PAIN.. I HAVE STRUGGLED TO FIND A SOLUTION ON MY OWN AND NOW I COME TO YOU FOR HELP!
PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO TREAT EVERY ANIMAL THAT WE CAN REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL SITUATIONS. DON`T LET THOSE WHO HAVE ANIMALS LOSE THEM BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL REASONS ESPECIALLY WHEN SITUATIONS CHANGE IN LIFE.
HELP EVERY ANIMAL RECEIVE TREATMENT (H.E.A.R.T)
THE COOMBS VETERINARY HOSPITAL H.E.A.R.T FUND MISSION STATEMENT
WHEN POSSIBLE COOMBS VETERINARY HOSPITAL WILL PROVIDE CARE TO ALL ANIMALS THAT ARE SUFFERING AND ARE IN NEED OF TREATMENT.
FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT IS DONATED THE HOSPITAL WILL DONATE THE EQUIVALENT VALUE IN SERVICES.
NEED FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MUST BE PROVEN.
TO KEEP THE PROCESS COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT EACH PATIENT THAT RECEIVES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE H.E.A.R.T FUND MUST CONSENT TO HAVING THE ANIMALS HISTORY, TREATMENT AND PROGRESS UPDATED THROUGH OUR H.E.A.R.T BLOG.
H.E.A.R.T FUND RECIPIENTS MUST ALLOW INVOICES TO BE MADE AVAILABLE ON THE H.E.A.R.T BLOG.
A YEARLY FINANCIAL ACCOUNT OF DONATIONS AND INVOICES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THOSE THAT DONATE UPON REQUEST.
DONATIONS CAN BE MADE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING:
VISA/MASTERCARD PAYMENT THROUGH THE CLINIC
CHECK PAYABLE TO COOMBS VETERINARY HOSPITAL
EMAIL MONEY TRANSFER TO CVHPETS@LIVE.CA
PLEASE ENSURE WHEN MAKING A DONATION THAT YOU REFERENCE H.E.A.R.T FUND
THANK YOU,
DR. RHETT MORTENSON AND THE COOMBS VETERINARY HOSPITAL STAFF.
THESE SITUATION HAPPEN FAR TOO OFTEN AND ALSO HAPPENED TO ME. I WAS STUDYING MY FOURTH YEAR OF VETERINARY MEDICINE WHEN A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT HAPPENED TO MY KING CHARLES CAVALIER - `SAMMIE``. HE WAS A BEAUTIFUL RUBY COLOR AND HAD A PERSONALITY THAT ONLY I SEEMED TO GET. HE WAS MY BEST FRIEND IN THE ENTIRE WORLD AND HE SEEMED TO UNDERSTOOD ME TOO! I TOOK SAMMIE EVERYWHERE I WENT. HE BECAME VERY FOND OF THE VETERINARY TEACHING HOSPITAL, AND TAUGHT ME HOW TO DO MANY OF THE BASIC PROCEDURES YOU LEARN IN FOURTH YEAR. BEING A KING CHARLES - HE HAD A HEART MURMUR AND WAS THE FIRST HEART MURMUR I HAD EVER HEARD - THANKS SAMMIE.
UNFORTUNATELY, AS A FRIEND WAS VISITING HE OPENED THE DOOR AND SAMMIE GOT OUT. I SPENT THE NEXT 8 HOURS LOOKING FOR HIM BUT TO NO AVAIL. I CALLED ALL THE VET CLINICS AND TO MY RELIEF SAMMIE WAS NOT LOCATED AT ANY OF THE CLINICS. THEN IT HAPPENED, MY UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL CALLED AND TOLD ME SAMMIE HAD BEEN BROUGHT IN AND HAD BEEN HIT BY A CAR AND THEY NEEDED ME TO GET THERE AS SOON AS I COULD. ON ARRIVAL AT THE HOSPITAL I WAS BROUGHT IN TO SEE SAMMIE BY ONE OF THE VET NURSES AND WAS BRIEFED ON HIS CONDITION. HE HAD BROKEN HIS LOWER BACK. I WAS DEVASTATED. THE NEXT MOMENT THE ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON ARRIVED AND TOLD ME HE STILL HAD DEEP AND SUPERFICIAL PAIN WHICH MEANT HIS CORD WAS NOT SEVERED BUT WOULD NEED EMERGENCY SURGERY TO REPAIR HIS BACK. AT THE TIME I WAS A STRUGGLING VET STUDENT TRY TO MAKE ENDS MEET WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND A WIFE SUFFERING WITH PPD. IT WAS A ALREADY HARD ENOUGH. I EXPLAINED TO THE SURGEON (WHOM I KNEW) THAT I COULD NOT AFFORD THE $7000 DOLLAR SURGERY ALL AT ONCE BUT I WOULD GET A SECOND JOB (AND I MEANT IT) TO PAY THE BILL. UNFORTUNATELY THE POLICY WAS NO PAYMENT PLANS (EVEN FOR VET STUDENTS). I ASKED WHAT MY OPTIONS WHERE AND WAS TOLD THAT WITHOUT THE SURGERY I NEEDED TO HAVE SAMMIE PUT TO SLEEP. I HAVE NEVER CRIED SO HARD IN ALL MY LIFE. HE HAD SHARED SO MUCH WITH ME HOW WAS I TO SAY GOODBYE. IT WAS A MOMENT THAT CHANGED MY LIFE. I WAS SO ANGRY AT THE SURGEON, HE FELT SO COLD AND DETACHED FROM MY EMOTIONS AND WHAT SAMMIE MEANT TO ME. FOR MANY YEARS I HELD ON TO RESENTMENTS TOWARDS THE SURGEON. HOWEVER EVEN IN SAMMIE’S LAST MOMENT WITH ME HE TAUGHT ME THE MOST VALUABLE LESION IN MY LIFE - EMPATHY.
HAVING THESE MOMENTS UNFOLD DAILY BEFORE MY EYES IS VERY DIFFICULT AND WRENCHES AT MY SOUL AND HAS LEAD TO BURN OUT ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION - SOMETHING WE NOW KNOW IS CALLED COMPASSIONATE FATIGUE (CF) OR A SPECIFIC TYPE OF PTSD. IF I COULD I WOULD DO MY JOB FOR FREE HOWEVER I HAVE FAMILY AND STAFF THAT RELY ON ME, ACCOUNT PAYABLES, MORTGAGES ETC. MANY THAT HAVE KNOWN ME FOR A LONG TIME HAVE SEEN ME GIVE MY ALL EVEN AT MY OWN EXPENSE (FINANCIALLY AND HEALTH WISE). HOWEVER, DURING MY MOST RECENT CF EPISODE I HAVE REALISED THAT I CANNOT SUPPORT TWO IDEOLOGIES (PROVIDING TREATMENT TO EVERY ANIMAL AND AT THE SAME TIME SUSTAINING A VIABLE LONG TERM PRACTICE. THE PERSONAL DILEMMA OF BEING FORCED TO DECLINE TREATMENT DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS HAS BEEN A VERY REAL BATTLE EVER SINCE I LOST SAMMIE, SINCE I NEVER WANT ANYONE ELSE TO EXPERIENCE THAT PAIN.. I HAVE STRUGGLED TO FIND A SOLUTION ON MY OWN AND NOW I COME TO YOU FOR HELP!
PLEASE HELP US CONTINUE TO TREAT EVERY ANIMAL THAT WE CAN REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL SITUATIONS. DON`T LET THOSE WHO HAVE ANIMALS LOSE THEM BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL REASONS ESPECIALLY WHEN SITUATIONS CHANGE IN LIFE.
HELP EVERY ANIMAL RECEIVE TREATMENT (H.E.A.R.T)
THE COOMBS VETERINARY HOSPITAL H.E.A.R.T FUND MISSION STATEMENT
WHEN POSSIBLE COOMBS VETERINARY HOSPITAL WILL PROVIDE CARE TO ALL ANIMALS THAT ARE SUFFERING AND ARE IN NEED OF TREATMENT.
FOR EVERY DOLLAR THAT IS DONATED THE HOSPITAL WILL DONATE THE EQUIVALENT VALUE IN SERVICES.
NEED FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MUST BE PROVEN.
TO KEEP THE PROCESS COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT EACH PATIENT THAT RECEIVES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE H.E.A.R.T FUND MUST CONSENT TO HAVING THE ANIMALS HISTORY, TREATMENT AND PROGRESS UPDATED THROUGH OUR H.E.A.R.T BLOG.
H.E.A.R.T FUND RECIPIENTS MUST ALLOW INVOICES TO BE MADE AVAILABLE ON THE H.E.A.R.T BLOG.
A YEARLY FINANCIAL ACCOUNT OF DONATIONS AND INVOICES WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THOSE THAT DONATE UPON REQUEST.
DONATIONS CAN BE MADE THROUGH THE FOLLOWING:
VISA/MASTERCARD PAYMENT THROUGH THE CLINIC
CHECK PAYABLE TO COOMBS VETERINARY HOSPITAL
EMAIL MONEY TRANSFER TO CVHPETS@LIVE.CA
PLEASE ENSURE WHEN MAKING A DONATION THAT YOU REFERENCE H.E.A.R.T FUND
THANK YOU,
DR. RHETT MORTENSON AND THE COOMBS VETERINARY HOSPITAL STAFF.