Success Stories!
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I have always seen pictures of angels with wings, blond hair, and loving radiant faces. But some people are lucky to learn what I have. Not all angels have wings, some have four paws and furry faces.

I have one of these special creatures. Her name is Cinnamon and she is a apricot toy poodle. She is 9 pounds of love and has shown me constant companionship and never ending love for almost 12 years now. She has been my therapist through the death of a spouse, my heating pad for my chronic back pain after a severe car accident, and once scared off two burglars when they broke into my house in the middle of the night. She greets me with the most open affection I've ever experienced, every time I come in the door. I love this little being with every molecule in my body.

My heart almost broke this past week as I watched my tiny angel suffering with a life threatening illness. She had been acting tired for two days and picky with her food. She was playful in the morning and then with in a few hours was vomiting and lethargic. She vomited bloody mucus and we rushed her to our vet. The man who had been her vet could not see her, but he had someone new, another vet. I was not happy, but as we waited in the room with our very sick dog, the new vet came in.

Dr. Merit Ness, a women vet, who just radiated love and compassion, listened to every one of my worried words through my tears, and totally accepted my sick little dog into her arms. I had to leave my sick little Cinnamon with this stranger. I openly cried without being self consciousness. This new stranger was becoming an intimate part in a relationship that is difficult to put into words. She was someone that I was entrusting to her care the most valuable gift I have ever had, Cinnamon.

I could see in her face she not only understood my pain but the pain of my dog also. She examined her and said we had to leave her. She was going to have to have an IV for fluids, X-rays, and blood work done. I kissed my little dog good-bye. I was so afraid that she was going to die. I knew this vet would do everything possible, and with great love.

After the x-rays and blood test were done, Cinnamon was diagnosed with acute Pancreatitis. She had to stay in the hospital for 3 days. She is home as of yesterday, tired and hungry. I had to leave her for 3 hours today to attend a class at the university. When I got home there stood my precious gift wagging her tail and I swear there was a smile on her face. I feel whole again.

Cinnamon is getting better and I hopefully will have her many more years.

I learned something else this past week... Some angels have wear Dr.'s lab coats, with their blond hair, radiant smiling faces. I wouldn't be surprised if their weren't a pair of wings under that lab coat.

- Carole Livengood

Related Reading
Veterinary Q & A - Pancreatitis