Recipients Say Thanks!
Tsahi Keele
I am writing to thank you for a wonderful experience my wife and I had at the North Carolina State Veterinary Hospital.
From the time I was met in the waiting room by Nicole Mason, a fourth year student, until we left over a week later everyone went beyond the call of duty to take care of our dog and the two of us.
Tsahi. our 6 lb Maltese, was in intensive care with severe thrombocytopenia and severe blood loss from a bleeding ulcer. In fact she would have bled to death except for the exceptional efforts of the ICU staff, a donor dog named Leonard and the superb leadership of Tsahi's doctor, Dr. Matthew DiCicco.
Dr DiCicco and his student, Nicole Mason are the best. You are very fortunate to have both of them in your program.
The prognosis for Tsahi is good and we are very hopeful for the future as we continue to see Dr DiCicco to regulate her treatment.
So, I thank Dr DiCicco, Nicole Mason and your entire ICU, administrative and lab staff for being there and saving our dog's life.
Bernard B. Keele Jr.
MaiTai Hegler
I am hoping you can pass along my sincerest gratitude to the Doggie Blood Donors and their owners who were crucial in saving my dog's life. In fact - I would like for ALL Dog Blood Donors to hear my story so they know their contributions have major impacts on others' lives.
I brought in my 4 legged child, MaiTai Hegler, to NCSU CVM on Monday September 22nd at around 12pm. He is a 1 year old 12 lb Sheltie - and as I am sure so many feel about their dogs - he is very special and an integral part of my family. I was completely unprepared to see the state he was in when I handed him over to the staff behind the double doors at NCSU. To me he had already lost way too much blood and been unresponsive for too long. His clinical signs were shock, unresponsiveness, no coagulation of the blood, bleeding out of the GI via vomit and continual diarrhea, and abnormal neurological responses. Unfortunately, we still are unsure as to what caused his condition. Lots of speculations - bite from a rattlesnake, consumption of toxic wild mushrooms or some other poison, severe seizure accompanied with a heat stroke, etc...
This little trooper decided to sit up and give us all the signal that he was not done with this life yet and at that point the doctors began giving him donated blood products. It is my understanding he received 3 bags of plasma and 1 of RBC. I know in my heart that if these blood products had not been available - my little guy would NOT be with me today. The doctors and staff at NCSU CVM are amazing but they would not have been able to work this miracle without the donated blood. The donor dogs and their owners are the true "silent heros" in MaiTai's success story.
I CAN NOT think of an adequate way to express my gratitude, appreciation, and absolute admiration for these owners and dogs other than to say 'THANK YOU!' Those words seem so insignificant compared to the gift you have given me. Your 'Big Dog Blood' is what gave my 'Little Boy' the opportunity to continue to experience all the great things in a doggie life.
All my best to the donor owners and the donors themselves. Please exchange hugs and doggie kisses from us! May your donations continue to bring successful outcomes to many more recipients.
Lann S. Hegler