Dr. Pat is a great vet in Texas; one day an older couple came into her clinic with two pups: siblings....two border collies and one had a rare disease that caused her to be stretched out like a wooden statue...all she could do was breath and take minimal nourishment. The owners asked to put "Dolly" down....Dr. Pat asked if they would let her try to save Dolly....Pat named Dolly after she go the consent of the owners. As her boyfriend, I nicknamed her "Dollywood", since she was as rigid as a stick.
Pat worked with Dolly hours every day, every avaiable moment in her schedule to feed her, massage her legs and love her in a way only dear, sweet Pat can do.
Pat took Dolly home most nights to continue her mission of love and therapy. Slowly, Dolly began to come around....at first a wag of the tail and in a few weeks Dolly could relax her muscles and actually stan up a wobble walk a little bit.
Needless to say, Pat and Dolly formed an incredible bond of love that I'll never forget. By the fourth week Dolly was walking and near running....a few weeks later dolly was as good as new!
This is who Pat is...a vet with a heart of gold, a never give up doc who tries every resource before putting a pet down. Nobody was mo proud of Pat than I was...I came to love Dolly as one of my own.
After a few years, Dolly became very ill and was taken to Texas A&M for diagnosis and treatments; I made every trip with Pat as I knew her heart was breaking knowing that Dolly had a compromised immune system from the start. The doctors at Texas A&M did everything they could for Dolly...it finally came down to either letting Dolly live a short time in pin or let her go. Pat and I talked, cried, held on to each other while she made a very heartbreaking decision.
During this time I was jogging every morning and one day I asked God to take the pain and hurt and put it on me...He didn't.
Pat and I returned to Texas A&M and she made the decision to put Dolly down.....my heart cried for Pat and Dolly.
Pat couldn't bear to be there while they put sweet Dolly to sleep..as we returned to Pats house we talked for a moment in the kitchen and she broke down in tears....how she loved Dolly! I took Pat in my arms and held her so close as she wept sweet tears on my chest....I didn't ever want to let go; I told her to cry as long as she needed to...I wasn't letting go. It was our way of saying goodbye to Dolly and all the loving memories we had of her...she was so smart and affectionate, always so happy just to be around Pat and in her company....just like me!
This story is about two beautiful creations of God...one a woman, the other a great dog!
Pats pain and grief became mine as well since I love this woman with all my heart....and Dolly was all joy and happiness to be with.
While I wish Dolly could have lived to a very old age, I wouldn't trade a moment or a second of time I was able to spend with Pat and Dolly...to bring comfort, to cry with her...to love them both as best I could.
I don't know of another vet who would have stuck it out with Dolly in the beginning....but that is who Pat is....a remarkable woman, a great vet and a friend to every one of Gods creatures small and large.
There is a Rainbow Bridge framed and in her main exam room...she has comforted countless pet owners over the years and continues to do so to this day.....Dolly and Pat were meant to be together, even if it was a short time....I was very blessed to be a part of their lives; my heart and soul is forever changed by the love of a woman and her most special "Dolly".