When my boy Butch was getting treatment for an inoperable tumor in his liver, he was cared for by the best doctor and vet techs that were totally committed to his wellbeing. I was totally impressed every time I went to visit him. Dr Trom genuinely gave him the best she had to offer to keep him alive as long as possible. The treatments ultimately made him very ill but it eventually resulted in some improvements that did not last as long as we hoped. Butchy fought so hard and endured so much with the force feedings, nausea shots and IV's, etc. My heart bled for him.
I remember one day I went to visit him and he was in a little room by himself, in a floor level cage. The cage door was open and he was free to get up and move as he wished. They actually let me in and I got right down there with him and petted him and talked to him. A tech came in after a few minutes and force fed him some pureed baby food through a syringe and she talked to him like he was a little baby, but he responded to her. I found out later that her name was Donna and her and Butchy were getting quite close. I liked how she handled him and he really liked her. She was so caring with him and I think she called him, "Butch Man." That was very cute. On the day I was to bring him home after several days of treatments and chemo, Donna was the one who showed me how to feed him and how to give him his pills and she gave him quite the sendoff. I ran into her a few times after when I brought him back for follow ups. She always waved and stopped by to see him through her busy schedule.
Donna wasn't there the morning I brought him in to be put to sleep. I had requested that she join us in the room during the procedure but she hadn't started her shift yet. Also, Butchy's doctor was off that day and was not available to be part of this. I think it would have made her very sad anyway. She went all out for him and for me, even significantly reducing my final cost for his care. They truly are a class act and love animals. I felt they did all they could for him and I was grateful. I did go back to see Donna a few hours after I left Butchy to thank her. We hugged and I know she felt badly too because her tears were as bad as mine. That boy was so loved, mostly because he loved back. He was very special and I will miss him. Rest in peace, "Butch Man."