The Little Things

Last Thursday my beloved cat Ozzie lost his 7 year battle with diabetes. He was diagnosed when he was only 3, which is very young for a cat. For several years, he was very easy to deal with. He took his shots like a champ and ate well. You would never dream he was diabetic by the looks of him. But in the last few months, his health declined rapidly and he became increasingly difficult to regulate. He was shutting down. In the last week before his death, his blood sugar readings plummeted as far as 31 and skyrocketed as high as 838, sending him into diabetic ketoacidosis. Finally, on that fateful Thursday morning, his little body could not longer endure the brutality of diabetes and he passed away quietly in my arms.

Today, I received a card in the mail from the staff of Columbus Countryside Veterinary Clinic (CCVC). It was a wonderful, heartfelt sympathy card from the entire staff with a personal message from Dr. Gerber. Words cannot describe how much this little gesture means to me. Ozzie didn't die in their clinic. Ozzie didn't die under their care. Ozzie died at home, but since they were his doctors and I was their client for the last 5 years, they took the time to reach out to me and offer their condolences and understanding of what exactly it meant to let go of my sweet Ozzie. It was an unspoken understanding of the struggle I face in not having Ozzie around and how, for 7 years, my entire life, mindset and routine revolved around giving him his shot twice a day. It was an amazing yet simple gesture of understanding that he was a part of my life and a big part of my heart and the ache I feel is not going to heal easily or quickly.

The staff at my veterinary clinic does a lot of these simple things...these heartfelt, small little gestures that make me certain each and every time that I go in there, that they not only care about my animals, but they care about me and they honor my love and devotion to the animals. From complimentary nail trimmings when an animal has surgery, to paw prints and hair clippings when one of them dies, I appreciate tremendously the little things they do.

Having recently worked at a veterinary clinic where animals were seen as dollar signs and clients were open checkbooks, I have come to appreciate the staff at CCVC even more. Their advice is ALWAYS in my best interest as well as the best interest of the animals. And it is always honest and forthright, no matter how difficult it may be. It's not always easy to hear, but it is always appreciated. I need to know the facts to make the best decisions I can for the animals. Sugar-coating things just makes it more confusing and difficult.

So, this post is dedicated with my deepest gratitude in the loving memory of my sweet Ozzie to the doctors, staff and crew at Columbus Countryside Veterinary Clinic. Doctors Gerber, Brye and Twardowski - you are credits to your profession. Dr. Twardowski, you were Ozzie's primary doctor and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being there for him through thick and thin and for always offering advice and explanations on his condition. To the vet techs, thank you for caring about him and all of the animals I bring to you. Ozzie lived a good life with the help of all of you. And to the front desk staff - thank you for putting up with my endless phone calls and understanding that, although you deal with 100 different people every day, at that moment, in my world, I need to be important. God bless you all and thank you for choosing veterinary medicine as your profession.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you,

Heidi & Ozzie