Good Samaritan Fund provides second chances and new tomorrows
Originally Published
You can help pets like Phat Phat and Lua by giving today.
It’s heartbreaking when our pets face serious illness or a medical emergency. Pet owners face difficult decisions, sometimes made even harder when they are already facing other financial hardships. Luckily, the Ohio State’s Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) has the Good Samaritan Fund, created to preserve the unbreakable bond between a pet and their family by providing
financial assistance to support lifesaving care. To be eligible for these funds, pets must meet certain medical criteria, and owners must also fulfill specific requirements to ensure that assistance is directed to those in genuine need.
Close to 425 animals a year receive the support and care they need thanks to donors like you who support the Good Samaritan Fund. We’re pleased to share with you two of those stories today. These stories are representative of the hundreds of pets who continue to thrive with their families after receiving the care they need.
Phat Phat's triumph
If you ask Ruby Faught to see a photo of her family dog Phat Phat, she will preface it with, “You won’t believe how good she looks!"
In April, Phat Phat, a one-year-old English Bulldog, was injured in a house fire that tragically destroyed the family’s home and claimed the lives of their four other dogs. When she was brought to Ohio State’s Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) by ambulance, Phat Phat had sustained burns on her head and neck and was suffering from smoke inhalation.
“We arrived at the hospital, and all I can remember seeing is this group of people standing there waiting on us to rush her back to the emergency room,” said Ruby. “They started to work on Phat, and when I finally saw her, my heart just broke.”
The medical team in the VMC’s Emergency and Critical Care services stabilized Phat Phat, provided oxygen support and helped manage her pain levels. Through continuous monitoring and careful medical attention, Phat Phat made an incredible turnaround after more than two weeks of fighting for her life.
The cost of Phat Phat’s care created another financial burden for the family, who were already overwhelmed dealing with the aftermath of their house fire. Staff and leadership within the VMC immediately recognized the need to reduce the family’s burden and stepped in to offer support from the Good Samaritan Fund and other patient assistance funds.
Today, Phat Phat is at home and “living her best life” according to Ruby.
“We can’t express how thankful we are for the amount of support and love we received from everyone,” Ruby added. “It really touched our hearts. Everyone at Ohio State, the Rite Rug Flooring Company, and the donors to the Good Samaritan Fund are the true blessing here because without everyone our girl wouldn’t be home.”
“Not all pet parents are able to provide critically needed healthcare for their beloved pets. However, by supporting the Good Samaritan Fund, I can offer financial assistance to pets who require veterinary care. In doing so, I can help both the pet owner and their pet, even if we never cross paths. It’s a meaningful way for me to provide hope through caring.”
– Ann Wells Clutter, PhD ’98
Lucky Lua
Lua’s owner, Kristen, will never forget the day she adopted a beautiful American Bobtail Longhair cat from the Cat Welfare Association in Columbus, Ohio. Since they first met in 2016, Lua has been a huge part of Kristen’s life.
Lua loves cuddles and is almost always snuggled up in Kristen’s lap. She likes to sleep belly up in Kristen’s bed and even serves as the household alarm clock. Lua’s playful nature shines through in her love for catnip and her obsession with playing with strings of any kind.
Unfortunately, one day Lua’s love of playing with string took a dangerous turn. Kristen’s partner was mending a button on a shirt and stepped away for just a moment. That’s all it took for Lua to swallow the threaded needle.
Kristen rushed Lua to The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center to get the sewing needle out of Lua. After several X-rays and a successful endoscopy, the veterinary team skillfully removed the needle. During the process, Kristen explained to the care team that her financial situation made it difficult to make certain decisions for Lua’s care.
Thankfully, the care team connected Kristen and Lua to Good Samaritan funds to help make the treatment more attainable. Today, Lua is living a normal, healthy life.
“The care we received was excellent. Everyone I spoke with was incredibly patient and kind to me and Lua throughout the process,” said Kristen. “I can’t imagine how difficult these conversations are to have on a day-to-day basis and the staff handled everything with next-level grace and kindness.”
“It’s important to give back to an area that’s meaningful to me. I feel good about donating and supporting the Good Samaritan program. It is so valuable for the community. Through the payroll deduction, I don’t notice it, but it really adds up over time.”
- Christy Stegemiller, Good Samaritan Fund supporter since 2007