Grateful client finds ways to give back to the numerous services that cared for her beloved dog
Originally Published
In 2017, Karen Huebschman’s dog Ellie was diagnosed with critically advanced hematangiosarcoma by her local veterinarian. There was nothing she could do for Ellie at the time but make her comfortable. While she was spending those last moments with Ellie, she discovered a mass on Ellie’s brother, Irish.
Karen’s local vet took samples of Irish’s blood and scheduled him for surgery the next business day. Within a week, Irish was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in his jaw. After consulting with the Integrated Oncology Service at Ohio State’s Veterinary Medical Center, her local vet performed a partial mandibulectomy. They did not want to put Irish through the traumatic surgery to remove the cancer in his jaw without a plan for providing the follow-up chemo, later realizing radiation would be needed as well.
Over the course of almost three years, Irish had chemo, radiation, several oral surgeries, pacemaker surgery, acupuncture, and support for his skin/allergy issues. Karen gladly made the two-hour drive from Kentucky to the VMC, sometimes several times a week, due to the wonderful care and support she received from several of the services at the VMC, including oncology, radiology, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, sports medicine & rehabilitation and ICU.
Matt Cook, VMD, Integrated Oncology Service, was Irish’s first doctor in December 2017, and he was by Karen’s side as she shared her final moments with Irish in June 2020. Karen attributes Dr. Cook’s out-of-the-box thinking as the connecting anchor to aligning with all of the different services at the VMC that contributed to improving Irish’s quality of life and giving Karen more time with him.
“Dr. Cook was not just Irish’s oncologist but his advocate, cheerleader and our bridge to all other services. He was our anchor and helped us manage all the challenges that came our way for a total care plan from beginning to end,” said Karen.
In the last few months of Irish’s life, his hind legs were losing muscle tone. He struggled to take the daily walks necessary for him to consider a day a “good” one. Dr. Cook directed Karen to start acupuncture treatments with the Sports Medicine & Rehab Service with Arielle Markley, DVM. Irish fell in love with acupuncture and with Dr. Markley. While he struggled to get around during the week, he would sprint to her when he got to her treatment room. Their weekly visits became the highlight of his days. They brought Irish joy, renewed energy, and the ability to take short walks, making Irish and Karen so happy.
This experience prompted Karen to want to do something to thank Dr. Markley and to honor Irish’s love for her. In lieu of Christmas and birthday presents for December 2020, Karen created a fundraising page for the Sports Medicine and Rehab Service in memory of both Irish and his sister Ellie. Karen’s family members, colleagues and friends have committed to donating to her OSU fundraiser in place of gifts for the remainder of 2021.
Karen’s goal is to raise funds for equipment on Sports Medicine & Rehab’s wish list. She hopes a piece of Irish’s spirit will always be in the rehab space that he loved so much and brought him so much comfort and joy in his final days.
Irish was ultimately admitted to the ICU for his last week of life. It was an incredibly difficult time for Karen because it was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Members of Irish’s care team from across the numerous services provided care and comfort for his final days when Karen was not able to be in hospital due to COVID-19 safety protocols.
“We were treated with such love, care, and concern that the day we had to say goodbye, even though it was just Irish and I was in the middle of a pandemic, I felt we were with family. Members of many of the care teams that had been part of our journey either stopped to say goodbye to Irish or sent messages of sadness and support to us,” said Karen.
Karen acknowledges that she was most impacted by being treated as a respected member of Irish’s care team and that it was a true partnership. Throughout the journey, she said she was constantly given respect, facts with compassion, hope with realistic expectations, and support in her questions and decision-making. Because of that, Karen says that she never felt alone or overwhelmed.
“Because of Ohio State’s Veterinary Medical Center, I was able to have the comfort of knowing that I gave Irish all of the care he needed and did all I could to extend his life with quality bonus days. I was also able to let him go, knowing that it was the right time and he was ready,” said Karen.
Karen’s dogs were beloved members of her family. With them both being gone, Karen has been faced with tremendous heartbreak. Through that heartbreak, she has found solace in making a decision to support Ohio State’s Veterinary Medical Center by naming it the beneficiary on her life insurance policy. Proportional distributions will be made to oncology, cardiology and dentistry as a way for Karen to help others continue to receive the same excellence in care that she had received for Irish and to show her deepest gratitude.