BRIDE AND GROOM SPEND WEDDING NIGHT WITH DOG SAVED BY BLOOD BANK
The happy couple imagined their wedding week a little differently, but “in sickness and in health” rang true when their 4-year-old Bernese Mountain dog needed life-saving treatment.
PORTLAND, Ore – Hannah and Kevin Smith entered the 24/7 emergency room at DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Hospital at 2am in October reeling from their wedding celebrations and the extraordinary news they had just received: Sheldon, their 4-year-old Bernese Mountain dog, had turned a corner.
Four days earlier, Sheldon was referred to DoveLewis, Oregon’s only nonprofit, 24/7 emergency animal hospital and a VECCS Level 1 medical facility, after he had started bleeding from his mouth. “There’s blood everywhere...on the carpets, on the floor, on the couch,” said Kevin. Sheldon had immune mediated thrombocytopenia, a life-threatening disease that caused his body to attack platelets (cells used to clot blood). Sheldon would need immune suppressive therapy and blood transfusions if he was going to survive.
DoveLewis operates one of the country’s largest animal blood banks with volunteer canine and feline donors, and Dr. Barbara Davis, one of DoveLewis’ board-certified internal medicine specialists, began Sheldon’s treatment immediately. Over the course of four days in DoveLewis’ Intensive Care Unit, Sheldon received three transfusions from the donations of three of DoveLewis’ canine volunteer blood donors, Archi, Olive, and Kashi. The nonprofit affectionately calls its 154 volunteer dog and cat blood donors “superheroes” to honor the lifesaving impact of their donations.
“The ability to get blood products is what made it possible for him so survive,” said Davis. “We’re so lucky to have a blood bank at DoveLewis because it allows us to give blood products to patients on an emergent basis…we’re able to provide that care right away.”
The couple rewrote their vows to include their experience together with Sheldon’s care, and they received an amazing message from Dr. Davis after their ceremony: Sheldon’s platelets had returned to a healthy range and he would be discharged the next morning. But they could not wait until then. The happy couple visited Sheldon after their reception and got the wedding picture together that they had always wanted, albeit under different circumstances than they had imagined!
Sheldon, Hannah, and Kevin had planned to celebrate DoveLewis and its supporters as the guests of honor at this year’s Wet Nose Soiree, the hospital’s largest annual fundraiser. “Without them, we wouldn’t have Sheldon,” said Hannah.
The event, which supports the 46-year old nonprofit’s operations and community programs, including the blood bank that saved Sheldon’s life, was cancelled as part of the hospital’s efforts to implement COVID-19 precautions. Even during Oregon’s indefinite Stay at Home order, hundreds of worried families are still turning to DoveLewis’ 24/7 ER and ICU for emergency veterinary care each week. The staff is operating under adjusted protocols to protect its 100-person medical team and preserve a dwindling supply of personal protective equipment.
An online auction will run from April 13 – 17 and animal lovers are encouraged to offer their support to ensure that animals like Sheldon have access to DoveLewis’ many medical resources. People can register to participate in the auction or make donation at https://dove.ejoinme.org/wetnosesoiree.
###
Recent Posts
Tips to Protect Your Pet This Thanksgiving
Gobble Gobble. Our furry friends would also love to partake in the feast and gobble up some food, but food-related injuries and illnesses are the main cause of pet emergencies over this holiday weekend. Learn what is most harmful and the best way to keep your pets healthy.
Protecting Your Pets: A Guide to Rat Poison Ingestion and Pet Safety
Discovering that your pet has ingested rat poison can be a distressing situation for any pet owner. Rat poison, although designed to target rodents, poses a serious threat to our beloved pets.
My Pet Ate Something Toxic... Now What?
Many human foods are toxic to animals and can pose severe health risks if ingested. Let’s walk through some common foods that your furry friends should avoid and learn what to do if they accidentally indulge in something they can’t have.
