Time Flies When Miracles Happen!

Jodie Joseph, Cornell

Entry, Experiences

During my gap year, I worked as a veterinary technician at Holistic Pet Care in Little Falls, New Jersey. What was most remarkable about this place was the dedicated bond between clients and their patient and the heartwarming ability to defy all odds.

My story begins with Darlene and Diamo. Darlene is a 35-years-old human, diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer a few years prior to presenting to our clinic with Diamo, an 11-year-old castrated Siamese cat. Darlene had 40 tumors in her body, ranging as far cranially as her brain and caudally as her extremities. Nearly 70% of her body was removed, through surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation.

Darlene knew exactly where all 40 tumors were because Diamo had pointed them out, nudging each area where the cancer had been. However, there was one spot Diamo did not identify, her pancreas. As many know in human medicine, pancreatic cancer is practically a death sentence, and in animal cancer the prognosis is poor.

Diamo presented to Holistic Pet Care with pancreatic cancer. His previous vet gave him a prognosis of 8-10 DAYS to live. 

We treated Diamo with goat milk, in hopes to stimulate his appetite and make him comfortable. We also treated him with homeopathic remedies in hopes to palliate him. He came for regular rechecks over the ensuing WEEKS, his weight fluctuating slightly, but his condition stabilized. 

Approximately 4 MONTHS after his initial consult, we received the most remarkable news- diagnostic imaging suggested there was NO EVIDENCE OF TUMORS in Diamo. As for Darlene, she had also received a clean bill of health from her oncologist that week! 

         It has been over a  since I met Darlene and Diamo. They continue to inspire me along the path of small animal integrative oncology. I vow to not only fight for my patients, but also fight for my clients.