December-Team Member of The Month!!!

December Team Member of the Month- Sue Dunkelberger

Sue Dunkelberger has been a HAH team member for a total of 27 years.  Her first roll was as our Receptionist Supervisor and after a hiatus into human medicine she returned in 1995 as a dedicated member of our elite group of phone operators.

Sue brings energy and enthusiasm to the phone room. By decorating for all the holidays, Sue keeps spirits high while our team assists clients as they call in.  No matter the curve balls thrown at her personally, she always manages to bring her glowing personality to work! We are grateful she has been part of the HAH for all these years and are pleased to honor her as Team Member or the Month!

December Patient of the Month- "MilkDud"

This month we would like to honor as our Patient of the Month, a pup that is very special to our Hollywood Animal Hospital family.  “MilkDud” ,  a 12 year old,  red dachshund; the proud pup of our very own Kathy Ziezio .

After monitoring a few days of diarrhea the “Dud” began vomiting and no longer wanted to eat. Kathy immediately came in and saw Dr. Grasso. X-rays were ordered and showed a mass in “Milkdud’s” abdomen causing fluid to build up.

Kathy hospitalized the “Dud” throughout the weekend and on Monday Dr. Sessa ordered an ultrasound to get a clearer picture of what the mass looked like.  During the ultrasound Dr. Murphy was able to see that the mass was affecting the spleen and also her gallbladder. Surgery was scheduled for the following day. The surgery was serious but “Milk Dud” came through beautifully and then started the process of recovery.

Often the post operative care is as important as the surgery and “Milk Dud” benefited from the many minds that our hospital has to offer. For the next 10 days “Milk Dud” was giving TLC and aggressive medical therapy.  She received several transfusions to increase and maintain her blood cell volume and was hand fed every night by her momma.

“Milk Dud’s” pathology came back with a less then desirable result but did show that Dr. Sessa had removed as much of the effected tissue as possible. For now, “Milk Dud” is home and getting back to the business of playing with her sisters “Samantha” and “Daisy”. Most recently, she stopped in with Kathy, donning a Santa costume to hand out presents to the staff.

We are so happy to honor “MilkDud” as our December Patient of the Month!

Broward Meals on Wheels

We raised about 1000 pounds of food and will be matching that! Thank you to everyone who donated!

Holiday Decoration Safety- Lights

Tinsel can be a very dangerous holiday decoration with pets around! The little pieces of colored foil have sharp edges that can cut and twist internally if swallowed. Make sure you keep this tinsel out of their reach, or exchange it for safer options. Ask us if you have questions!

Hill's Science and Prescription Diet's one day only specials!!

Team Member of the Month- Lee Ashton

Team Member of the Month- Lee Ashton

We would like to honor Lee Ashton by making her HAH’s team member of the month for November 2012.  Lee has worked in the hospital kennel since December 13, 1996.  Lee is a soft spoken woman…unless she feels you’re not doing what is best for a patient or the hospital in general!

Lee is definitely set in her ways and knows how she wants things done. That’s why we are going to miss her so much when she moves to Pennsylvania in December.   We want to wish her well and should she decide the “sunny south” is the place to be, we hope this is the first place she stops!

Isabel's Race to Fight Cancer!!!

Everyone has their own bucket list. Some items will have a greater impact on our lives than others, but all are listed to one day check off.  One item that has always been at the top of my list but always seemed out of my reach is to participate in a full or half marathon.  I came across the American Cancer Society half Marathon run during a very difficult time in my life when I saw first hand how quickly cancer can destroy everything you love, cherish and live for.

My mother Luisa Velez was only 45 years old when she started to feel fatigued and uncomfortable.  At the point when this became unbearable she went to the doctor not expecting to hear what he had discovered.  After a series of tests and lab work he told her that she had cervical cancer. She was diagnosed March 25, 2011; the day of my 24th birthday. From that point on in our lives time seemed to accelerate at an uncontrollable speed. Due to our financial situation, my family did not have health insurance, thus, it was necessary for her to return to her home country of Colombia to receive treatment.  She immediately started chemotherapy and radiation therapy, along with several other medications.   My family did everything in our power to keep her happy and comfortable.  Despite all the treatment she received, the cancer continued to spread.  As it continued to destroy her body she experienced weight loss and weakness, leading from one complication to another.  Her body, ultimately, couldn't handle the cancer any more.  My mother passed away on April 13, 2012.

She left behind two kids and a husband. There is nothing harder than losing someone you love; some one that raised you, gave you nothing but their best, someone that has touched your life forever. I know I am not the only one feeling like this. Cancer has touched many other lives, including, fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts- or maybe you have been the one that has been touched. The American Cancer Society fights for more birthdays and more survivors. By your generous donation we can fight back and help others that are going through the worst experience of their life- such as, myself.

Help me reach my goal of $5000.  I thank anyone that can help me in accomplishing my goal and supporting American Cancer Society.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO MAKE A DONATION TODAY! 

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