" She's Our Christmas Miracle " |
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Kvalevog Family Receives Surprise Holiday Gift by Theresa Fabus Therapy dogs often make miracles happen in the lives of their owners. This is the story of a therapy dog who herself, became the miracle. Debby Kvalevog of Ovid has recently suffered with agoraphobia and depression and reached a point where she was ready to face the problems head on and, in September 2008, Debby received a therapy dog named, Kaylee. Kaylee's initial job was to afford some comfort and entertainment for her owner, but, after some consideration, the family determined that she would be a great service dog as well. With professional training, Kaylee would be able to pick things up for her master, as well as turn lights on and off, move objects out of the way and open and close different doors. Debby and Kaylee began working with Animal Behavioral college Certified Dog Trainer, Dawn Pizzoferrato, of St. Johns and the full-sized standard poodle turned out to be a natural. Three weeks ago, Debby's husband, Wade, took Kaylee, as well as the family's new Yorkshire terrier puppy, to the vet to be spayed. Unfortunately, the very next day, Kaylee was not herself. Lifeless and dehydrated, Wade took her back to the Ovid-Elsie Animal Clinic where Dr. Mike O'Bryant began to treat her for kidney failure and low platelet levels. By Sunday, she had improved and she returned home to her family, but on Monday the symptoms returned.  Pictured below: Debby Kay cries with emotion after being reunited with her Therapy/Service Dog, Kaylee  "She was not doing well at all," says Debby. "She couldn't even walk. Dr. O'Bryant came out to the house to check on her that night and, by morning Wade had to carry her to the truck and into the vet's office." |
Kaylee stayed at the clinic
for a week and on Saturday, December 13, 2008, she finally came home.
But as the following days wore on, it was very evident that something
was still not right. As Kaylee's health continued to worsen, she was
returned to the O-E Animal clinic, where Debby had one question to ask,
"Is she suffering?" It was then that the family, Wade, Debby, and
daughters Angella and Noelani, had to make a difficult decision. With
Christmas just a week away, they were forced to choose weather or not
the dog should be euthanize to spare her any pain. After much
discussion, they decided ti would be in her best interest to be put
down and the family went home to mourn the loss of their pet and
Debby's dear companion. But this story is far from over. Dr.O'Bryant had doubts about what was causing Kaylee's illness, but according to the family's wishes, he took her off of all her medications to allow nature to take it's course. What he did not expect was to walk into his office the next morning and find Kaylee sitting up and wagging her tail. Shocked at her improved health, he took some blood tests and found that her blood levels were definitely improving.  Pictured are (back row left to right) Dr. Mike O'Bryant and Wade Kvalevog. Middle; Noelani, Debby and Angella Kvalevog. Ani in the front is Kaylee. Another day passed and Kaylee was getting better and stronger. Dr. O'Bryant, a veteran veterinarian, was stumped and now faced a peculiar situation -- he needed to call the Kvalevogs and inform them that they had a big surprise coming. By the time Tuesday, December 23rd, rolled around, Kaylee was trotting around the office and eating and drinking normally. That morning, Jan Miller, receptionist at the clinic, received a phone call. It was Wade, calling to find out the balance of the bill. The response from Jan was that she needed to have Doc call him back. |
"I thought that was awful strange," said Wade. "But it was even more shocking when Doc called and told me that the dog was, in fact, not deceased and was alive and getting stronger every day. "I was out running errands and could not figure out how I was going to tell Debby." "I have some ideas about what could have been wrong with her," Dr. O'Bryant noted. "But I really can't be sure." "All I know is that she's getting healthier and healthier every day." On Friday, December 26, 2008, the Kvalevog family got to visit with Kaylee at O-E Animal Clinic for the first time since they "said goodbye" to her last Thursday and it was hard to tell who was happier -- the family, who thought they had lost their pet; the grateful owner, who had her trusty helper back, or; Kaylee, who bounced playfully from family member to family member, stopping only to peer out the front door at the snow outside.  Debby Kvalevog shares a moment with her Service/Therapy Dog, Kaylee. Kaylee will stay at the office for observation for maybe another week, before she will return home to resume her service dog training. "It was a miracle," says Debby. And Dr. O'Bryant is the man of the hour. "We thought we had lost her, but now she's back and we could not be more thankful. "She really is our Christmas Miracle."   Email us at: |
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