The Hope
In the waiting room at the James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, a woman sits absent-mindedly thumbing through a magazine. She waits and hopes. She is here because her dog, a feisty yellow Labrador retriever, had been diagnosed with a heart defect, and she was told that there was little hope nothing could really be done. But it was that little hope that brought her here. It was hope that there would be success in the highly complicated open-heart surgery available only at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital's Cardiology Services Unit. Through this day, and the days of recovery to follow, it is hope that lights the way.
Hope is what propels our research efforts forward hope that one day, through hard work, persistence, and the creative use of knowledge, we will make that small step or giant leap that leads to an improvement or even a breakthrough.
It is important to realize, however, that research funding usually cannot be used to build the facilities we need. Support from the State of Colorado is almost entirely dedicated to undergraduate education.
It takes private investment to make The Hope a reality.
"When we took Custer in for his 10-week well-puppy check, his veterinarian picked up a heart murmur that he thought might be more than just a puppy condition Custer would outgrow.
"Our local veterinarian put us in touch with Dr. Orton at CSU, and he clearly explained all the options available to us including medical intervention, surgery, or just watching and waiting.
"Custer came through the surgery and is doing well. He really doesn't look or act like a heart patient hes big and strong and very happy. His life is pretty normal, though we do keep an eye on things with regular checkups, blood work, and chest x-rays."
Custer had his surgery in February 2002 at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital's Cardiology Services Unit, one of the few places in the world that offers open-heart surgery for companion animals. Custer had been diagnosed with tryplastic dysplasia, a fetal heart defect that normally causes death within one to five years. Surgeons were able to repair the valve and give Custer a chance at a normal life. Custer now enjoys roaming the open spaces of Montana with his seven canine brothers and sisters. He visits Colorado State University twice a year for checkups and to say, "Hi."
