This doctor saved my cat's life

cameragirl21 wrote: Meet Dr. Allison Cannon, or Dr. Allison as I've come to call her. She saved my cat's life. When 4 seasoned vets and 2 oncologists told me they were certain my cat had a mast cell (cancerous) tumor, Dr. Allison, who was fresh out of her residency did some testing to find it was merely a hairball in her stomach. When my cat was rushed to the er one night only to find that she was in acute kidney failure and I was told to euthanize her immediately, Dr. Allison came through for me (I took my cat in late on a Fri night and Dr. Allison came to work on Mon morning...it was a miracle my cat survived the weekend) and found a way to bring her kidney values back to normal. Then when she and a surgeon that works with her realized that they could not find a permanent solution for my cat, she spent a day on the phone to find someone who could--Dr. Allyson Berent at the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary Hospital...so off to Philly my cat and I went. And my cat was saved again.
As I've mentioned here before, my cat did eventually die but not of kidney disease, it's unclear what she died of but it appears to be sepsis...Dr. Allison was out of town taking her boards and while I don't blame the doc who took her place while she was away, I do wonder if my cat would have lived had Dr. Allison been here to attend to her and I'm sure Dr. Allison wonders the same thing. She took care of my cat thru various dodged bullets for nearly a year. She is a hero in my book and to many pet owners here in Miami. One young doctor put everyone else to shame in a great big hurry. My cat actually had to be euthanized in the end because after she died, the other doc resuscitated her because in his words, "I was told you like extreme measures." But she was totally unresponsive, had her eyes wide open not seeing anything and a machine was breathing for her and regulating her temperature. I stood there bawling with both hands on my cat as the doc injected the needle and my cat was so far gone that you couldn't even tell the difference from before the euthanasia and after, the only difference was the tubes were all pulled out of her. It was a horrible moment in my life and I really wished that whenever that moment came, it would be Dr. Allison standing by me, handling my cat instead of some stranger I barely knew.
As many of you know by now, I tend to live my life a bit on the edge...I've found myself in some very precarious situations. At times, even the closest of friends judged me and I'll admit, my actions deserved it. But my cat sat by me through everything. I know she doesn't know any better as she's an animal but I think we all underestimate the human/animal bond and just how much an animal can bring to a person's life. I'd have done anything to save her, I'd have given her my own kidney if that was a possibility. I'm serious. Also, I honestly think that the only thing that kept me living with one foot on the edge and not both feet teetering over it or falling off altogether was this cat. She was just the best thing ever.
When Dr. Allison announced she was getting married and asked me to shoot her wedding, I was honored in a way I can't even describe in words. I felt like I was coming full circle if that makes sense. I have done plenty of weddings and while I don't dislike them they are not my fave thing at all--you're on your feet for 10+ hours in high heels, running around like a headless chicken trying not to miss a moment all the while dodging children running around who can run into you and make you drop your equipment and it's hard to keep everybody happy all the while getting all the pics you want. And they're so stressful...I don't care how many you shoot, you're always keenly aware of how many things can go wrong. I've had cameras go down on me, flashes and lights go down on me, lenses malfunction, the works, I've seen it all. I walk into every wedding with a prayer that all will go smoothly. I took my cat's pic with me to Dr. Allison's wedding for good luck and even though many things went awry with her wedding (not stuff that involved me, other vendors and other things), I think the pics turned out great and oddly enough, this was the first wedding I've done where the pics need almost no editing.
That said, I want to give her an 11x14 as a gift and am trying to choose. Please help me pick and honor a great lady...the world needs more Dr. Allisons, not just for animals but for people and for this whole world that imo needs a lot of healing.
I'm leaning toward the first pic but I'm wondering if Dr. Allison would prefer the second pic as she's with her dog, Puck. She rescued that dog and she loves him...he and two other dogs were running around loose at her wedding and were walked down the aisle.
Btw, the Allison/Allyson duo are among the best docs out there...I still say to this day if your name is Allison (or some variation of that spelling) or if you have someone in your life with that name, you are lucky...there is something very lucky about that name.



Please tell me which pic you like best for an 11x14 wall print.

momofone replied: I like the homey feel of the second one

I am sorry about your cat

lisar replied: I like the 2nd one the best also.

And sorry about your cat

msoulz replied: First I too am sorry about your cat.

I like the first one best because her whole face is lit up and in my little mind she is looking at her husband to be with that beautiful smile. Who knows where she is really looking, but I like the story my mind creates when I see the pic.

luvmykids replied:
Me too.

Sorry about your cat

Kaitlin'smom replied: sorry about your cat, its hard to lose a pet like that.

I like the first one for the same reason she looks radient and like she is looking at her new hubby. The second one for me the background over powers her, I dont see her as much as I am looking at the house she is in.

Crystalina replied: I love the second one! It looks more like one that should be hung huge on a wall. Over a fireplace or couch.

moped replied: I like the first one, only because I am not a huge animal person, and she looks radiant in the first one!

Sorry about your cat

Crystalina replied: I'm back.
Just had to say that the reason I picked the second is because in the first picture it looks like she's getting ready to step away any second. In the other she's more relaxed. I think the relaxed one would be more appealing hanging on the wall in a house.

If it were going anywhere else (like office or studio) it would be harder for me to pic because they are both beautiful. She'll love this gift!

cameragirl21 replied: so it looks like 4 for the first and 3 for the second, almost a tie. I like the first more because it's more my style as opposed to the more posed one, the second. But I do like both pics.
Thanks for the opinions and comments.

MoonMama replied: I like the 2nd, because she is after all a vet. KWIM?

I'm so sorry about your cat.

CantWait replied: Honestly I wouldn't choose either. I wouldn't have a pic of JUST me hanging in my house, if I were in the pic, it would have to include my husband, especially if it was a wedding picture.

coasterqueen replied:
I agree.

stella6979 replied:

Kirstenmumof3 replied: After reading your story I would definately have to go with the second picture. That just says it all about this wonderful women.

It's nice to hear stories where people have made such a positive impact on a persons life. I'm glad that she had that impact on you!

DVFlyer replied: I assume these are going to be simple 11x14 enlargements (v.s. canvas prints etc)?

If so, print both- they're both good and relatively cheap to enlarge - that way she can choose.