Paws for Progress Scholarship

My passion for veterinary science sparked during my placement experience at the Middletown Veterinary Hospital. During this placement, I was given the incredible opportunity to witness operations, clinical appointments, and emergency response care, observe numerous treatments, compare the anatomy of different species, and even assist with the neutering of a shelter dog. Throughout my experience, I was able to gain insights into different treatment decisions and medical scenarios by asking questions and listening to what the doctors had to say. The most memorable experience that pushed me to become a veterinarian was when I assisted with an emergency canine C-section. It was a day like any other, except when I got there I was told that my mentor, Dr.Jackson, was already in the surgery room. When I walked in, a dog was already on the table ready to go through a procedure, so I knew something was urgent. When I asked what was happening it was explained to me that they had decided to conduct an emergency C-section on a chihuahua in an attempt to save the mother's life. We were expecting the outcome of this procedure to be a mother whose children did not make it, but we could not have been more wrong. During the procedure, Dr.Jackson would carefully remove the babies from the mother's stomach, and could then hand them off to her surgical tech and vet student to try and make them whine and show signs of life. They had me assist with handing them materials like towels and suction devices to get the fluid out of the puppies' lungs. After the mother was closed back up I was able to see that the majority of her puppies were active and breathing. While I was also holding the babies in my hands, to help with the removal of their umbilical cords, I was enthralled by the amazing experience of witnessing this happening while also being able to hold and nurture the little lives that our team had just saved. Feeling the beating hearts of the puppies getting stronger and stronger in my hands, when moments ago we had thought that they were already gone, was so inspiring to me. This procedure was all I could talk about when I got back home and I knew that this would be a moment that I could never forget. This experience piqued my interest in surgical studies and has greatly influenced my plans for the future in the field of veterinary medicine. My eyes were opened to just how intricate and intriguing veterinary science is, and how it can be utilized to save lives that can not save themselves. I now aspire to explore the world of veterinary medicine and have taken my first steps toward that pursuit as I have committed to majoring in small animal science at Delaware Valley University to dedicate myself to these studies and ensure that my future lies in a career where I can use my knowledge to benefit the lives of animals.