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The healing power of pet lovers!
By Dr. Marty Becker
February 27, 2010
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who have been praying for, and thinking of, my granddaughter Reagan and our family.
Reagan, who just turned 16 weeks old, has been diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that has caused bronchiolitis (inflammation at the very end of the bronchial tree, where oxygen transfer takes place), making it difficult for her to breathe without supplemental oxygen. RSV is usually mild in children, but can be very serious in infants.
The good news is that Reagan is improving, and doctors expect her to be well enough to go home in a day or two. Teresa and I are on our way home to Bonners Ferry now.
We are still worried about Reagan, but it looks like she’s out of the woods now. It’s time to turn our prayers to those all over the globe who are facing such terrible natural disasters.
And it’s also time to turn our focus at Pet Connection back to the incredible bond between animals and humans, the bond that has brought us all together.
Time for my 86-year-old mother Virginia to go back to training class with her newly adopted dog Sugar. Time for us to cheer on our friends in Collier County, Florida, who are having a community event today to assemble the beds that were donated in their shelter bed raising — we can’t wait to see the photos from that!
I wrote a book called “The Healing Power of Pets,” and soon Reagan will be home getting some of that healing love from her Pug brothers, one on each side of her, keeping her safe and warm. But there’s also a lot of healing power in pet lovers like all of you, too, and with your prayers and concern, and her parents’ love — and her grandparents’ too, of course! — we know that Reagan will be just fine.
You are all in my heart. Now, let’s talk pets again!
Image: Mikkel Becker Shannon and Reagan Avelle Shannon. Photo by dad, Pat Shannon
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Glad to hear this, Marty. Now go get some rest, Grandpa!
Comment by KathyF — February 27, 2010 @ 4:15 pm
Dr. Marty - Best of luck to Reagan and your family. Happy to hear about the improvement.
Comment by Brett — February 27, 2010 @ 4:50 pm
Yeah!
We are ready to roll tomorrow with the pet bed assembly.
We have an army of people who have joined our “Have a Heart and donate a Kuranda Bed” program…the beds have been delivered and now we are preparing for the big day tomorrow.
Teens from the local Seacrest High School Key Club, Domestic Animal Services volunteers, and community friends are coming tomorrow at 10 a.m. armed with phillips head screw drivers, wrenches and LOVE to assemble over 100 beds.
Dominos donated pizza, Dunkin Donuts coffee, and good ol’ elbow grease will make the day fly by.
At the end of the day…well,it is going to be such an amazing feeling to know a hundred dogs are now off the concrete and sleeping on a sturdy bed. I wish this for every shelter dog in America. They all deserve this, don’t they?
Comment by ericka — February 27, 2010 @ 4:59 pm
[sends virtual fist-bump to the good doctor]
Comment by Luisa — February 27, 2010 @ 5:33 pm
God is good. :)
Comment by Marcy — February 27, 2010 @ 6:13 pm
What a relief to know Reagan is going home in a day or two if she makes the progress you expect.
There must be some good doctors there in Iowa.
Comment by Evelyn — February 27, 2010 @ 9:10 pm
Sorry, I meant Idaho. I didn’t have my glasses on. I should have known Almost Heaven Ranch can only be in Idaho!
Comment by Evelyn — February 27, 2010 @ 9:52 pm
Dr. Becker just posted an update about Reagan, and a beautiful photo of Mikkel holding her in the hospital, on his Facebook page:
http://bit.ly/dsH4Si
Comment by Christie Keith — February 27, 2010 @ 10:17 pm
Very glad Reagan is doing better !
Comment by Leslie K — February 28, 2010 @ 7:44 am
So glad to hear Reagan is doing better! We’re keeping your family in our thoughts.
Comment by Christy Mesker — February 28, 2010 @ 10:16 am
Glad to hear she’s on the road to recovery, Marty. We have you in our thoughts. Here’s hoping everything continues to improve!!
Comment by Dr. Tony Johnson — February 28, 2010 @ 10:47 am