Our Patients

Budda

“Budda BOO is my precious 14-year-old Tuxedo Princess! She earns that title over five other furry companions because of her youthfulness, exquisite dignity, and poise. She is a modern femme who keeps morning office hours in a drain pipe just beyond her Invisible Fence. Boo is happy to teach you her skills….blocking computer monitors, catching moths, and catching faxes and print-outs (including my grant material). Boo is also a skilled hunter, frequently leaving me whole salamanders, chipmonks, bats, etc. She is happy indoors as well, but her true nature is indoors and outdoors.

“Budda is distinct in that she is both a Survivor and a Teacher. I think her message is that disease is tolerated just as one more voice—nothing expletive. One day she dragged in her scarcely-attached ankle, yet remained fixated on her meal. She earned many gold stars for patiently tolerating emergency ankle surgery, as well as six weeks of crate confinement… all without a single complaint. After recovering she resumed her regular drain pipe morning office hours.

“About two years ago we were referred to Dr. Williamson for Budda’s Bowen’s Disease, carcinoma spots, and accompanying immune system decline. My heart sank for her, because I anticipated indoor confinement, many meds, early death, etc.

“Dr. Williamson is indeed unique! She reminds me of the early AIDS hospice workers who we carefully choose for their GIFTS of listening, observing, open-minded thinking, and accepting people exactly where they are, without judgment or shame. Dr. Williamson obliged my wish to carry out NC State monitoring, where Budda’s health was maintained with many meds.

“How can I say this enough? Dr. Williamson and her team, Kelly, Carrie and Amy, have turned our hospice prognosis into qualitative living.

“Budda has reclaimed the ‘lost parts’ of herself and maintains beautifully only with monthly baths and an anti-inflammatory medicine given once daily. Budda loves the stress relief that Veterinary Dermatology of Richmond gives her.

“Dr. Williamson uses cryotherapy (freezing) to shrink her scabs… which is indeed unique for Bowen’s disease. Budda actually looks forward to her cryotherapy treatments, and she doesn’t even need pain meds.

“Dr. Williamson also HEARD that she would only tolerate liquid meds, so no pill struggles! Yeah!

“Budda Boo is young again, and in charge of her lifestyle… ME too!!!! We will not tolerate anything less than Veterinary Dermatology of Richmond and their incredible life-sustaining team.”

“I think Budda and Dr. Williamson can teach us all a lot about how to ‘keep on keeping on’…

“…with many bright spots in between.”