Clients award Students for extra effort

was on oxygen and intravenous nutrition and required a bottle feeding every six hours.

The first nine weeks, Norman had to be in a cage to control his movements because his bones were not fully developed and walking or running could have caused permanent damage. At 12 weeks old, he weighed 60 pounds.

Other than being slightly smaller than normal, Norman, discharged at 15 weeks old, should not experience any residual effects from his premature birth, Gilliam says.

“He’s a little miracle. As many as 100 people from equine medicine to anesthesia to small animal ICU were involved with his care. They all contributed to his growth.”

And he has grown. Although he has still some growing to do to reach the normal weight of 1,800 to 2,000 pounds, Norman, now 1 year old, weighs 600 pounds.

“He grows by leaps and bounds,” Shockley says. “I’m thankful for Dr. Gilliam and his staff. I think anyone else would have given up, but they didn’t.”

Approximately 10,100 clients bring their pets or animals to the CVHS hospital for routine or emergency health care Frequently they praise the staff and veterinarians for their clinical expertise and the high level of services they provide. And sometimes they want to do more to express their gratitude.

Jeff and Cathy Shaffer of Bartlesville, Okla., were so pleased with the clinical services the students and faculty provided their dog, diagnosed with cancer, they established an award to recognize students who go the extra mile for their patients and clients.

The Shaffers donated funds to establish the “Above and Beyond Award.” Each quarter, clinical faculty, staff and administrators will choose a deserving student who has exhibited behavior above and beyond what is normally expected in the course of his or her responsibilities. Each recipient, whose name will be placed on an award plaque, will receive a $250 cash award.

William Carter, class of 2006, received the first Above and Beyond Award at the April 2006 Honors and Awards Banquet.