|
Hurricane Katrina Survivor |
|
|
|
Molly the Pony... A Story of Heroes, Survival and Caring... A True Story written and photo illustrated by Pam Kaster
 In late August 2005, a fiercely powerful hurricane slammed into southern Louisiana. Many people were caught by surprise by Hurricane Katrina’s destruction and had not made special plans for themselves or their animals.
I managed a Red Cross Shelter for three days during the storm. I was humbled by the courage of the people in my shelter as the news started to filter out that most of them had probably lost their homes, fishing businesses, and their neighborhoods.
Later, when I saw pictures during a fundraiser for the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine of a small pony undergoing a rare amputation surgery, I immediately recognized in her the spirit of survival I had witnessed in the people in my Red Cross Shelter.
 Molly, a small pony, had been left in her barn while her owners evacuated from New Orleans. They intended to return home before Molly’s food and water ran out. However, so many trees had fallen and many areas were flooded they were unable to return. Luckily Molly was found by an animal rescue group two weeks after the hurricane.
Molly and several other rescued animals were moved to a nearby farm. Unfortunately, about three months later she was attacked by a rescue dog also living on the farm. She recovered from all her injuries except a deep bite on her right front leg. When it seemed the wound was not going to heal, her veterinarian recommended Molly be euthanized. A horse cannot live with only three legs.
However, Molly’s owner had different ideas. She convinced Molly’s veterinarian to contact the Louisiana State University School of Veterinarian Medicine to have Molly evaluated for a very rare surgery – the amputation of the damaged leg. After watching Molly for several days, the LSU veterinarians decided Molly had learned how to cope so well during the three weeks after her injury that she would be a good candidate for the surgery.
 Her lower leg was amputated and replaced with a prosthetic limb. The black rubber hoof on the bottom of the limb is stamped with a smiling face.
Within a few days Molly had learned to walk and not long after that she could trot.
She now goes to hospitals and retirement homes to make new friends. The children are happy when she is near and the elders enjoy stroking her mane. Wherever she goes, she leaves a trail of smiling faces.
------------------
Source:
Molly the Pony, A True Story written and photo illustrated by Pam Kaster.
Published by LSU Press
http://www.lsu.edu/lsupress/bookPages/9780807133200.html
|
