1 /5 Brianne Swann: I have been going back and forth about writing this review. But due to the fact that this keeps me up nearly every single night still, after 3 months, I feel I owe justice to my cat Tuna - in honor of what wouldve been his 13th birthday.
I had Dr. Helm and her assistant come to the house to euthanize him, as he was no longer able to use his back legs and eventually became incontinent - I felt it was easier on him to have a mobile vet come to the house and I wanted him to be in a comfortable environment. From the beginning of the visit, I regretted the decision. First, she wanted her assistant to hold him while she injected the initial medication to put him to sleep. I had to tell her instead that I wanted to hold him for this part, as I knew he wouldnt remember anything after that point, I wanted him comfortable in my arms. Then as she injected him, shes talking to me the whole time asking questions about my home that I recently lost in the hurricane. Once I realized that he was no longer conscious, she said she was talking to me to distract me! No, no, no! I wanted to talk to him and be present WITH HIM. Then she shaves his arm to inject the medication to stop his heart, while shes standing up and were lying on the ground. As shes injecting, still standing and bent at the hips, she cant get his vein. She blew it the first time and says, "I think I blew it." Im a nurse, I knew thats what happened. I said, "you did, I can see you did." So she says shes going to try one more time and if she doesnt get it, shell find another vein. Well she "gets it", or so we thought.
I chose to drive his little body to Natures Pet Loss in Brooksville to have him "aquamated." On our way there, the unthinkable happens and Tuna is very clearly breathing again. We pulled into a vets office that is very close to Natures Pet Loss, Im hysterical. They confirm by checking his heartbeat AND SEEING HIM BREATHING that he was in fact, still alive. They now have to administer the medication directly into his heart because there is not enough blood flow to his peripheral veins to reach his heart. This was absolutely traumatizing to watch. I am so glad I chose to drive Tuna myself to have him aquamated or who knows what he wouldve endured, still alive.
I know Dr. Helm did not do this intentionally. But I do know she couldve gotten down on her hands and knees to get a better view of what she was doing during this crucial step. There couldve been more compassion throughout the whole process instead of what I felt was rushed. I live every day regretting the decision I made and I know if I had read this review online, I wouldve never chosen Dr. Helm to help him cross the Rainbow Bridge. I feel that I owe this to Tuna. Happy birthday, Big Orange.
