Embracing the Unexpected : 2nd half of 1st year and summer time fun!

Wow, year two already. I swear it was just last week I was finishing year one and thinking about how I needed to make a post about all the awesome things I was able to do my second semester of vet school. Well better late than never right :)

2nd semester of first year was so busy for me. I, of course, volunteered for all the sled dog races I could. Which ment I was able to help with vet checks for local mid distance races here in the Fairbanks. I was also able to help with veterinary checks for the Yukon Quest which started here in Fairbanks last year and will finish here this year. Last but never least I made it back to the ceremonial start of Iditarod with DeeDee for the thrid year in a row. Then made my way out to Unalakleet, Alaska to help run the drop dog program at that check point. I had an incredible time working with so many dogs and new veterinarians. Always learning and applying this expensive education :)

Some how I managed to fit in a trip to Washington D.C. The week after Yukon Quest and the weekend before Iditarod started. This was an invaluable experience. I applied and was chosen to represent UAF and CSU at the AVMA Legislative Fly-In. 2-3 students from each vet school flew in to learn about what it takes to pass bills and make a change. We learned about important policies effecting the veterinary profession in our nation. Each student was given the chance to meet with their state legislative to discuss these issues. I am proud to say I was the first ever Alaskan resident to attend this event. To me this is a HUGE accomplishment for our profession, Alaska, and our program. I was so excited to meet other veterinary students and have the opportunity to represent UAF and Alaska. However, I must say it was an extremely nerve racking experience meeting with Alaska State legislators and speaking with their assistants about professional issues. I never, ever, imagined myself on Capital Hill in a business suit. However, I think I was even more shocked to realize how much I enjoyed doing this. I will be going back this year!

I still managed to get to rugby practice once a week all winter to stay active and see friends.
Over all it was a busy semester, but a lot of fun and worth the exhaustion.

Over the summer, I began a job working as a veterinary assistant at a local Fairbanks clinic. This was the first time working in a clinic and wow. What an amazing experience! I learned so much and retained so much more than I thought. I worked full time at the clinic, and played rugby. It was a good summer. Took a week off when the Touring women In Training Side (T.I.T.S) rugby team came up to tour Alaska and Play in the Dip Net Fest rugby tournament in Kenai, Alaska. It was so much fun to see good friends and show them around this beautiful state.

Year two began with a 4 hour exam on day one covering all of what we covered in year one. Now I don't particularly agree with this educational decision of the program but just another hoop to jump through to get to the main goal. The next day we jumped right into classes. 21 credits this semester, I decided not to take any elective this semester so I have time to work on the house and sleep.
Oh and we are not the only 10 people around vet med anymore! We have 10 new students who have begun their journey through vet school. It has been awesome getting to know a few more vet students!

Sadly my third week into this semester Amber presented with kidney failure and non regenerative anemia. Noticed while on a walk with her and the other three pups. This has been really hard for me, what I thought we could work her through and adjust her life style to help her turned into a disaster. She went into DIC, we gave plasma three times, tried for a blood transfusion but her own body was destroying her RBC so giving more blood would not have worked well... I spent the week in the clinic with her trying to figure it all out. by the following weekend she had not improved and her RBC had gotten so low she could barely lift her head. I carried her outside to sit with her brother for her last two days, then Sunday evening I made the decision to euthanize. I have never had the opportunity to make this decision for one of my dogs before, not easy at all, but I knew it was the right choice. Amber was no longer happy and no longer fighting and I knew I had the ability to prevent further suffering for her. I watched too many of my dogs suffer because I couldn't get them to a vet fast enough to euthanize and let me tell you, that was the most painful part of loosing them.
I am so grateful for the clinic I work at and all the help they offered me, and for how much Amber taught me even if I wasn't in class. She is with her mom, Chase, Penny and Gus now.
My heart breaks for Cole as him and Amber spent every single day for just over 10 years together. He has transitioned well into being more of a house dog as well as learning how to play off leash with the puppies..

I will stop here and just leave it to the pictures to wrap up my last few months and last semester. I will do my best to write more often this year as I have already started volunteering for rabies clinics and races.
As always thank you for taking the time to read and stay updated with this crazy thing we call life. Dream big, never quit!

Glacier friends!

These were all from the Yukon Quest and Quest 300 race! We helped with vet checks and I helped get a couple friends to the line as well!

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As a class we got the opportunity to go dog sledding at the associate dean of our programs kennel. Which so happens to be one of the top sprint dog kennels in the world. I had so much fun watching my classmates be in awe of these athletes and enjoy the experience.

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My trip to DC was amazing! I met so many wonderful people and was able to stay with a good friend whom I met in Galena Alaska my first winter volunteering for Iditarod! It was quite to change of pace to spend 4 days in 60 degree weather and in business professional clothing compared to parkas and boots :)


US Senator Lisa Murkowski. Ironically enough The picture behind us	is of DeeDee Racing.

Representative Don Young

Must say I never expected I'd enjoy this experience as much as I did :)

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Took a few classmates down to see the start of Iditarod and help get DeeDee to the starting line!

Love getting to see my glacier friends throughout the season as so many of them took jobs working for mushers last winter!

One week after meeting with her in DC Lisa Murkowski was helping walk DeeDee's team to the starting line for the ceremonial start in Anchorage.

So glad I was able to convince good friends to become amazing handlers for DeeDee

Meet Izzy! So happy for my friends and their beautiful family.


Morning of Iditarod start on Willow Lake in Willow Alaska.	My morning message that day:	"Today is the official start of the Iditarod! I am so incredibly proud of my friends that will be starting today. Many of the mushers lost everything this summer yet their passion and love of this sport and the incredible support of community and friends and even complete strangers has allowed them to overcome what they all thought could never happen. Today is a day to not just celebrate a sport and cheer but to celebrate the strength we all have to preserve. Best of luck to everyone! I'll see all of you racing in Unalakleet!"

Vet students with DeeDee

Miss Izzy :)

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Convinced a few friends to spend spring break with me on the coast in Unalakleet Alaska helping with Iditarod.

Getting our spring break tans on the beach :)

By far one of the most beautiful places I've been and the community was incredible. Can't wait to go back this year.

Just taking a stroll on the beach at sunset :)

So proud of this guy right here! Tim raced his first Iditarod last year with 16 puppies (2 year old dogs) meaning not one of them had seen the trail before. These were the puppies I helped drive down to the glacier last summer.

More glacier friends on their way to Nome!

Finally got my first fur hat! I have been saving for awhile and knew I wanted to get one in a village. Made to fit my head by a local native. Seal and sea otter, I'll never have cold ears again! :)

American ninja warrior course on the beach :)

Drop dog drew

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Paint night with the rugby girls!

We got to work with Musk oxen at the end of the semester.

Sometimes you just need a nap for a study break :)

Jess and I got some free build supplies by tearing down an old house... just how things work up here :)

Our last weekend together before the summer

Once the snow melted it was back to hiking with the pups :)

Found fencing at the transfer site! woot woot

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Summer hiking is one of my favorite things to do :)

First rugby tournament with the Fairbanks Ravens Team!

Look at this girl! 15 and going strong!!! Love my Lucy girl

Old friend and Dee's new handler. Finally got to spend a week in willow and hang out after finals. Lucy has also adopted him as her new person.

Rugby!!

Miss my princess girl...

My adopted sisters here in Alaska! They are the most amazing friends and so grateful to have them in my life

Fairbanks Ravens who traveled down to Anchorage for rugby

Such a beautiful girl who brought so much happiness to my life and her brother.

Birthday on the beach in Fairbanks! Quite the change from the glacier last year :)

haha meet Ironman, Annabelle's other half

My friends parents were in Fairbanks for a night and I was able to meet up and show them around a bit!

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opps.... So I adopted another dog.... Well I wanted to foster him, but he adopted me and well, welcome Ironman to the family. If you all remember this is one of the little guys from Gouda's litter my last winter in Willow. Ironman has an autoimmune disease which is causing him to lose his eye site. I decided to take him home and teach him how to be a pet before his sight was completely gone. Turns out he is Annabelle's other half and I'm his person. He fits in so well, already off leash listens great and is super goofy like his new sister.

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They are perfect for each other

She will always have my heart :)

Puppy Love

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Here's just a fraction of the pictures of my friends visiting this summer from all over the USA from WI to TX :)