Book Worm

I have read two non-fiction books in the past couple weeks that I think were fabulous about 2 specific topics I really care about:

Oogy is a story about a dog whom was used as a "bait dog" when it comes to dog fighting.  In order to teach dogs to fight, the owner barbarically places a smaller, defenseless animal whether it be a pig, a cat, rabbit, chicken, whatever, in this case a 10 week old puppy, in a blocked off area chained to a fence.  This teaches the fighting dog to be aggressive and to kill.  Then the bait dog is often left to die.  Oogy however survived. the left side of his face being ripped off, his jaw being broken, and being left afterward in a cage bleeding out to die when the police raided the home that it happened in.

In a sad moment, a family brings their cat to the vet to be put down, and they run into Oogy who is recovering after his surgery.  The family is instantly connected to this creature, and soon after adopt him as their own.

I wasn't sure I would be able to handle this book.  Animal cruelty shakes me up so bad, and makes me wonder how someone can call themselves a human being after treating an animal like this.  To know that people in the United States are profiting off of something so inhumane makes me sick to my stomach.  It is happening everywhere, and it is considered a felony in all 50 states.


"On a recent Saturday afternoon Oogy was curled up on the couch asleep, his head in my lap, and I was thinking about how his life is now, as opposed to the way his life had been before: daily acts of unspeakable violence for no comprehensible reason until the ultimate, searing horror. Had he sensed he was dying as he lay in the bloody puddle of his life disappearing? Was he conscious when the police put him on a rubber sheet and took him to the hospital? He could not have comprehended the significance of the siren wailing the journey as his head was beaten with hammers. Oogy went to sleep in a world consumed by terror and pain and awoke surrounded by angels in white coats who put out the fire in his head, who were kind to him, who stroked him gently and talked softly to him. Instead of people who tortured him, he was surrounded with love and kindness and healing mercies."

The other book I read was called Josie's Story by Sorrel King.  This story was written by a mother who's daughter died due to a medical error.  After being badly burned by hot water, Sorrel's daughter was sent to Johns Hopkins, one of the best medical centers in the United States.  There she was treated and was getting better with an expected discharge, when a nurse comes along and administers a dose of methadone to a dehydrated 18 month old putting her right into cardiac arrest.  This story then proceeds to tell how Josie's mom starts a crusade to put a stop to mistakes that are made in health care today.  This is a book every health care provider should read, as well as every parent.

As a nurse, I like when the patients and their family members challenge me.  I like when they ask me why are you giving what you are giving, why are you doing this?  It keeps me on my toes.  After all, I should have logic behind doing what I am doing.  This nurse didn't have the logic to back up the dose of methadone she gave. Had she thought about her action, Josie would still be alive today.

There are way too many breakdowns in our healthcare system.  There is just too many providers involved.  If this book doesn't teach a parent anything, it teaches them to hold their ground, and when something doesn't seem right scream, push or shove and say STOP.