TEAM's GROUP EFFORT WILL HELP HEAL US ALL

Commentary by CLN Shaw
"It Takes a Team to Mend a Horse" so entitled is Bellwether's Fall 2006 featured issue article and from the DEAN's MESSAGE - Excerpt: Fans of Barbaro include Unversity of Pennsylvania's top veterinary hospital at New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, PA. According to Joan Hendricks - Veterinarian (GR 1980), The Gilbert S. Kahn Dean of Veterinary Medicine - Barbaro's tragedy reminds us of the "strength of the human-animal bond...As a legend-in-the-making, his dominant performance forged the links between himself and owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson, his trainer Michael Matz, his jockey Edgar Prado, and his fans from around the globe... We all identified with him and felt the surge of energy as he galloped down the stretch in Louisville to a commanding victory.

Just as powerfully, we all felt his pain when Barbaro suffered a terrible injury in the opening furlong of Preakness... Whatever the reason, Barbaro's collapse and the expert care he received at George D. Widener Hospital brought new awareness to the technological advances in veterinary medicine. Seeing Barbaro's recovery and the articulate updates by Dr. Dean Richardson, had a huge impact on people relating to the distinctive skills and healing touch of veterinarians - surgeons, anesthesiologists, criticalists, nurses, and surgical team staff provide."

Care for Barbaro extends now to the overall importance of top veterinary medicine to both animals and people nationally. Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell just released the first $13.5 million installment of $30 million approved
in state appropriations for rebuilding George D. Widener Large Animal Hospital
facilities at New Bolton Center. These critical funds will allow installing a biohazardous safety digester to handle infectious-diseased animal tissues including those contaminated by avian influenza and building a state-of -the-art facility for horses with colic and other high-risk infectious diseases. The goals are for more efficient, comfortable, confident, and quicker handling, identifying, and containing infectious outbreaks. One top goal is matching funds to the $30 million raised from private contributions in "our upcoming Capital Campaign for enabling state-of-the-art expansion of the Widener Hospital facilities." Of course, THE BARBARO FUND has enabled much help along with the apples, mints, carrots, flowers, and hand-drawn signs left by fans of Barbaro at the entrance to the New Bolton Center. These and the daily postings at www.vet.upenn.edu/barbaro/index.php clearly show how deeply are the bonds so many of us share with Barbaro and our animals...
TO READ MORE, go to www.vet.upenn.edu/bellwether/v65/article6.shtml .

Excerpt from It Takes a Team to Mend a Horse: by Susan Finkelstein & Gail Luciani

"Everybody on a Championship Team doesn't get publicity but everyone can say he/she is a champion." Earvin "Magic" Johnson

They have always been a team; each department, each person has an integral part in the workings of New Bolton Center - part of the University of Pennsylvania's 700 acres where some of the finest veterinary services exist. Doctors, Nurses, Admissions, Housekeeping Staff, Telephone Operators, and Mail Clerks - all part of an elegant complex synergy of healing animals and helping people. Yes, they had always been a team but never realized just how much until that Saturday, May 20, 2006 - when a champion faltered before the eyes of millions of people. The horse was Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, and his larger-than-life presence at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals, since then, has connected all New Bolton's players in not only caring for this horse loved around the world, but in keeping the Hospital on top of its game... To READ MORE VISIT http://www.vet.upenn.edu/bellwether/v65/article1.shtml

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Excerpt from ALEX BROWN, www.timwoolleyracing.com

The wristbands are to be worn as a reminder of all that Barbaro has represented -- his courage, his triumph, his charm, and most of all his heart. When the person wearing the wristband happens to catch a glimpse of it -- it will be a reminder say a little prayer for him, and also to send him loving and healing thoughts.
MEDIUM WRISTBAND (7 3/8") QUANTITY _____ ($5.00 EACH)
LARGE WRISTBAND (8 3/8")QUANTITY _____ ($5.00 EACH)
TOTAL $ _____.__ (CASH OR CHECKS PAYABLE SHARON CLARK)
To order wristbands; please print this page and send $5.00 for each wristband to:
Sharon ClarkP.O. Box 78Silver Spring, PA 17575
You may e-mail Sharon at barbarowristbands@dejazzd.com

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL

May 20, 2006, started out like just any other day,
I looked in horror, poor brave Barbaro, how hard I did pray.
I prayed with all my being, that the horror I had seen 3 times at the track,
would not become another horrible reality, the strength I did so lack.
As I sat in front of the TV, tears running down my face, my head in my hands,
I prayed to the Lord above, please Lord, I hope you are his biggest fan.
Let him live, he’s done nothing wrong, he is just a child,
he will grace this world, not just today, but for a long while.
So many heartaches I have seen at the track,
I needed Barbaro to live, I needed to restore the faith that I lacked.
I held vigil at the University of Penn website, and on Yahoo news,
please let him make it through the surgery Lord, you have nothing to lose.
He will reward you, you will see in good time,
this I am sure of, I would give up my last dime.
Hours of waiting and praying for Barbaro not to lose his fight,
comes the relief I hoped for, he made it through surgery alright.
My vigil continued for all of that night,
hoping and praying he will come out of this, he does have the fight.
Finally the moment of truth had arrived,
I could not believe what I saw, had to wipe my eyes.
Here he comes! Barbaro is walking with Dr. Dean,
such a beautiful sight this was that I had seen.
Look at him! Chowing down that food,
get out of my way Doc, I am hungry, didn’t mean to nudge you, sorry I have been rude.
You see Doc, you made me feel better, how can I ever give thanks,
give me a little time to heal, I will show you some really good pranks!
This is what I seen in the pictures after recovery,
so full of life, so innocent, so much discovery.
There are so many people that I would like to thank,
what you all have given back to this world, could never be put in a bank.
It came from your hearts, it came out of love,
the hero you have given me, forever blessed from above.

Sharon Crumb (Sharonlynn) BARBARO AMBASSADOR, NJ
10/18/06

Hurray, Hurray can get more grass and stay out longer and longer each day with my friend, Dr Dean Richardson. Yes, Barbaro takes the good doctor for 45 minutes of fresh air and exercise or is it the other way around? Our world is more than black and white with shades of grey inbetween the colors above (by Cle Shaw).