Special Thanks

 

There are so many people to thank that I am not even sure where to begin. So many people gave of themselves in some capacity and without this support, Phoebe and this foundation would both not be here today.

THANK YOU TO PHOEBE'S DOCTORS

Sometime the best recommendations come by word of mouth. The vets I have encountered have been amazing. I am including their contact information below. 

A special thank you to Sea Girt Animal Hospital and Staff and Marisa Sabia, D.V.M. for initially diagnosing Phoebe with PDA and for their continued kindness in caring for Phoebe as if she were their own.

An extra special thank you to the wonderful doctors and staff at Red Bank Veterinary Hospital. All doctors and staff Phoebe and I have encountered have been top notch...from their excellent medical expertise to their unending patience and caring. Without the unending kindness, concern and medical expertise of Carl Sammarco, BVSc, MRCVS, Diplomate ACVIM (Cardiology) Phoebe would not be here today. He went above and beyond and refused to give up on us and it has made all the difference to both Phoebe and I. A special thank you to Jill Sammarco BVSc, MRCVS, Diplomate who jumped right in to put Phoebe back together when her aorta ruptured. An extra special thank you to Garret J. Davis, DVM Diplomate ACVS for successfully closing the hole in Phoebe's heart during her third surgery. Words can not express my deep gratitude to Dr. Carl Sammarco and Dr. Davis for their continuous kindness in checking on us at all hours of the day and night and for always being available to see us to drain Phoebe's incision site and bandage her back up whether it was 11AM or 11PM. 

THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS
A special thank you to Tom Walsh and Jolie Kaminski who sat through surgeries 2 and 3 with me and never left my side during the long ordeal. Thank you to Tom for always hopping in the car with me to head to Red Bank at all hours of the night when Phoebe wasn't doing too well, and for his unending physical, mental and emotional support. 

Thank you Lisa Van Gulick for living through this with me. You were always there when I needed someone- be it to lend a hand, to watch the dogs or to check on us. Thank you for watching Phoebe and Kayla so I could escape for a much needed vacation. There aren't too many people who would agree to watch a high risk cardiac dog but you always did and I knew I was leaving her in good hands. Thank you to Tom and Sean Walsh for opening their home to me and my furry brood. They never knew when they would end up with two dogs and a cat running around their house. They always welcomed us with a smile!

Thank you Alan Boccardo (the best dog walker in Hoboken) for taking such good care of both Kayla and Phoebe and for always being there when we need you. In the over three years you have been with us, I don’t think you have ever taken a sick day!! Many people would have been leery about walking and caring for a puppy with a hole in her heart but you pitched right in five days a week and gave of your time and kindness. You truly have been my right arm with these dogs and thank you doesn’t seem enough!

Thank you to my friends and colleagues at Nowell Amoroso Klein Bierman, P.A. Thank you to Stephanie Cirigliano for recommending Dr. Sammarco, to Anthony Pantano, Esq., Marilyn Arcieri and Eileen Helly for their unending friendship and understanding during this crazy past year and to all of Nowell Amoroso Klein Bierman, PA who graciously allowed me to bring Phoebe to work after her many surgeries so that I could keep an eye on her.

Thank you to Dr. Edward Feins, Pamela Schwamb and Lisa Van Gulick for agreeing to be on the first Board of Directors of the Phoebe Foundation and for giving tirelessly of your time and talents.

Thank you to Dani Santanella (Canine Training & Behavior Specialist) at Urban K-9 for her unending patience in training Phoebe & Maggie and for trecking all the way from Brooklyn to NJ to do so. 

Thank You Thank You Thank You to my family for your unending prayers and support. A super extra thank you to my Aunt Donna (Dr. Donna T. McCaffrey) for loaning me the money for Phoebe's 3rd heart surgery and for taking Kayla back to Rhode Island with her whenever Phoebe was operated on. I hope to be able to repay you one day. Thank you too to all who watched Kayla during this past year of crazy hospital runs and to my Aunt Mary (Mary Klette)who also helped take care of Kayla in Rhode Island. Thank you Mom (Rosanne McCaffrey O'Donnell Hicks) for taking Bailey in and watching him during all three surgeries. I know you are not a cat person so your extra kindness did not go unnoticed. Thank you to my sister Lisa (Lisa-Mary O'Donnell, M.D.)and my sister Ginger (Nancy V. O'Donnell, Esq.) for watching and feeding Bailey and to my brother Mike (Michael O'Donnell) who helped me out with Kayla and Phoebe when we were neighbors in Hoboken.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST, THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE HELPED TO GET THE PHOEBE FOUNDATION UP AND RUNNING AND FOR YOUR PAST AND FUTURE SUPPORT OF THIS WORTH WHILE CAUSE! WITHOUT YOU, THIS FOUNDATION WOULD BE NOTHING MORE THAN A DREAM. 

Marisa Sabia D.V.M.
Sea Girt Animal Hospital
2129 Hwy. 35
Sea Girt, NJ 08750
www.seagirtanimalhospital.com
732-449-9224

Red Bank Veterinary Hospital
197 Hance Avenue
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
www.rbvh.net
732-747-3636
Carl D. Sammarco, BVSc, MRCVS, Diplomate ACVIM (Cardiology)
Jill Sammarco, BVSc, MRCVS, Diplomate ACVS
Garret J. Davis, DVM, Diplomate ACVS
Christopher Thacher, DVM, Diplomate ACVS


Paw Walkers- Putting Paws In Motion
Contact Alan in Hoboken
201-921-8101

Urban K-9
Dani Santanella
Canine Training & Behavior Specialist
439 Carroll Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
347-416-2535
Dani@urbank-9.com
www.urbank-9.com