today, I got the following:
...the passing of Dr Suzie Peterson, CAL'00. She was only 35 years old. Tragically, she was diagnosed in 2001 with the first prong of what became a progressively debilitating disease.
I am very sad to report that Suzie Peterson finally lost her battle with chronic lung disease on Saturday (4-19-08).
Katie Kangas and I and 2 of our other friends were with her the Tuesday before, eating sushi and drinking wine. She looked good even though she was hooked up to constant oxygen and iv drugs. We laughed and talked about fun stuff. On Friday she took a turn for the worse and they called in hospice care. On Saturday they knew she was close and called the family. She passed at home with her family.
I have known Suzy since she was 19 as a volunteer at my clinic. I watched her through her education and blossoming into an incredible woman and veterinarian. It is so sad her life's dream was so short. I was lucky to have her as a veterinary tech, a veterinarian, and mostly as my friend.
the first of my vet school classmates has just died. those of you who have met me in the flesh know i am not so much the 'Reunion' type, but my vet school class is different. you just don't go through four years of close quarters, 80 hour clinic weeks, endless course work/tests/cramming with 'optional' beer-associated study sessions in the anatomy lab without changing into something closer, into family.
i hadn't talked to Suzie in years, but she was family. kind and gentle with a smile always at the ready. better people than most will ever meet.
damn the tears!
