Berry and Bones

Berry and I were so glad to be back in Koyuk. She loved running free through the tall grasses and fireweed. I thought it would be good for her to have a cord outside where she could enjoy the fresh air. In Wisconsin she could spend hours outside digging holes, chewing on rose bushes, eating twigs off the lilac bush, catching fireflies. So I put Berry where I could watch her outside my bedroom door. So I looked out and saw her laying in the bushes and heard a snap. I ran out there as fast as I could and took duck wing bones away from her. These bones were probably ones left from May when we plucked our ducks. I didn't think she swallowed anything until later that night she was coughing, gagging, and clawing at her face. I called the vet in Nome and he was on vacation. I didn't know what to do. Do I wait to see if the bone passes or do I send her to Emergency clinic in Anchorage and pay a ton of money in flights. After praying, I decided I would send her. I spent from 10 am to 3pm making phone call after phone call to get her to Anchorage. Luckily a guy was taking over for the vet in Nome but was not a vet. So he picked her up at the airport in Nome and boarded her there for the night so she could make the morning flight to Anchorage. She arrived in Anchorage today about 3:15 and the vet gave her just a little sedative so he could check her mouth and throat. Thanks to God there was nothing and it didn't cost that much either. So the vet tech said Berry was looking at her wondering when she was going home. I can just picture Berry's expression: wide sad eyes and droopy ears. I miss her terribly and can't wait for her to come home Sunday. They want to keep her an extra day to just make sure. So now I need to make more phone calls tomorrow to get her back to Koyuk on Sunday.

Berry will be famous! She got her photos taken for the Anchorage Daily News because they wanted to do a story on bush vet emergencies. I had a reporter interview me over the phone. So check out www.adn.com. She will be in the Sunday paper.