{UAH} Ellie's Story: Being Thankful is a Matter of Perspective

Ellie's Story: Being Thankful is a Matter of Perspective

November 22, 2017  |  By Phyllis Knight

It's easy to take what we have for granted, often without even realizing it, especially when we begin to consider so much of what we have as necessities rather than luxuries. If you ever feel like you need an eye-opener to help you keep things in perspective, then Ellie Newcomb, a local veterinarian, would suggest you travel to an impoverished country, in particular she would suggest Uganda, from where she recently returned from the trip of a lifetime.

As you may recall, we did Part 1 of Ellie's Big Adventure prior to her leaving for Uganda the end of September to volunteer with The BIG FIX and participate in World Animal Day, and we asked the community to be a part of the experience by donating leashes and collars and even monetary donations to help cover the cost of immunizations. Needless to say, our community, as usual, responded overwhelmingly and Ellie wound up having to decline more items because of lack of space to take them with her. If you missed Part 1 of Ellie's Story, you can read it here.

Just a brief description of The BIG FIX Uganda for those who may not be familiar with it:  They are the only organization offering free veterinary services in Northern Uganda, and operate the only veterinary hospital in a region that is home to more than 2 million people. They administer programs in animal birth control, rabies vaccination, animal health and wellness, animal welfare education, anti-cruelty investigation, and animal assisted therapy.

Prior to heading to Uganda to volunteer with The BIG FIX, Ellie's preparations included ten vaccinations, since several major diseases are prevalent in the area, including rabies and malaria. She then filled three foot lockers with miscellaneous veterinarian supplies: pain meds, de-wormers, flea/tick vials, syringes, surgical instruments, and, of course, the aforementioned donated leashes and collars; in addition to her personal belongings and small items for the children with whom she would be working, but more about that later.

After making it through four separate Customs Agents, no small feat considering the amount of medical supplies she carried, Ellie was ready to head to The BIG FIX Veterinary compound located outside of the town of Gulu.

For someone from Valley Center, where horses are a big part of rural life, it was surprising to Ellie that there are no horses, or even donkeys (too expensive) in Uganda. In fact, there are a lot of things that are not in Uganda, including mass transportation and most of the people walk (typically barefoot) to their respective destinations, including children walking to school.

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Gwokto La'Kitgum

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"Even a small dog can piss on a tall building" Jim Hightower

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