Some patients, I just know I’m going to share their story from the very beginning, from the very first email contact. I didn’t know about Velvy that quickly, but as soon as I began his surgery, I knew he’d end up here one day. The further the surgery progressed, the more excited I was about sharing him and when he flew home overnight last Friday, I couldn’t wait for him to be home so I could start sharing his tale. He was back in his people’s arms on Saturday, I had their response Sunday, and yesterday, they approved my sharing his story. So here it is. :-)
Velvy is, as the heading says, a velveteen rabbit. His original person’s husband was the first to write. Velvy had “seen better days” and needed some help. Here are some of his diagnosis photos:
As you can see, he is very well loved! I offered a few treatment options, from just wound stitching, to partial fur transplants, to full recover. His original person wrote back almost a year after the original email from her spouse:
I want to send my rabbit to your hospital. I’m torn because I want my kids to be able to play with him (full recover) but also want to make sure he is the same bunny. It’s just hard to visualize:) what do you think?
We talked about it (via email) and finally agreed that recovering made sense, but we would put his patches and buttons back on top of the new velvet. We’d also keep his original eyes, but reembroider his nose. Velvy arrived at the hospital about a month ago. Here he is with the two closest tan velvet options for his new fur/skin:
They’re pretty close, but it’s really a question of the color his person remembered… had he always been darker, or was he lighter in his younger days? His person chose the darker velour and surgery proceeded. A few weeks later, it was time to choose his new nose thread. Again the question, lighter or darker:
Lighter it was, and surgery continued! Soon, Velvy was feeling much better. Fully recovered, with a new nose. I’d resewn his patches on top, but had tucked their edges so they wouldn’t unravel as easily. His original buttons and eyes were visible too. We didn’t touch Velvy’s stuffing, or clean him, so he should feel the same and smell the same when hugged. His skin was loose where it had been loose, such as at the hip joints, and firm where it had been firm (like on his head). Here he is post surgery:
His person’s response:
Oh my goodness. He’s perfect. You have helped our family so much (and we really need it right now). Thank you!!!!!!!!
One last thing was needed, Velvy had arrived in a lovely hand knitted sweater. So he needed to get dressed to fly home. Here he is, ready to be picked up to go to the airport for his overnight flight:
As I said at the top, Velvy arrived home this past Saturday. His family wrote:
I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for repairing Velvy. I was a little worried he would not be the same bunny, but he is exactly the same bunny. You are a master craftsman and I wish you all the success in the world.
Stay safe out there, these are crazy times – but also, know that you have brought my daughter (and me omg) so much joy as we are stuck inside the house.
My daughter has not let him out of her sight. =)
I hope Velvy’s tale made you smile, and that all of you are staying safe too….
simply cannot ever resist what i call the little mermaid or the tin man or the pinnochio plot, the one about a character who is either inhuman or human but outside in some way, constantly searching for whatever it is that they consider to be the quintessential proofof humanity, preoccupied by it so deeply that they fail to realize the proof is in the act and fact of the search itself
