Where Healing Comes Full Circle
Patient reunions reconnect families and care teams at the VHC.
Story and photos by Rylee Coy
Photo caption top: Willie the Wildcat signs gift bags that were presented to clients at the reunion.
A horse leaning into a familiar scratch, dogs wagging their tails with excitement and cats quietly observing the scene — the Veterinary Health Center (VHC) Patient Reunion was filled with moments that made it clear this wasn’t just a gathering — it was a celebration of second chances.
The reunion brings former Veterinary Health Center patients back to the College of Veterinary Medicine to
reconnect with the care teams who once treated them during some of their most critical moments. For many families, it’s the first time they have returned since long days spent in exam rooms, ICU stalls or hospital wards. This time, they have thriving, healthy animals by their side.
“We are honored and humbled by her caregivers remembering her and being able to spend that special time with them outside of the chaos of the medical emergency by getting to come back together when all of the dust had settled,” Jennifer Holthaus, owner of Malibu, a horse that received emergency treatment for life threatening blister beetle toxicity.
Cassidy Moreau, veterinary social worker at the VHC, helps organize the event. She says inviting owners back is a way to continue the bond formed during their animal’s hospitalization. Many of the patients spent extended time in the ICU, including critically ill dogs, cats and large-animal patients like horses that required intensive, around-the-clock care.
“Our hope is that by inviting them back, we continue the relationship that was established while their animal was here as a patient,” Moreau says.
The reunion has grown steadily since its first year. Six families attended the inaugural event in 2024, and that number more than doubled in 2025, with about 15 families returning. Attendees included a mix of Healthy Weight Clinic graduates, small-animal ICU patients and even a horse. Each animal had a unique story of resilience and recovery.
“Archie and I would go on plenty of walks when he was still a puppy, but as he got older, I didn’t pay close enough attention to his activity or diet,” Rafael Garcia says. “He got to be 108 pounds in the summer of 2024. I’d long known about the Hill’s Healthy Weight Clinic, but I had lived elsewhere in the state. When I took a job in Manhattan, one of the fi rst things I did was investigate how to enroll Archie.”
Archie was seen by Dr. Katherine Oakes, a previous nutrition intern, and her team for six months to help create a plan for a heathier and more active lifestyle. Archie graduated from the Healthy Weight Clinic
at 72 pounds and a love for playing fetch.
“It was a pleasure to be able to go back to visit with Dr. Oakes and some of her team a few months later at the VHC Patient Reunion,” Rafael says. “We got to show Archie’s continued progress in maintaining a healthy
lifestyle and keeping the weight off , and we also got to take a few photos with Willie — the one cat Archie doesn’t mind.”
“Getting to see all the smiles made my heart swell,” Moreau says. “Not just from the owners, but from the care teams. Our faculty, staff and students are so passionate about this work, and it was incredibly meaningful to celebrate a patient’s health and happiness after illness.”
Those moments of joy have deeper meaning for the VHC team. As a social worker who supports
the mental health and overall well-being of faculty, staff , fourth-year students and house officers, Moreau sees firsthand the emotional weight that comes with veterinary medicine.
“Compassion fatigue and burnout are real,” Moreau says. “Moments of joy, what I call nuggets of happiness, must be intentionally sought out. When we celebrate wins like this, we support staff
well-being and compassion satisfaction.”
The reunion also serves as a heartfelt thank-you to the clients who place their trust in the VHC
during difficult times.
“It’s heartwarming how the teamwork between the owners and the VHC team makes the difference in improving patient outcomes,” says Dr. Michell Gonzalez, clinical assistant professor in anesthesia emergency.
From families whose dogs or cats required intensive care to owners who traveled back with horses once hospitalized for serious conditions, the event brings together a community built on trust, perseverance and the human-animal bond.
That bond doesn’t end when a patient is discharged.
“We care about our patients long after they leave the hospital,” Moreau says. “It’s not unusual for us to think about them even after we go home for the day. Being able to come back together strengthens those long-term relationships and fosters a sense of belonging.”
Capturing the atmosphere of the reunion in words isn’t easy, but those who attend understand it immediately.
“It’s pretty special,” Moreau says. “I’d put it right up there with a K-State game day win.”
With plans to continue growing the event in the future, the VHC Patient Reunion stands as a reminder of why this work matters. It celebrates healing, honors relationships and welcomes former patients back not as cases, but as family.