When their beloved Labradors needed surgical care, Joe and Kirsten Stasney turned to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center time and time again. Now, they’re giving back in hopes of saving lives and advancing the field.
Black Labradors are woven into the fabric of Joe and Kirsten Stasney’s lives. Over the years, they have welcomed seven Labs into their home. Now retired and living on Minnesota’s North Shore, their dogs are constant companions inside the house and out on the area’s hiking trails and shorelines.
Two of their dogs in particular, happy-go-lucky Gizzi and mischievous Jager, sparked a special bond between the family and the University of Minnesota. Both Labs underwent surgical procedures at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center during their lifetimes. The compassionate care provided to their pets by staff and students at the hospital inspired the Stasneys to give back in a way that they hope will save pet lives and help the next generation of veterinarians.
They have set up a gift in their will that will support student scholarships as well as small-animal surgery educational opportunities and research. They see it as paying forward the gift of the improved health and quality of life that Gizzi and Jager received from their respective surgeries.
The Stasneys first came to the Veterinary Medical Center in 2016, when Gizzi tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in one of her hindlimbs. Her injury was successfully treated by now-retired veterinary surgeon Betty Kramek, DVM, MS. Then two years later, the ACL in her other hindlimb tore, and it was back to the hospital, where Kramek performed the same surgery.
In the six years she lived after the second surgery, Joe Stasney says, Gizzi never experienced another issue with either knee.
In 2018, the Stasneys found themselves at the Veterinary Medical Center again—this time with Jager, their other Lab at the time. Medical imaging showed a mass the size of a softball on her liver. Once again, the family was under Kramek’s care.
Kramek led a team of surgeons and students through a complicated procedure to remove the mass. During the procedure, the team discovered another mass on Jager’s adrenal gland; it was successfully removed in a follow-up surgery.
When planning their estate gift, the Stasneys spoke at length with Kramek, who advised on where funds would have the greatest effect on student scholarships, clinical experiences, and research opportunities.
Gifts such as these heavily impact the ability to innovate and train the next generation, says Wanda Gordon-Evans, DVM, PhD, of the Veterinary Medical Center.
“What many donors don’t realize is how much their gift is a catalyst for the students and specialties that receive the gift,” she says. “These veterinarians continue to pay it forward in knowledge and expertise, benefiting future veterinarians and their patients.”
By Brandi Rupard
Story sponsored by University of Minnesota Foundation
