My introduction to research was sort of horrific as a young child. My mom and aunt worked for a hospital that did research on animals, dogs in particular once they were successful on smaller lab animals (like rats). I remember how upset I was when I would see the care takers bringing the dogs outside and they would have issues walking or couldn't use the bathroom properly. I would ask my mom what was wrong with them, and my mom would tell me that they made the dogs sick so that they could practice making them better. If they were able to make them better then we would help little boys and girls get better too. At the time all my mind was capable of thinking about was, those poor puppies, and how I wanted their testing to STOP so they could go home and play with their toys and eat their bones. I carried this feeling with me of animal testing until I was about 23 years old when a very close friend's child was diagnosed with cancer. All I could think about was, why did this poor little girl have to get sick, and how much I hoped that she would beat this horrible disease. After 2 very long years of fighting Kaitlyn was cancer free, and it was all due in part to the research that was going on at my mom's old work. They had developed the treatment that helped to kick her cancers butt, and I was never more grateful for those dogs than I was when I got the news. I have since learned that sometimes the risks really are worth the benefits that can come from research! I have attached a picture of my best friend and her cousin who kicked cancer's butt, she is my inspiration and my reminder that without research she wouldn't be here today. (ps she just graduated collage this past weekend!!!)
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