Webmaster’s Note
On December 15th, I will be leaving the island to return to the
United States and continue my veterinary school education at the
University of Illinois. It has been my pleasure to serve the local
community over the past 2 years, and my thoughts and prayers will
always be with you all.
The vast majority of the work of this
website is done behind the scenes by students and faculty of St.
Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine and the
Department of Agriculture of the Cayman Islands. It is their tireless
and often thankless work and hearts of gold that make this site
work. I am proud to be associated with you all, and I will miss
seeing and working with you. Thank you all for the work you do –
You continue to make this corner of the world a better place.
Dedication to Dr. McKinnie
It was with great joy and sadness that I learned of the upcoming
departure of Dr. McKinnie from St. Matthew’s and the website.
Dr. McKinnie is moving on to a new position in the United States
working with a primate rescue and we all wish her success and happiness.
Dr. McKinnie came to St. Matthew’s
seven semesters ago – The same time I arrived as a first semester
student. It was Dr. McKinnie that originally developed the idea
of a website for lost dogs on the island. Because she was my advisor
and knew of my background, it wasn’t too long before she was
catching me in the hallway between classes and asking me about websites
and bringing me ideas to think about. It is her desire, heart and
dedication that created this website. She worked and negotiated
and lobbied and begged and pushed until she made her dream into
reality. The island and St Matthew’s will miss her and her
work -- She was the heart and soul of this website. Now the work
has been passed on to Dr. Gaskins, Dr Shields, Andi Braun and Amy
Mayfield – And I know they have the heart and passion to take
this website to bigger and better things. You four carry Dr. McKinnie’s
dream of a better island – And you can make a difference.
Finally, I owe her a debt of gratitude
to Dr. McKinnie for acting as my advisor, professor, mentor and
friend for the past 2 1/3rd years. I will miss her and our time
together. She has shaped the man and doctor that I will become and
I hope the future keeps us close and gives us a chance to work together
again. Thanks for everything Doc!
Dedication for my class
It was a bit over 28 months ago we all gazed the horizon, and saw
a small spark that was our future – Grand Cayman Island and
St. Matthew’s University. We came here as men and women with
a dream – Not knowing what to expect or what we would find.
We came here from different backgrounds and from different areas
of the world – But we all shared a common dream of veterinary
medicine.
We began to share that spark, and as
time and semesters passed we grew stronger and more confident in
our skills and knowledge – And that spark became a fire. We
slowly became an overseas family – Who we were and the focus
of our lives was here – And together that small fire grew
larger as we shared more of our lives with each other. Now we go
out into the world with an inferno within our hearts and souls.
Over time the inferno that we have
here will begin to diminish in our lives. The fire of this place
will fade and fade -- Until all that remains is a tiny spark on
an island again – But it will happen because we will be carrying
the fire with us now and will spread warmth to all we touch.
We have all been shaped by each other
– We have shared joy and sorry, happiness and despair, the
good times and bad. We have struggled together and succeeded together.
We have all been helped by each other – and had a hand in
helping each other. Each one of us will always be tied to each other
because we carry a part of each other's lives with us when we go.
We have learned the lessons of medicine and life together and we
will be better doctors and people because of each other. We go out
into the world carrying the fire we gained here – And the
way we keep that fire going and spread it to others is to remember
that we have dedicated our lives to being servants of man and animals.
Our greatness will no longer be measured by A’s or awards
but by how we serve our community and the lives we change along
the way. I know this class, and they will make each of their corners
of the world a better place.
To my class I give my thanks –
Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your lives – Thanks
for making me a better doctor and person and allowing me a chance
to do the same for you. I carry a piece of your hearts in mine and
fond memories of each and every one of you. I will miss not having
you as part of my daily life.
A righteous man cares for the needs
of his animals (Proverbs 12:10)
What A Long Strange Trip It’s
Been,
Dan
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