Tufts University's Hospital for Large Animals plans to forgive $14,000 of the $20,000 in veterinary bills.
JoAnn Kass, of Brimfield, shows off her 9-year-old paint horse Cajun who was injured in the June 1 tornado. He is now recovering from a leg injury at the Ross Haven Farm in Sturbridge.BRIMFIELD – JoAnn Kass and husband Steven Bush are slowly rebuilding their lives after the June 1 tornado leveled their home and farm at 51 Paige Hill Road, killed one of their horses and injured the other three.
They’re getting by with a little help from their friends.
It took almost two months and three surgeries, but Cajun, the couple’s 9-year-old paint horse, left the hospital at Tufts University in Grafton on Friday after receiving treatment for a serious leg injury. A finger-sized piece of wood impaled his right rear coffin joint, the lowest joint in the leg, in the storm, said Tufts spokesman Tom Keppeler.
Coffin joint injuries are highly susceptible to infection and usually fatal. His treatment was arduous, often painful and difficult. Ultrasounds and other imaging do not work well on hooves, Keppeler said.
“It’s been very difficult to watch him go through,” said Kass. “I’m glad to see he’s feeling better. Tufts did an awesome, awesome job.”
He is healing up at Ross Haven Farm, a rehabilitation facility in Sturbridge run by one of his surgeons.
Tufts’ Hospital for Large Animals has also announced it will forgive almost $14,000 worth of vet bills. Family, friends and strangers of Kass and Bush raised more than $6,000 to apply to the $20,000 tab. Tufts said that was good enough.
Cajun will be reevaluated in six weeks. When he eventually returns home, he’ll join his friends Mouse and Dragon.
The horses suffered cuts and abrasions. Veterinarian Paula Orcutt of Spencer, Kass’ sister Karen Walker of New Braintree, and local firefighters climbed through the wreckage in the storm’s immediate aftermath to treat them. Orcutt waived her fee.
Volunteers have flocked to the Kass-Bush property since the storm hit and have built three temporary horse stalls. Mouse and Dragon are back with their owners after spending several weeks with family friends.
One thing Cajun probably won’t see when he gets back is the family’s house, the remains of which are currently being demolished, Kass said. She and Bush now live in a mobile home in the backyard and expect to be there through the winter, she said.
They are working with the insurance company to rebuild. In the meantime, clearing debris from the yard has become a daily chore for them and their army of helpers.
“It’s kind of like ‘Groundhog Day,’” said Kass, referring to the 1993 film in which actor Bill Murray re-lives the same 24 hours over and over. “It’s been an every day, all day kind of digging out.”
When asked about the outpouring of support from the community, Kass said, “I think I’ll start to cry if I talk about it.” She managed to push through her emotions and called the help “absolutely overwhelming.”
“Some people have come here every day,” she said. “Everyone has done what they felt they could do.”
She hopes to keep in touch with the new friends she’s made after the clean-up and rebuilding are complete, she said.