It was a horrific two days. My Toby began to throw up yesterday, so off to the vet we went. He stayed to have a barium study yesterday. Today our vet, Dr Middleton, came in to view the morning x-ray even though it was his day off. He stayed to remove a partial obstruction of carpet fiber over one inch long from Toby's stomach. Now Dr. Middleton was aware that in February, I had two surgeries myself and a prolonged hospitalization for post op infection. He was also aware that I was paying off a $400 plus bill with him bimonthly from the five ferrets shots and such. When I talked to him before the surgery he quoted a $500 surgery fee. I told him that it didn't matter, that as long as I could pay him off bimonthly I would move heaven and earth to do it. He replied, "we will work with you." I picked up Toby at noon because he was doing ok enough that I, as a nurse, could care for him at home. Along with discharge instructions I recieved a page and a half invoice of every procedure, x-ray, drug, iv fluid and every other thing that had been done since yesterday. Beside every item was the charge: $0.00. I owe this man and his Village Animal Hospital everything. I did before, but even more so now. God Bless him. [Posted in FML issue 3724]