Laura Burkett, my Sister/Roommate has joined our Team for the Susan G. Komen Walk. She is a Double Mastectomy Breast Cancer Survivor of 18 years. I'm going to tell you a story about Dougie the Stuffed Basset Hound. It's My backstory of the day Laura had her breast cancer surgery. Laura self-diagnosed herself and found a lump on one breast. Many Dr. visits later it was determined that it was cancerous and had to be removed. The Dr. and she decided that removing both breasts was the best course to ensure all cancer cells would be gone. She was SO calm throughout all the Procedures and agreed to meet with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to see if they could help. They said yes and that was a great gift and relief for her. In the meantime, I'm the nervous one that keeps trying not to freak out. The morning of the Surgery (5:30 a.m.), I went to the desk and asked if I could see the Doctor before he went to do Laura's surgery. They said why-we can pass a message on to him. I said No you can't pass this message on, and I need to see him. They quickly said Yes, maybe afraid I would start a scene. He came out to see me and asked what questions he could answer. I told him he had already answered all the questions, and I just needed to see him to make sure he wasn't Sick, Hung Over, or Stressed Out, before performing major surgery on the person that means the world to me. He said, "Did I pass the test"? I said, "Yes you do, now please go remove all that cancer". And he did. They sent me to Walgreen's to fill prescriptions Laura would need while she was in recovery. I'd been thinking of getting her something and couldn't think what to get, except a card. I walked into Walgreen's and an employee was putting out full sized Basset Hound stuffed animals. I almost shouted with joy. I told her about Laura and how much she loves Basset Hounds and the one with the Pink Ribbon would be perfect. I walked through the hospital with this large stuffed animal and several people said, AW, what a lucky kid. I just smiled and replied that Yes, She Was Very lucky. She loved it and said what should I name it? I said maybe after your Surgeon. Doug is his name. Not cute enough she said, so I'll name him Dougie. When the human named Doug came by to check on Laura, she told him her new foot warmer (that's what he was best at) was named after him. He said he was honored.