The graduates inside Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine expected an emotional ceremony celebrating years of hard work and sacrifice, but no one was prepared for the moment a small rescue dog named Honey quietly walked onto the stage. Gasps and tears quickly spread through the crowd as students realized the injured dog they once fought desperately to save was now standing before them, healthy and full of life. Only months earlier, Honey had arrived at the veterinary hospital on Christmas Eve with devastating injuries after being struck by a car, leaving many uncertain whether she would survive at all.
Just months earlier, Honey arrived at Iowa State’s Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center after being struck by a car on Christmas Eve in Des Moines. Her injuries were severe and heartbreaking. She suffered multiple skull fractures, damage to her sinuses, and traumatic brain injuries that required immediate emergency care.
Her foster mom, Laura Bradner, said Honey was in critical condition when she first came in.
At the time, Honey belonged to a homeless man who desperately wanted to save her. Although he could not afford the extensive treatment she needed, he made the painful decision to surrender her so she could have a chance to survive rather than be euthanized.
The veterinary team immediately began stabilizing Honey while assessing the full extent of her injuries.
“They were fixing fractures and treating everything they possibly could,” said Dr. Dan Grooms, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine. “But one of the biggest concerns was understanding and managing the brain trauma.”
For the students and doctors working through the holiday, Honey quickly became more than just another emergency case. She became a symbol of determination.
A Long Road Back
Honey’s recovery required months of surgeries, treatments, and rehabilitation. The staff at Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center worked tirelessly alongside Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids, a nonprofit organization that helps fund lifesaving care for rescue and shelter animals across Iowa.
Jan Erceg, founder of Critter Crusaders, said cases like Honey’s demand immediate action and teamwork.
“We help guide the care and provide funding for these emergency situations,” Erceg explained. “Honey was one of those cases where everyone came together very quickly.”
The organization has raised more than $27,000 for Honey’s treatment so far.
Throughout her recovery, Honey attended rehabilitation sessions five days a week. Slowly, the frightened dog who once struggled to survive began regaining strength. Step by step, she learned how to walk again.
Bradner said Honey never lost her gentle spirit through it all.
“She has the sweetest disposition,” Bradner shared. “You can take her anywhere, and she just goes with the flow.”
That calm and loving personality made her appearance at graduation even more emotional. For the students who helped care for her during long holiday shifts, seeing Honey healthy and walking again felt deeply personal.
Many of them had witnessed her at her weakest. Now they were watching her thrive.
Grooms said Honey’s story perfectly reflected the impact veterinarians can have on both animals and the people who love them.
“It shows these graduates the difference they can make,” he said. “What was really special that Christmas Eve was how our entire community came together to help Honey.”
As Honey stood before the cheering crowd, her bright eyes and relaxed tail told their own story. The fear and pain she once endured had been replaced with comfort, safety, and joy.
Bradner believes Honey still has only about a month of rehabilitation left before reaching another major milestone in her recovery.
And judging by the way she proudly walked onto that graduation stage, Honey already knows she beat the odds.
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