Words To Publish

Aside fro watching TV series, my other past time is feeding our koi fish in our garden pond. Our garden is situated under an oak tree. We had put a net under the tree to catch the falling leaves. I also asked my dad to put a hammock under the tree so that during in my free time in the afternoon, I could stay there and sleep. Since our garden pond is relatively new, about eight months, we only have four adult koi fish in it. We are expecting that they would just reproduce on their own.

One afternoon, as I was feeding the koi fish, I noticed little creatures around it. At first, I thought they were tadpoles. But as they got closer to me, they were baby koi fish swimming around the Asagi koi. I instantly ran off to our kitchen and called my mom and dad. They too were surprised when they saw them. Just to make sure that we wil be doing the right thing for our new pets, we called in a professional koi breeder to check it out. The koi professional told us that everything is fine and that the baby koi have been there for about a month. They were jus too little for us to notice since they have been hiding under the plants.

We were so happy about the news. So the next morning, we decided to go to a koi fish supplies store to get more things that we needed. We cleaned up the pond to ensure that the water is good for their living condition.

After two months, the baby koi fish have grown a little, although we could not figure out their designs and colors yet, they sure can relieve our stress after a tiring day.

Now, as far as I could count we have about more than fifty koi fish. It is really a rewarding feeling seeing them swim around.

In reviewing the literature on this common equine problem, it is evident that the causes are enormously varied and no “research studies “ or other publications have adequately addressed the issue. There isn’t even any agreement as to the nomenclature of suspensory ligament problems in horses. The common use of “ Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis “ (DSLD) is confusing.  The term “desmitis” is literally defined as “inflammation of a ligament”.  That is not helpful in understanding the cause and is confusing in that it implies a degenerative and an inflammatory process without separation.  A publication from the Veterinary School at the University of Georgia proclaims that the proper diagnostic term should be “Equine Systemic Proteoglycan Accumulation” ( ESPA) and other articles refer to a broader term of “Equine Suspensory Apparatus Dysfunction” ( ESAD ).   Undocumented statements have been made at various clinical veterinary conferences that the problem is primarily confined to Peruvian Paso and Paso Fino Horses. There is no evidence to support such a claim and suspensory problems have plagued all breeds including other breeds of gaited horse breeds. A letter published by one of the premier equine clinics in the world and signed by all five of the veterinary clinicians states that of their first one thousand cases of so called DSLD, only seven were Peruvian Paso Horses.  Inaccurate, undocumented, and anecdotal information has permeated the thoughts of many equine practitioners to the extent that any sort of suspensory ligament abnormality is automatically labeled DSLD.  The implication of such a diagnosis is that of an incurable systemic disease resulting from a hereditary defect in the metabolism of proteoglycans in connective tissue throughout many organs. Abnormal and systemic proteoglycan accumulation in various tissues is due to a deficiency of one or more of at least eleven enzymes ( lysozymes) and is a proven cause of disease syndromes in humans and other mammals. The problem in understanding and diagnosing suspensory lameness lies in making the distinction between a relatively rare systemic hereditable metabolic disease and the more common occurrence of suspensory ligament damage due to trauma or improper conformation.  The distinction is of vital importance for  prognosis and therapy.

I am simple girl, living a simple life, with my parents. We are a typical middle class family; we only spend and buy things that are essential for our daily needs. I can say that, I was raised and taught well by my parents. So, when I was younger, I had a firm belief that none of all the material things can make a person truly happy, except family, friends and God. Well, it’s true. But my belief has changed when my best friend, gave me a koi fish picture with her holding the beautiful koi.

Honestly, I was never a fan of a koi fish, or any fish for that matter. But during that moment, I felt a certain flush in my body. So, I decided to check on the web to see where the koi centers are located so I could personally check them out in the morning.

The next morning, Christine and I took a bus and went to the koi center. There we saw a lot of beautiful koi varieties with different colors and patterns. Because of the happiness that I felt at that time, I said to myself that I got to have this fish.

During dinner at home, I shared my experience in the koi center to my parents. I showed them the pictures we have taken. They seemed happy seeing me happy. So I tried asking them if we could get one. Before I could say the magic word, my dad told me that we don’t need it and we can’t afford it. There was nothing I could do but cry. I really felt bad.

I understood my father. I know that if we could only afford it, for sure they would certainly give my request. So, I never asked again.

When school began that year, I had to move to another state for my college, of course, tagging along with me are the pictures of the koi fish. I was sad, I never got used to being away from parents.

That same year during Christmas, I went home to celebrate with my parents. To my surprise, there was a big pond in our backyard with four koi fish in it and a big tag that says “To our daughter, Gabby, Merry Christmas”. I was so happy. I never thought that they will give me what I’ve always wanted.

My mother then told me that during the night that I asked them if we could have koi in our home and they said no, they felt my sadness and still I never complained. So, as a reward of being a good daughter, they gave me a wonderful gift.

Now, I don’t only have pictures of koi fish. I have my own real thing.