Nebula's Story: A Journey of Love, Loss, and Advocacy

I wish this website never had to exist. Writing Nebula's story and creating this space has been a painful journey. I would have preferred to share only the beautiful memories of our life together. If only the veterinarians I entrusted had been competent, caring, compassionate, and responsible, Nebula would still be here today.

Nebula (May 07, 2019 - February 20, 2021)

Nebula wasn't just any cat; she was my first companion, a precious gift I received on my birthday. From the moment we met, there was an unspoken bond between us, a magic connection that transcended words. We understood each other in ways I never imagined possible. She wasn’t just a pet, she was my adventure partner, my comfort, and my heart. We explored together, went on fishing trips, and hiked through nature. She brought immense joy to my life and, most importantly, showed me the true meaning of unconditional love. She was an angel sent to teach me how to love. She melted my heart and changed me for the better. 

But everything changed after what was supposed to be a routine spay surgery. A surgery that should have been safe and simple turned into a nightmare, leading to a devastating loss I will never recover from.

The Botched Spay Surgery 

On February 2, 2021, I took her to Banfield Pet Hospital in Roseville, MN, for what was supposed to be a routine spay surgery. I thought and was told it would be straightforward, but this surgery marked the beginning of a tragic journey.

At the front desk, I was coaxed to sign up for their Wellness Plan (learn more). Without much thought and wanting to give Nebula the best care, I agreed. Dr. Kathryn A. Daley performed the surgery. It was only later that I discovered Dr. Daley just graduated from veterinary school, and her experience was questionable at best.

When Nebula came home, something was wrong. She couldn’t urinate. She kept straining in the litterbox but was unable to relieve herself. At first, I thought it was just a normal post-surgery reaction, but her condition worsened. Her abdomen became hard and painful. I knew something was seriously wrong.

Misdiagnosis at Banfield 

Concerned about Nebula’s condition, I called Banfield, and they scheduled an appointment for February 13, 2021. During the visit, I expressed my fear that Nebula's bladder might be obstructed or displaced. Dr. Natalie Enzmann, who diagnosed Nebula, insisted that the hard mass visible on the radiograph was feces. She diagnosed Nebula with constipation, ignoring my repeated concerns that Nebula could defecate but could not urinate. Dr. Enzmann even prescribed appetite stimulants and medication for constipation.

I trusted her judgment, though something inside me screamed that she was wrong. Looking back, I wish I had pushed harder. I will never forgive myself for trusting blindly when I should have fought harder for Nebula.

For a week, I followed Dr. Enzmann’s instructions, but Nebula only got worse. The hard mass in her abdomen grew larger, she still couldn't urinate, and her pain became unbearable to watch. Deeply worried, I called Banfield again and was scheduled for another appointment for February 18, 2021. This time, they realized Dr. Natalie Enzmann’s previous diagnosis was completely wrong.

Oddly, Banfield staff refused to meet with me during regular hours. It seemed as if they didn’t want other clients to witness what was happening. Finally, around 6 PM, in a small, secluded room, Dr. Enzmann admitted that her previous diagnosis was incorrect and Nebula’s condition had worsened to a critical state. Banfield referred me to BluePearl Emergency Hospital for an urgent second surgery. That night, I discovered that Banfield deleted Nebula’s medical records from their online portal, likely to cover up their mistakes. Thankfully, I had printed copies that they could not erase.

I later found numerous negative reviews about Banfield Pet Hospital, including complaints about malpractice and even tragic pet deaths. If I had known about these warnings earlier, I never would have entrusted Nebula to their care, and she might still be alive today. Strangely, the Roseville Banfield location closed permanently after Nebula’s passing.

The Roseville Banfield location where Nebula received the botched spay surgery, has been permanently closed.

The Second Surgery at BluePearl

I rushed Nebula to BluePearl Emergency Hospital, Arden Hills, MN. I never imagined it would be the last time I'd see her alive.

Nebula was admitted around 6:30 PM. BluePearl conducted a rapid assessment and identified a "suspicion of a large uterine stump mass causing obstruction of the bladder", a direct result of the botched spay surgery performed by Dr. Kathryn A. Daley. Nebula was stabilized overnight in preparation for surgery the next day.​

On February 19, 2021, Dr. Andrew Jackson performed the surgery and discovered devastating evidence of Dr. Daley’s incompetence: "remnants of the distal horns and the uterine body" had been left behind, clearly indicating that Dr. Daley had not properly completed the spay surgery. To correct this, Dr. Jackson performed a neocystoureterostomy, surgically reconstructing the ureter-to-bladder connection to bypass the damage caused by the botched spay. 

"The spay surgery performed by Dr. Kathryn A. Daley was hardly performed competently, given the still remnants of the distal uterine horns and the complete uterine body present. A granulomatous mass had seemingly formed, which also included the left ureter, and that clearly had been inadvertently included in the transfixation ligatures in Dr. Daley’s original surgery. These surgical notes clearly show negligent surgical technique and error, which led to all of Nebula’s metabolic complications, need for a second surgery to try and rectify the surgical mistakes, and ultimately her demise following this second salvage surgical procedure."

--- Expert Testimony

At first, Nebula seemed to be recovering well. She was alert, walking, and urinating on her own. But later that night, she was given a blood transfusion, and within hours, her condition deteriorated rapidly. She became pale, limp, and unresponsive. Dr. Jackson suspected “some vascular event that possibly could be a reaction to the transfusion.” I was extremely concerned about the donor blood used in the transfusion (learn more). I asked Dr. Jackson to halt all treatments and allow Nebula to recover on her own. I also made it clear that I wanted to be consulted for approval before any further treatments, especially blood transfusions. He agreed.

Admission, February 19, 2021

Post surgery, February 20, 2021

Recovering, February 20, 2021

The Heartbreaking Loss

Throughout the night, Nebula showed promising signs of improvement. The morning of Saturday, February 20, 2021, Dr. Andrew Jackson called with good news that Nebula was recovering well and could come home by Monday.

I was overjoyed, only for my world to shatter hours later. By noon, I received a devastating call that Nebula's heart had suddenly stopped and they were performing CPR. I rushed to the hospital, arriving around 12:20 PM, only to be told that Nebula was gone. 

The sight of Nebula’s lifeless body shattered me. Her tiny body was swollen and bloated with fluid, her belly stitched in multiple places. Her tongue hung out, and her eyes remained wide open, as if searching for me in her final moments.

I stood there in tears, paralyzed by grief. I was helpless, furious, and devastated beyond words. How could things have gone so horribly wrong? How had the people I trusted with Nebula's life failed her so completely?

Looking back, there was a clear breakdown in communication between the medical staff. Dr. Andrew Jackson had reported that Nebula was improving, but when Dr. Brett Rabe took over in the morning, he appeared to have been poorly briefed or not informed at all about Nebula's condition. In his CPR report, Dr. Rabe noted that her status was "unclear if worse from what was noted overnight", revealing a troubling lack of coordination between the doctors. Worse still, despite my explicit instructions to withhold any further invasive treatments, Dr. Brett Rabe proceeded with a second blood transfusion, without my consent. This likely caused Nebula’s sudden decline and death. I was never consulted.

Nebula suffered for three agonizing weeks. She was so young, with a whole life ahead of her. But all of that was taken away far too soon.

The Aftermath

Refused Communications

After Nebula's passing, I reached out to Banfield to request a meeting with the veterinarians involved to understand what went wrong. My requests were flatly denied by Ms. Heidi M. Cooley, a Banfield representative. I contacted BluePearl to look for answers, they denied my requests as well.

Mistakes happen, but admitting errors, apologizing, and engaging in open communication are crucial for healing and closure. Had Banfield and BluePearl shown even a shred of empathy and honesty, I might not have had to endure the prolonged suffering. Instead, these so-called professionals took extreme measures: refusing communications, denying mistakes, altering medical records, and doing everything possible to avoid accountability. As a result, healing became more difficult, and the pain became even more unbearable.

Banfield’s Wellness Plan

When I took Nebula for her spay surgery, I was persuaded to sign up for Banfield’s Wellness Plan (learn more) at the front desk, but they didn't provide a physical copy of the contract. You would not believe in the contract that the plan included a disturbing clause: you have to keep paying even after your pet is gone.

After Nebula passed, Banfield continued to charge me $52.28 per month for the Wellness Plan. This was not only absurd but also deeply insulting. I refused to pay, but the bills kept coming, month after month. Eventually, Banfield escalated the matter to a debt collection agency and threatened legal action.

In the whole process, Banfield showed no empathy, only an unwavering commitment to extracting money from a grieving pet parent. Their business model prioritizes profits over compassion, and their lack of ethics only deepened my pain.

Filing Complaints: A System Designed to Protect Its Own

State Veterinary Boards are supposed to hold incompetent and unethical veterinarians accountable, but they are often known for protecting their own rather than providing justice to victims of malpractice. Indeed, when I filed complaints against the veterinarians involved in Nebula’s case, I quickly realized how flawed and ineffective the system truly is.

Despite the evidence, most of my complaints were dismissed without proper investigation. But Dr. Natalie Enzmann’s clear misdiagnosis could not be ignored, so the Minnesota Veterinary Board issued a “consequence”: she was required to watch two hours of educational videos. A mere slap on the wrist for a mistake that cost Nebula's life. 

As for Dr. Kathryn A. Daley, the veterinarian responsible for the botched spay surgery, she escaped accountability entirely. During this process, I encountered a bureaucratic nightmare and found a troubling legal loophole that permits veterinarians to avoid accountability.

The Legal Loophole

Throughout this ordeal, Dr. Kathryn A. Daley, who botched Nebula's spay surgery, displayed a complete lack of competence, communication, compassion, and responsibility. When I filed a complaint with the Minnesota Veterinary Board, they claimed they had no jurisdiction because Dr. Daley no longer practiced in Minnesota. Turned out, after the incident, Dr. Kathryn A. Daley dropped her Minnesota license and moved to New York, where she rebranded herself as Dr. Kat Daley and obtained a new veterinary license to continue practicing. When I took my complaint to the New York State Education Department, they stated they had no jurisdiction over incidents that occurred in Minnesota. Then I urged the Minnesota board to reopen the case, they said they couldn’t take action because Dr. Daley was no longer licensed in the state.

This reveals a serious legal loophole that allows some veterinarians to escape responsibility simply by moving to another state. To this day, Dr. Kat Daley continues working with pets in New York. It's deeply concerning that such substandard and unethical veterinarians can continue practicing without any oversight, putting more pets at risk. This significant legal gap must be addressed.

​Trust Must Be Earned, Not Given Freely

I always respected veterinary professionals. They are supposed to prioritize the health and well-being of animals first, as every veterinarian has taken an oath upon graduation to “DO NO HARM". I naively believed that all veterinarians were competent, compassionate, and ethical.

But this experience shattered that belief.

I learned the hard way that some veterinarians can be unethical and irresponsible, and prioritize profits over patient care. Veterinary malpractice is disturbingly common but rarely punished. While many veterinarians are dedicated and compassionate, a few bad actors can tarnish the entire profession. These individuals must be held accountable to protect innocent pets and the families who love them.

Do not blindly trust any veterinarian. Ask questions. Demand transparency. Research their history. If something feels wrong, push back. Your pet’s life may depend on it.

A Loss That Could Have Been Prevented

I cannot bear to think about the immense suffering Nebula endured in her final weeks. She endured two invasive surgeries and was unable to urinate for nearly three weeks. On February 20, 2021, Nebula passed away. She was only 1 year and 8 months old. She was young, vibrant, and full of life. We had so many adventures ahead of us, so many memories yet to be made. But all of that has been taken away.

Nebula's beautiful, innocent life was taken because of the collective failures:

• Dr. Kathryn A. Daley, or Kat Daley, botched what should have been a routine spay surgery.

• Dr. Natalie Enzmann misdiagnosed Nebula, leading to her unnecessary suffering and delayed treatment.

• Dr. Andrew Jackson failed to properly communicate.

• Dr. Brett Rabe, without fully understanding Nebula's condition, proceeded with a second blood transfusion that likely caused her sudden decline and death.

• And I, myself, failed to thoroughly research Nebula’s care providers, placed blind trust in these so-called professionals, and did not question or push hard enough to protect her when it mattered most!

Pets Are Family to Us, but Property to Them

Losing Nebula broke me in ways I never imagined possible. It felt like losing a child. The emotional toll was overwhelming and unbearable. I have struggled with trauma, depression, and insomnia. I couldn’t focus, I lost motivation, and I felt physically and emotionally drained. The pain was relentless.

But what shocked me most was how the veterinary industry profits from our deep love for our pets while simultaneously dismissing their worth when tragedy happens. They market care, services, and products to us with the message that pets are family. They know we do love our pets as family. But the moment a mistake occurs or legal action is pursued, they hide behind outdated laws that classify pets as mere property, no different than a couch or television (learn more).

This, unfortunately, is the harsh reality. Under current laws, pets, including cats and dogs, have only “market value” in legal terms. Their emotional significance, their place in our families, is disregarded.

This is a sad reality. This is an unacceptable reality. And this must change.

Epilogue

For three long years, I carried the weight of grief, struggling to make sense of the unimaginable loss. During this difficult time, I was fortunate to learn about Joey’s Legacy, a nonprofit dedicated to seeking truth and integrity in veterinary medicine. Their support was a beacon of hope during my darkest moments. I am deeply touched by the compassion and unwavering dedication of Mr. Scott Fine and others in Joey’s Legacy in their advocacy for pet welfare and justice.

Through this journey, I was also saddened to discover how many other pet owners had suffered similar tragedies due to veterinary negligence and malpractice. The more I learned, the clearer it became that Nebula was not an isolated case. Countless families have endured the same pain, but so few have found justice.

Motivated by the advocacy of Joey’s Legacy and the heartbreaking stories of so many victims, I decided to channel my sorrow into something meaningful. Therefore, I founded Nebula’s Foundation in collaboration with Joey’s Legacy. Our mission is to provide financial support and resources to empower pet parents to seek accountability and honor their beloved companions. We strive to raise awareness about veterinary negligence and malpractice, as well as advocate for long-overdue systemic changes in veterinary care.

Sharing Nebula's story has been one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done. Reliving the painful memories was heart-wrenching, but I knew it was necessary, for Nebula, for myself, and for other pet parents who might face similar heartbreak.

This is my promise to Nebula: her suffering will not be in vain. Through Nebula’s Foundation, we will turn suffering into action: saving the lives of other pets and sparing families from the same heartbreak.

Thank you for taking the time to read Nebula's story. Together, let's be the voice for the voiceless and create a future where veterinary care is driven by compassion, not profit.