Grottoes woman ‘prescribed’ new cat by her doctor, forming a special bond

GROTTOES, Va. (WHSV) - A Grottoes woman has built a special bond with a new animal addition to her household, named after a very special person in her life.

Robin Sipe began seeing specialists at Sentara RMH several years ago for issues with her lungs, one of them was pulmonary physician Dr. Earl King.

“Dr. King has saved my life at least three times,” Sipe said.

Dr. King has treated Sipe for her different problems over the years, but a different type of health issue arose at a recent appointment.

“I was very very sad. Dr. King asked me why I was so sad because he was concerned about my overall well-being. I told him I had lost my beloved pet, a cat, and I was very sad about her loss,” Sipe said.

That was when Dr. King got creative with his treatment.

“I’d recommended that proceed to get a new cat and I actually wrote her a prescription to get a cat. Cats and dogs are important for patients for comfort or touch or wellbeing of their cardiovascular health, lung health,” Dr. King said.

Sipe said she left Dr. King’s office that day and went to a farm to pick up some produce, that was when she came across little Earlene.

“She’s a three-legged kitten,” Sipe said.

Earlene suffered an injury shortly after she was born and lost most of one of her front paws. But, right away Sipe knew the two had an instant bond and said that she came into her life at just the right time.

“I live here alone and she’s a lot of company to me, she likes to play I like to play. We do great, we love each other, we respect each other,” Sipe said.

As Earlene grows up, Robin said she hopes to pay it forward with the same care that Dr. King showed her.

“He was compassionate, he was caring, he went the extra mile for me. And I hope that everyone can have a doctor in their life just like Dr. King.”

Sipe added that she would like to take Earlene on visits to facilities that help veterans or those dealing with limb loss.

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