The Call That Changed It All

It started on a Sunday drive,

Up I-15 to Sandy, half alive.

I’d packed my scrubs and nervous pride,

For Monday’s job—first shift, new ride.

The phone lit up; I took the call—

A “pregnant pet” (not strange at all).

I asked, “What type?” expecting a goat.

He said, “A reindeer.” My ears took note.

Now I’d seen cows and zebra too,

And once ultrasounded a kangaroo.

But reindeer? That was virgin ground.

Still, I just smiled and turned around.

I pulled in just time to catch the show—

A calf was coming, soft and slow.

Black as coal and barely breathing,

Mom was weak and barely feeding.

So, we stepped in, with absolute care,

And bottle-fed her daily there.

A week went by—both pulled through fine.

The bond was born. And so was mine.

The owner said, “I’ve long desired,

To breed these girls with frozen sires.

Ten years I’ve asked—no vet will try.”

I paused… then replied, “I am your guy.”

But something stirred—curious fire.

A whisper from the muck and mire:

What if this path, though odd and thin,

Was God’s own door… and I stepped in?

We researched deep and studied hard—

With two grand stashed on a maxed-out card.

No fancy grant, no ivory halls—

Just plastic tubs and cattle stalls.

We tried, we failed, we failed some more—

Till springtime opened one small door.

A calf was born—by frozen straw!

A little female, so frail and small.

From there, the floodgates cracked and poured,

With every calf, our spirits soared.

We chilled and thawed and timed the heat,

And tracked each cow from head to feet.

We learned to guide the cervix through,

A wand, a scope, and nerves of glue.

A program built on grit and chance,

And science learned from reindeer dance.

Now dozens born from our design—

A herd that stretches far and fine.

We stand among the world’s elite,

With liquid nitrogen at our feet.

And all because one random call

Was answered with a “Why not?” drawl.

It wasn’t skill or strength or fame—

Just time and chance that staked my claim.

If you wonder, why reindeer?

It’s simple: they just appeared.

And when they did, I chose to see,

A door flung open… just for me.

N. Isaac Bott, DVM