b'COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE & BIOMEDICAL SCIENCESBaer spent the next year and a half in inpatient and outpatient hospi-talization. Her path to healing was akintoscalingamountain;she required39surgeriesaltogether. Of all the pain she felt, the worst was missing out on walking across the stage at G. Rollie White Coli-CARINGseum and receiving the Texas A&M diploma for which she had so tire-lessly worked. FOR THEBefore the accident, Baer passed the national licensing exam required to become a veterinarian, but not the CARETAKERS state exam. When she attempted the state test months later, her cognitive injuries greatly disrupted her per-BYBAILEY PAYNE 19 formance, and she failed. But Baer was set on finishing what she started, and with the help of A s a child, Dr. Donna Baer 83numerous Aggie faculty members 86 88 dreamt of being a vet- and administrators, she studied as erinarian for the usual reasons. Ishe healed and eventually passed was like everyone else. I loved pup- the exam with flying colors.pies and kittens! Baer recalled. She expressed her interest to her familyInthe30yearssince,BaerhasDID YOU KNOW?veterinarian, who encouraged herenjoyed a vibrant career caring for to excel in school and gain experi- four-leggedfamilymembersand encewithanimals.Yearspassed,currently runs a relief veterinaryThe Texas A&M Veterinary and Baers dream of caring for ani- practice in Plano, Texas. In 2019, mals remained as vivid as ever. Sheshe decided to show her gratitudeEmergency Team is the largest enrolled at Texas A&M Universitysfor the help she received when sheand most sophisticated College of Veterinary Medicine &needed it most. Biomedical Sciences in 1980, whereveterinary medical disaster shestudiedrigorouslyforeightBaerandherhusband,Richard,response team in the country, years to earn her three degrees andcommitted$1millionthrougha license to practice.living trust to fund future gifts forserving our state and nation the Stevenson Companion Animalby developing and providing Thirteen days before her graduationLife-Care Center and the Veterinary in 1988, Baer was driving to a largeEmergency Team, two transforma- cutting-edge emergency animal practice in Navasota, Texas,tional programs in the College ofmanagement education.whenacarstruckherhead-on.Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Baer believes she would have diedSciences. if not for local paramedics rapid and determined intervention. TheAggies help Aggies, Baer said. I entire left side of my body was par- want to give back to the university alyzed, she said, and my right sidebecause the people there gave me was basically crushed.so much.SPIRIT OF SHARING|LEAD BY EXAMPLE EDITION|23'