The cool and uplifting tentacles of fame forever rest in a variety of places.
One is the wonderful patient-therapist relationship between Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Anna Perry, PT, DPT, Clinic Manager/Rock Valley’s Ankeny, Iowa-based clinic, and Ankeny’s Iowa’s Amy Hutter. Theirs is a unique – and cool – attachment to fame and much more than Perry, a gifted and compassionate therapist, treating the ever-upbeat Hutter’s painful and frustrating right elbow and forearm tendinitis.
At first blush, Hutter is not famous and is secure and modest enough to tell you as much.
But Hutter’s orange cat Murray… Well, “Ol Murr’’ – thanks to Hutter’s essay about how cool and special he is – is famous. And Perry – who has had a tremendous impact on Hutter’s health – and understands Murray’s impact on so many – is enjoying the ride.
Recently, the national nonprofit Petco Love, in partnership with BOBS® from Skechers®, awarded 25 nationally submitted Petco Love stories winners a total of $500,000. The dollars are earmarked for animal shelters (appointed by winning essay writers) and rescues across the country.
In penning a heartwarming yarn about Murray’s impact on her life and so many others in her community, Hutter secured a $100,000 first–place prize for the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, where she and Murray adopted each other. Hutter and Murray are also certified TheraPet partners representing the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.
And Perry’s role?
When one is a dedicated cat partner, there is a hefty amount of care and upkeep, and Hutter takes great care of Murray, other cats she has adopted, and cats she fosters.
And from that, Hutter sprouted that she was suffering from “Kitty Litter Arm.’’ In medical terms, she was dealing with right lateral elbow pain, commonly known as lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow. Hutter, however, did not injure herself by playing tennis, she hurt it maintaining the litter boxes for Murray and other furry friends.
Enter Perry. A blessing on many fronts for Hutter.
“Anna has been treating me for tendonitis in my right elbow and forearm,’’ Hutter said. “I went months with excruciating pain before reaching out to my doctor for help. At first, I had no idea what I had done, and I definitely don’t play tennis. Then my partner joked I had a “Kitty Litter Arm” from scooping so much litter. I have three cats of my own and I foster a lot of cats and kittens. It made sense. Scooping litter is one of the most painful actions for me.’’
Amid her struggles, Hutter – after a failed therapy attempt elsewhere – learned the “Rock Valley Way’’ is special.
“I saw another therapist before coming to Anna and it was a complete waste of time,’’ Hutter said. “Anna and I made more progress in one visit than in three visits with the prior PT.”
“Anna actually explained what was going on with my elbow and forearm,’’ Hutter added. “When I started therapy, opening a door or a jar would send a lightning bolt of pain through my elbow. Anna is awesome. She did a thorough exam and explained things to me in a way I could understand. She listens to what I am telling her and helps modify exercises that meet my needs. Working with her has made a dramatic difference and I am so glad I switched from the prior therapist.’’
Dry needling, one of Perry’s specialties, has also played a significant role in Hutter’s progress.
“It has been a game changer,’’ Hutter said. “I didn’t know much about it before going to see Anna, but I don’t think I’d be where I am today without it.’’
An animal lover and pet owner with a tremendous sense of humor, Perry knew she and Hutter would hit it off when Hutter said she was suffering with “Kitty Litter Elbow.’’
“I knew I was going to love Amy when she said that,’’ Perry said. “I am also an animal lover, and she exudes kindness to our furry friends. Injury is indiscriminate and affects people at all levels of society. I love my work because I get to meet the coolest people that may be different from me, and we would not have crossed paths otherwise. I learn so much from them and their worlds as I am teaching them about how the musculoskeletal and nervous systems work, why they have what they have, and our plan to get better.’’
In addition to the respect the two have for one another, Perry found Hutter to be a caring sort who wanted to get better. Hutter, Perry adds, has worked exceptionally hard to make the strides she has made.
“Amy is spunky, with energy coming from everywhere including the curls in her hair,’’ Perry said. “She is caring and often checks in with me and my own pet’s health. She cares for her mother who is aging and facing her own health challenges. Going to visit the complex (Independence Village) where her mother lives is one of Murray’s biggest gigs. Everyone loves him there. Amy is a joy. She is authentic and life is not always roses, but she dedicates her time to helping others (furry friends and human friends alike) which brings her happiness. When I listen to her, it makes me want to be a better, more generous person. She found a way she could make an enormous impact with a skill she has (writing) and captured the (Petco Love) honor.’’
Hutter’s grasp of how important it is to continue working to get better outside Rock Valley’s walls, is also not lost on Perry.
“Amy has responded very well to dry needling to her elbow to control her symptoms,’’ Perry said. “Now that she is less painful, we have been able to progress to strengthening of the gripping and wrist muscles to improve the resiliency of the muscles and tendons in the lateral elbow so she can perform daily activities (like scooping litter) with much less pain. And Amy faithfully does her exercises outside of the clinic.’’
In addition to newfound fame, Murray was the right thing at the right time for Hutter when they met.
In December of 2020, Hutter – whose two beloved cats, Chester, and Lucy – had passed approximately 18 months earlier, stopped at the ARL in search of two new kittens. The month of December, Hutter shares, is not kitten season, but she was ready for a permanent feline companion. Admitting to a soft spot for large orange kitties, she noted one named Murray possessed the calmest demeanor.
“He (Murray) just seemed to want to be loved, and I desperately needed someone to love me after a difficult divorce,’’ Hutter explained. “So, despite his being FIV+ (feline immune deficiency) and having a history of being returned to the shelter, I adopted him.’’
It was – and remains – a perfect match. The two are always on the go, making rounds to senior centers like Independence Village, a Des Moines-area VA behavioral health facility, libraries, and a residential treatment home for kids and teens.
It was only fitting to celebrate their big win along with residents and staff at Independence Village, a highlight for Hutter and Murray each week.
“It (the visits) is hands down the best hour of my week,’’ Hutter said. “There are times when I feel like I’d rather sit on the sofa than pack Murray up and go somewhere, but as soon as we arrive, I am always so happy to be there.
“Everyone loves Murray, and I’m blessed to be able to share a little bit of that love,’’ added Hutter.
Hutter has yet to learn what the ARL will do with its $100,000 windfall but knows it will be spent wisely and in line with all the magnificent work the ARL does.
“The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is a great organization,’’ she said. “At any given time, they may have as many as 1,500 animals in their care. They are the first agency called when there’s an animal in crisis (or, when there are hundreds of animals in a hoarding situation or puppy mill). They will do whatever it takes to save an animal, including surgery, therapy, medication, and months of socialization. They also offer low-cost services (like spay/neuter and vaccine clinics) and have a pet food pantry to help owners keep their pets.’’
Hutter says she and Murray have enjoyed their victory tour.
“I was thrilled when we won; there was a party at Independence Village,’’ she said. “Petco Love hired a photographer, (TV station) KCCI did a story, we had balloons. “I don’t have the means to donate $100,000 to the ARL, so to be able to use my writing ability to garner the agency that kind of donation was amazing. It was also validating. People behind the scenes who write nominations and speeches for others rarely get any glory — not that that was ever my goal — but it was so much fun to know that I wrote a story that moved people enough to make me the grand-prize winner. It was also rewarding to realize that what Murray and I do with the TheraPet program does make a difference. This may be one of the best things I’ve ever done.’’
Murray, Hutter says, has not let the big win go to his head.
“He’s happy in front of the fireplace, on the bed in the sunshine, or when anyone is petting him,” Hutter said. “I’ve been known to comment that Murray is a pillow that purrs, so as long as his fame doesn’t interfere with those things he loves, he’s OK.’’
There were additional bonuses to winning, Hutter was awarded $2,000 to spend at Petco and the local Skechers outlet is donating a new pair of shoes to the residents and staff at Independence Village. Hutter also found a knowledgeable, compassionate therapist to better her tendinitis issue. And a friend in Perry.
And…
Hutter will be purchasing an automatic litter box with her winnings so she can stop scooping so much litter.
By: Johnny Marx, Rock Valley Storyteller