ST. LOUIS – It was a story that stunned the world: a St. Louis man viciously attacked by chimps while doing his master's thesis research at an animal sanctuary in South Africa six years ago.
He suffered life-threatening, traumatic injuries all over his body, and wasn't expected to survive.
But thanks to the remarkable work of so many doctors, and the TLC of family and friends, Andrew Oberle is now thriving, as director of development at The Oberle Institute for people who’ve suffered traumatic injuries at St. Louis University School of Medicine.
Oberle recently faced another of life challenges.
His faithful dog Angie, who he credits with getting him through months of painful operations and recovery, had a medical crisis of her own.
Finding the right surgeon to help Angie caused Oberle more anxiety than his own operations.
Until his reconstructive surgeon stepped in.
Back in 2015, a year and a half after he was brutally attacked by chimpanzees, Oberle returned home to St. Louis for a long series of reconstructive surgeries, performed by his trusted SLUCare plastic surgeon, Dr. Bruce Kraemer, at SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital.
And amidst the grinding pain of his recovery, Oberle said it was his bond with his dog Angie that helped him endure.
"She'd find a spot on my leg that didn't have a bandage and shed lay her chin on it and just provide that kind of comfort for me," said Oberle.
Three years later, Angie's muzzle has grown white. And while the man who lost his nose, ears, fingers, and toes in a brutal attack is now thriving, it's Angie who needed help.
She'd developed a number of tumors.
"She has one on her hip that if it gets any bigger it could start to affect her mobility,” Oberle said.
They weren’t cancerous, but they were painful and started to make life difficult. And while Oberle said he never once worried about all of the operations he endured, he was very anxious about who would do Angie's surgery.
“I'm a little worried just because she has to go under," Oberle said.
Oberle’s search for a surgeon for Angie ended in Fenton at Bentley Animal Hospital, where the daughter of the man who had done countless on Oberle was ready to put her expertise to work for Angie's operation.
"I trust Dr. Kraemer with my life and if he trusts his daughter to do this surgery I do too," Oberle said.
Very early one morning in March, a stressed Oberle dropped Angie off with Dr. Jessi Farris, the daughter of his own trusted surgeon so Angie could have her big operation.
"With my dad being super-involved in Andrew's care, it seemed a natural progression that I would be involved in Angie’s care,” said Farris.
The procedure lasted a little longer than expected. It turned out, Angie not only needed the tumor removed, but also had an abscessed tooth.
Back for a check two weeks later, Oberle and Angie were feeling much better.
"She tough,” said Oberle. “She's really tough. I'm proud of her."
"I think it’s a very special moment to bridge the generations,” said Farris. “And help a family that's gone through a lot. So, it’s been great to watch Andrew and Angie on their road to recovery together with things."
As for Angie and Oberle, they're already back to their old tricks. Tricks perfected over a lifetime of being there for each other.
Oberle and Angie have been best friends since 2009, when Oberle adopted Angie while living in San Antonio.
