Student with small hands and a big heart delivers ‘Lucky’ the pygmy goat baby and saves the life of both Mama and Baby

Longview, TX – When Cecily Collier, 19, of Marshall, began her day on Jan. 11, 2007 at the Jefferson Christian Academy, she had no idea she would be getting some on-the-job training in veterinary science.

"I was sitting in my American history class when the door opened and Danielle Smith, another student, beckoned for me to come outside," she said.

Smith told Collier her small hands were needed immediately because "the mother was unable to deliver."

Not sure what to expect, Collier followed Smith to the school's outdoor goat pen, where a female pygmy goat was struggling to push out a kid.

Judith Ruf, who teaches English and special education at the school, had been trying to help, but couldn't quite reach inside the mother goat because her hands were too large.

"The goat's head was out and it was already breathing, so we couldn't just push it back in, and one of its front legs was still folded inside the mother," Ruf said.

She firmly told Collier she really needed her to help by reaching inside the female goat to deliver the baby or both would surely die.

"I have the weakest stomach in the world, but I knew I had to try," Collier said.

After four contractions, the goat was born.

"He opened his eyes, looked up at me, and let out the sweetest baby goat sneeze," said Collier.

"We named him Lucky, because Cecily had small hands and a large heart," Ruf said, as Collier cuddled the small, solid black goat she delivered.

Collier, who hopes to be a massage therapist in the future, has no plans for a career in veterinary medicine.

"Are you crazy?" she said with wide eyes.

Collier did say the birth was the most amazing thing she had seen.

The school has a large pen of goats, a calf and some horses on some property adjoining the school. Principal Greg Mooney said he began a veterinary assisting program at the school last year, and a horsemanship program two years ago.

"I believe it's good for kids to work with animals," he said.

The students still have to take a test for certification and spend 500 hours doing clinical work with animals in order to be a certified veterinary assistant, Mooney said.

Jefferson Christian Academy, with a current enrollment of 63, has been on the same site in the town of Jefferson since 1914. The city of Jefferson donated land and money to the Seventh Day Adventist Church to build a school. The school is now open to students of all denominations.

Article by Dayna Worchel