Bert the pig reminds me to worry not about tomorrow
A columnist finds serendipity in a heartwarming TV show about a pig with EDS

The past couple weeks have been cold and stressful, so I needed a bit of a pick-me-up. I turned to a television show I hadn’t watched in a while called “The Wizard of Paws,” which follows orthotist Derrick Campana as he makes prosthetic limbs, braces, and carts for animals in need. It’s a great show, whether you’re an animal lover like me or just enjoy an uplifting series (or both).
As I settled on the couch with my chocolate Lab, Cinnamon, and corgi-Lab mix, Happy, I realized the episode I was watching was about a pig named Bert that had Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) — like me! Soon after Bert was born, his owners realized something was wrong and turned him over to an animal rescue group, which placed him in a foster home with one of their volunteers.
Bert’s legs couldn’t support him properly, so instead of walking on his hoofs like a normal pig does, he basically walked on his ankles. During an examination, a veterinarian diagnosed Bert with EDS. And in a crazy twist of fate, his foster mom has EDS, too!
It was awesome to see Campana helping Bert by making him leg braces. It was also great hearing Bert’s foster mom talk about how she understands how he feels because she deals with the same issues every day. I also experience this unique connection, because my horse Spotty was diagnosed several years ago with a general collagen disorder that’s similar to EDS.
Managing EDS can be difficult and stressful, and I can only imagine how hard it would be to care for an animal that can’t talk. It’s great that Bert has a caregiver who understands what that entails.
Another thing I love about “The Wizard of Paws” is that it demonstrates the amazing resilience of animals. Unlike people, animals live in the moment. They’re typically stubborn and find unusual and sometimes crazy ways to handle their limitations. Yet they also reveal an overwhelming joy for life despite their circumstances.
Animals are a constant reminder to me that no matter how rough of a day I might be having, I can continue to soldier on and find positivity. Of course, animals feel pain and discomfort, but they don’t worry about how it will affect them tomorrow. They just manage how they feel in the moment.
We humans don’t necessarily have that luxury, as we have errands to run, chores to do, and jobs to handle. It reminds me of a quote by motivational speaker Leo Buscaglia: “Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy.”
It’s easy to get wrapped up in a downward spiral of stress, but I try to remember that doing so doesn’t help me and just causes more stress. When that happens, I look at Cinnamon and Happy, think of Bert, and remember to take each day as it comes. There’s no sense in borrowing tomorrow’s trouble!
Note: Ehlers-Danlos News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Ehlers-Danlos News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Ehlers-Danlos.
Anne Sugden
Hi Karen,
Thank you for spending the time to write your posts. They are always uplifting and remind me that there are other people out there with E.D.S. I particularly like the recent one about Bert the pig and it’s reminded me to live for the moment. Thank you again.
Anne from Yorkshire in the U.K x