(Not) Out of the Woods

Time is a funny thing.  At first, we were told that we needed to wait three days to see how things would turn with Abelle.  3 days came and went and then we were told 2 weeks (after not being told of this magic 2 week period) and now 3 total weeks since the debacle and there is more waiting. Why not disclose all these times at ONE time?

I brought Abelle for her follow up appointment and thanks be to geez I was able to get her in with the real doctor and not Doogie.  Here's the thing - now that we are past 2 weeks into 3 we are STILL not done waiting and the pup is STILL not in the clear.  That said, it looks good.  We have to continue to limit her exercises which the dog is not really loving. I mean, little does she know that it's rest or rest in peace - so I'll take her getting annoyed.  For a good picture on how she will continue, we'll need to wait a total of 6 weeks (new number anyone??).  It could take months for her to 100% back - and she may not ever be 100% back to normal but everyday we should see a little bit of healing, which we have.  She'll always be prone to this sort of thing, so the Doc recommends getting steps... onto our furniture. I keep trying to explain, she isn't actually allowed on the furniture.  I guess even with that the case if she wants to go on the furniture and she isn't listening we should make it easier to avoid continued ruptured discs. I'm going to table the steps possibility, for now. 

We're going to keep on, keeping on for the next few weeks. She still trips up from time to time but I'm hoping in a few months she'll be running around.  Not too fast or on slippery surfaces or up a hill or down steps... hopefully she'll just mosey.

Dr. Doogie (Doom) & How I Almost Cut a B

1 pm and all Junior / Doogie could talk about is how it's surgery or death - essentially. 7 pm I go and pick up our first baby girl. From the waiting room I can hear the nurses and/ or doctors trying to control Abelle. "Hold on ... wait a minute - Abelle wait a minute! Calm down." 

And I think to myself, self: "How much trouble can a two legged dog give a person?"  It's right about now that my blood boils and heart smiles (*cheesy and 100% true). In WALKS in Abelle on FOUR LEGS. FOUR LEGS. FOUR FREAKING LEGS. 

6 hours before we were steps away from putting her to sleep. And not the good kind of sleep I would take a life for. The permanent sleep you can't take back. 

My out loud response was, "What the hell?" 

Turns out after we left Abelle was starting to use her back legs more - and Junior didn't want to get our hopes up. OUR HOPES UP? What a D. No instead she is going to talk to us about a surgery we can't afford over and over again while I cry uncontrollably. Oh yeah, that makes more sense. What a D. 

As I signed her out, and heard about all the medications we'd have to give her and when they were due and when they would change dosage (you need a graph to understand it all) a real doctor came on by. She stopped to say goodbye, apparently and not surprisingly, Abelle was a favorite. The doctor mentioned that she has been doing much better, each day (I KNEW IT) and the fact that she was using all her legs and able to get the traction up to stand on the hospital floor was a miracle and showed her that we were going in the right direction. The floor was pretty slipperly - so it was all good signs. Did I mention I KNEW IT?  

That night, after an hour home, she went back to using 2.75 legs most of the time.  We took her outside to use the bathroom, in the dark, only to find that home girl has some stomach issues. Yuck. Use your imagination - a 2 legged dog with stomach issues.
 

But all in all we were happy to have her home hott mess across the lawn or not. 

Junior called us the next day, asking how things were going - I was nice (I know it's true) because ultimately Abelle was home despite the doctor - so whatever? Right? Until I mentioned the stomach issues. 

Junior: "What color is it?"
Me: "I don't know? It was dark. I guess I'd say..."
Junior: (interrupting me): "Was it reddish?"
Me: "Yeah - I'd say reddish..."
Junior: (interrupting me, again): "Reddish brown?"
Me: "Yup."

Junior: "I was afraid of that. That might be our fault. You see, Abelle was a favorite here and you see - I noticed this morning that the treat jar, which is very large, I filled yesterday or the day before and we're just about out of them at this point. I think that she may have gotten more treats then she should have."
Me: (in my head) "OH YOU THINK? F'ING MORAN. GET YOUR SIXTEEN AND STUPID ASS OVER HERE AND CLEAN MY GODDAMN LAWN. F'ING MORAN." 

Me: (in reality) "Oh, I thought it had to do with the medication."

Why so calm? Because at the end of the day she's home and for today, for now, we don't have to make a horribly difficult decision. It's pretty amazing how horrible situations can put things into prospective for you. And how in the face of horrible situations you realize the kindness of those around you - and the generosity in hearts.  More than a few people have approached me - providing me with great resources, advice, positive vibes (for god sake - I'm getting more comments now on this dang blog than I ever have before), even donations!  I was told it worked for Eat. Love. Pray. why not Abelle? (Not a clue what the correlation is - sorry was never able to get into that book) BUT I think the long and short of it is - if a collection was needed there were willing benefactors. Truly amazing. And as much as I appreciate it - we won't be going forward with the surgery. 

I am hopeful and optimistic in a way that is a little bit not my norm - but encouraged by her improvements. Who knew love is what she needed most? I'm pretty convinced that is helping her along the road to recovery.

Mama I'm Coming Home

Here's the update. Abelle, Aditty, Annie, GrandDog, Kujo, whatever you fondly call her... is coming home (don't celebrate yet). 

We talked a LOT to the doctor.  It's a new doctor, not the first doctor who I miss and wish would come back.  I have no idea how to ask this girl - can we trade you in? Oh and boy is she a girl, pretty sure she isn't legal to drink, so I'm not quite sure where she got her vet license from... we'll call her Junior).  ANYWAY - Junior continued to push the surgery like she was going to make a commission on it - no matter how many times we said surgery was not an option for us.   

C asked, out of curiosity - what was the estimate for the surgery? The answer was $2000. We were now confused because we thought it was $10,000. Her response? "Oh well it's 2 thousand for the surgery, but between the hospital stay, complications with the surgery that could happen, recovery time, medication..."

How in the hell could she give the cost the surgery with out all that has to come with it? Idiot. 

Let's not forget her pitch for a "health card credit card" - which if we paid off the 10K in 3 months, no interest... then after that interest goes up to 20%.  I asked how the interest would be paid back - because as I said - we can not spend 10 or MORE on a freaking surgery.  Was there a scholarship? 

Earlier in the morning, when she called to give us the update, something she said was that Abelle could go home NOW as they aren't doing anything that we can't do here. She has can do her buisness on her own, though obviously she'll need help getting in and out - walking as she can still NOT use her back legs. Basically - as the doctor told us, she is paraplegic right now. Only front legs work - but when we are there she gets around by dragging her ass around.  Sounds funny - it is if not for how sad it makes us all at the same time. 

We don't want her to live in pain, or to have a quality of life that isn't 100%. That said/ Junior said that the surgeon, who wasn't there for us to talk to (again pushing surgery) - usually suggests 2 weeks on steroids (anti-inflammatory meds) IF the dog isn't in a ton of pain that can't be managed by pain meds. Which is what Abelle is - I'm sure she must be in pain but is getting some medicinal help with that. Also, Junior said when we talked to her that Abelle hasn't gotten better... but from when I saw her Tuesday to today, I think she has - so I'd rather her be home so we can see what really is best for her verses making blind decisions. 

We called the doctor and told her to get the girl ready she is coming home! She said that she didn't want to give us hope (of course) but since we left she has been trying to stand more on her own and doesn't want to alone, crying when people leave the room - so I'm thinking / hoping (sorry doc) that love is just what this mutt needs. 

She's home. More on that later. 

Kick to the Croch

Abelle is in the hospital. It's a long story - but the long and short of it is - on Sunday night she jumped on our bed and fell on her back on the hard wood floor.  And no, I didn't push her. I wasn't in there so she wanted in before I got into bed.  She jumped back up - and all seemed to be fine.  She got down with no issues when I came in - and in the morning she seemed OK. 

Fast forward, at 8:30 am C noticed she was limping a bit in her back legs. 8:45 am they get back from their morning walk and she couldn't get up the stairs. By 9am she lost complete use of her back legs. She "walked" into my office and use the term walk loosely. She came in with her front legs, dragging ass. Literally dragging her ass and her front legs steering the ship. 

At 9:30 am, C took her into Urgent Care and at 11:30 am he got home.  Things were not going well.  She ruptured a disk in her back, basically her back legs. She can't walk yet - her back legs don't work. I went to visit her yesterday - and she seems better, minus the whole back legs not working. For a day she was in ICU. Yes, this exists at an animal hospital. They asked C if she should be DNR if she went into cardiac arrest. Yes, this exists at an animal hospital. It has been awful.

They are saying for 100% recovery that she should have a surgery. Easy, right? Wrong. The cost of the surgery, which she is an excellent candidate for, would run us over 10K.  That's right. $10,000. To start. 

Alternatively, if she starts walking surgery isn't necessary - but leaves her susceptible for something like this to happen again, which means she has to have a 'lifestyle' change. How do I go about that talk with her? A dog. Sit her down and have a serious chat? No more jumping. Hilarious. In the most un-funny way. 

They told us on Monday that by day three we will need to make a decision – if surgery right away isn’t an option we can wait it out. On day three, a decision may need to be made, if no improvements are made. Tomorrow is day three.

The doctor says when she came in on Monday she was in excruciating pain, they thought she was a mean dog. “Nothing worse than treating a horribly mean dog.” Turns out she isn’t mean, she was just in horrible pain. She isn't in any more pain.  That said, she on just about 10 pain medications.  Last time I was involved in hospitalization I found out by accident that detox is a real thing that anyone can be admitted into. Why should a dog be any different than a baby? Who knew babies could be hooked on drugs?

In addition to the pain pills, she is popping (or actually being intravenously given) she is on 'anti-inflammatory' medications- so we're hoping she will respond to that. Time is not our friend right now though, tomorrow is day three. The doctors say yesterday that it looks hopeful she will respond to the medications, where as in the beginning they weren't sure. Today, a new doctor called – she didn’t seem as optimistic. 

I couldn't visit her today. I know she is a dog, and probably isn't counting hours - but I went for a visit yesterday and today I literally didn't have 20 minutes to spare. C is traveling and L is home now - bringing her with me is quite possibly the worst idea I could have. Another bad idea? Thinking about life with a monetary price tag on it.  The bottom line is - and let me preface this I am not trying to get a one way ticket to hell - I know how this movie ends. This is how this is going to play out if we get the surgery. Approximately 2-5 weeks later home girl will be struck by a car or get cancer - something completely unavoidable, much like jumping on the bed and falling down.

W. Sesame Street

Our neighbors have a lot of character, to say the least. It's like the dark side of Sesame Street.  City living may not be what it is cracked up to be. Crack being the operative word. In our new neighborhood we have gangsters to the right and yuppies to our left. It's an interesting experience to say the least.

Daily there is some strange occurrences that makes us sing the song in our head...

"Oh, who are the people in your neighborhood? In your neighborhood? In your neighborhood? Say, who are the people in your neighborhood? The people that you meet each day."

In OUR neighborhood we have run into the following characters you better believe you would NOT see on Sesame Street. And over the last two days, we've been able to see them all.  Why so many sightings? We've taken L, Abelle and Winston to the dog park. Winston is Abelle's boyfriend. We dog sit him from time to time, and love to have playmate for the 'belle. They wrestle, chase each other, follow us around- wherever we go, there they are. It's a good time. Since it's been super nice out, we took them out to the fenced in park. I should mention, Winston could qualify as a horse due to size and strength.

At the park, we were on penis patrol- because if Winston has the case of the humps with the wrong bitch, we might have some problemos. Today he had the hots for a young thang, which cut our visit short but over all - they both did great, ran until they couldn't run no more- then it was off to go home. Which is where we saw a cast of characters, one after the other.

Three Legged Lassie. Self explanatory- Lassie with three legs. You can't help but stare.

The Giant. There is a legitimate giant that rides the streets of the South End in a bicycle with a basket with window washing equipment. We aren't sure if he gets paid to do this, or just goes around from store front to store front with this eyeliner and window washing supplies and gets the job done.

Thai Chi. A dyslexic woman of sorts. As she performs her Thai Chi throughout the streets of the South End she does so muttering to herself and walking backwards. Stopping at corner to look both ways, but then continuing on her journey. Backwards.

The Hunchback of the South End. Just as self explanatory as the Three Legged Lassie, but twice as crazy.

Finally as we walked home we saw our favorite- it was a full day and had sightings of all that our neighborhood has to offer but with out her, we have nothing. Change is a toothless, and potentially tongueless, crack head woman who aggressively searches for change. She will jump in front of moving cars, block you while you stop at the corner or charge you down until you give her what she is looking for... change. As she nearly tackles you to the ground she asks over and over again is, you guessed it... "Change? Change?" Due to the absence of teeth and potentially her tongue- what it sounds like is "Shange? Shange?"

"Oh, who are the people in your neighborhood? In your neighborhood? In your neighborhood? Say, who are the people in your neighborhood? The people that you meet each day!"