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Post by fairy_tale_girl64 on May 23, 2006 20:55:13 GMT -8
Bunnyrabt imed me tonight and asked me to post this to explain her situation...her puppy is like her child so you can imagine how this is for her
We just got home from the Purdue University Animal Hospital. Cissy colapsed tonight and couldn't move her hind legs. She's having surgery right now...we should hear something around 6 or 8. I cried all the way home and so did Art. There is only a 5 to 50% chance that she will ever walk again, and she may not have any pee functions and I'll have to express her bladder three times a day. We may have to get her a doggie wheelchair cart. We had to try. I love this dog so much, and she is SO good. I'm going to try to go to bed although I'll probably just cry some more. She will be in the hospital for at least 6 to 9 days, and so far it's cost 2400, but we had to try. The money isn't important if she can get well. She's only 3 1/2!!! I'm just sick. She won't eveever be able to do the bunnyrabt (5/23/2006 2:14:03 AM): thing she loves...chasing her ball, jumping up on the back of the chair to look out the window....none of that. The doctor said she will adjust and be fine with it. So now I just have to. I am just praying she will walk again. I'm going to try to go get a bit of sleep, but it isn't going to be easy when I'm waiting for the phone to..
anyway that is all we know for now and she asked for me to inform you guys...keep her and her baby in your thoughts..thanks
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Post by Stargem83 on May 24, 2006 6:46:56 GMT -8
Awe poor bunny  I hope she recovers super fast and that the surgery went well!! |
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Post by krisconcepcion19 on May 24, 2006 12:31:53 GMT -8
Oh my gosh how awful! I can't imagine how you feel, I would be so devastated if something like that happened to my dog Eclipse. I hope everything goes well and I will be praying for you.
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Post by serrenity20 on May 24, 2006 16:24:23 GMT -8
Aww.... I am soo sorry bunny! I hope your puppy is ok! |
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Post by BunnyRabt on May 25, 2006 18:31:37 GMT -8
Thanks, everyone. I went back up to spend time with her again today, and the surgeon had good news. She is getting some feeling back and movement, especially in her left leg. The surgeon says that is a really good sign. It's so hard to see her humongous incision on her little back...it's at least seven inches long. She will only eat for me, so I suppose for a while I will be driving back and forth. It's about 40 minutes to get there. But it's worth it to see her and make sure she is eating. She got to take her I.V. out today, and is on oral pain meds. She was a bit more active today, and pulled herself up to a sitting position a lot, and sorta half sat half laid across my lap and that seemed to be comfy for her. I stayed for about an hour, and she got pretty calm and relaxed. I'll probably go again tomorrow.
Bad thing is we don't know if she will have the ability to pee. Not that she will go everywhere, but I will have to learn to empty her bladder for her four times a day. It's going to be a tough schedule. The doctor says there is a chance if she gets her feeling back that her body functions will be normal again too. We'll just have to see.
I'm probably not even making a lot of sense. I'm tired from driving...had a bad storm to drive through. Art's at work so I was alone. Anyway, I'll try to get on and keep everyone updated, and maybe in a day or two I'll feel like really getting on the boards and catching up. My heart just hasn't been in doing anything much at all except what I have to do around home. Hope you all understand.
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Post by BunnyRabt on May 27, 2006 15:56:28 GMT -8
Hi. Just wanted to pop in and give you all an update. Cissy was better today, and when they brought her to me they weren't carrying her, they had her in her little "sling" and she was padding along like in a wheelbarrow race. She was so happy and excited to see me. And she had a new "trick" to show me! Ann (her student who is assigned to her) said look what she can do....and she let go of her enough that she wasn't supporting her back end, and Cissy could stand on her own!!!! That is just so wonderful compared to what we were told the night of surgery. Each day she has improved. I spent about two hours with her, and she ate her food really well and drank water and ate crushed ice. I brushed her and helped her stand up when she wanted to, and there are some little extending exercises I do with her legs, like physical therapy. They said as she progresses they will have me do more types of exercise. She had been outside this morning, and she really liked that. So maybe next time we will spend our time outdoors unless it's really hot. I'll be going back tomorrow.
Anyway, just wanted to get on here and give everyone a quick update.
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Post by princessbecky on May 27, 2006 21:02:36 GMT -8
Awww...I'm glad to hear she's doing better Bunny!  |
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Post by krisconcepcion19 on May 28, 2006 15:58:16 GMT -8
That is wonderful news Bunny! I am so happy that your puppy is doing better. Please continue to update us on her progess.
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Post by BunnyRabt on May 30, 2006 6:07:55 GMT -8
Yesterday when Art and I got up to Purdue we had a wonderful surprise!!! Cissy has movement in her hind legs now!!! When she walks along with the sling holding her back end up, her little back legs go back and forth (in the correct timing sequence) and "walk" along with her front legs. We met with the surgeon, Dr. Towle, and she said Cissy is one of the lucky ones and landed in the 50% section of Stage V patients. She expects her to regain all of her functions a bit at a time as her strength comes back. It's a miracle. It really is. I just wanted to jump up and down when they told us! And she was so excited and happy to see us. We could hardly contain her...she wanted to be up moving around all the time! We go this afternoon. Ann (her senior student) called this morning and said she thinks she is even a little bit stronger today. She is going to stay in the hospital until next Monday, so she can get all the physical therapy and prescription diet they give her. And after this Sunday, which is the baby shower here for Kari, I will be able to devote as much time to her as she needs. So I will learn all her P.T. exercises before she comes home. My main worry is that she will try to jump up on the couch or the chair and hurt herself. Of course she will have to have total movement back for her to try that, and she may realize that jumping isn't good. It might not feel too good on her back. They're even hoping that by Monday her regular urinary functions will be back to normal. That will make it a lot easier if we don't have to deal with that. But I'm just glad she is doing as well as she is. I know recovery is going to be long. (6 to 9 months) But it will be worth it. Speaking of worth it...yesterday our bill was already $2832.00, and it's $70 a day so if you do the math it's going to be over 3000, but she's worth it. You've heard of the movie, "Million Dollar Baby"?....well, she's our Million Dollar Puppy. Thank you all for your well wishes. It means a lot to me. |
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Post by BunnyRabt on Jun 7, 2006 3:57:03 GMT -8
We got to bring Cis home Monday afternoon. She is doing SO good. Compared to what we thought we might be dealing with, she is great. For now it's a lot of work, because she has to be in a crate all the time if someone doesn't actually have a hand on her. (she hates that....not used to a crate except in the hospital) She has to have her little sling under her at all times, even though she is almost walking on her own completely, just in case she loses her balance or slips. When you carry her you have to keep her back straight. She has accidents, because her little bladder hasn't recovered from being pushed on for so long to empty it, but that will stop when it gets back to normal. And they aren't bad accidents...mostly just in the morning after she has been asleep for several hours. The rest of the time if we get her outside every two to three hours, she is fine. It's a vicious circle...we have to give her lots of water to flush her bladder and help it heal, and that makes her have to go more!! lol But it's only for while...so we just clean it up and go on. We're starting to get into a routine, and Art built a ramp yesterday from our deck into the yard so she can get down without being carried, which helps me a lot. It's kinda tricky holding the leash and the sling, but we're getting better at it. She has standing exercises, but her range of motion is good enough we don't have any physical therapy to do with her. Hardest thing is getting her to stay subdued! She thinks she can run and play and do just about anything, and she is restricted to five to ten minutes at a time, and NO running.
I hope to get back to my regular computer time soon. Dad's bday is today so in the midst of this other stuff I'm doing a bday dinner for him this evening.
The shower is out of the way, and went very well.
Next project I have is my good friend's son's wedding. I'm the reception coordinator, so I have all the decorations and stuff to see to for that. It will be similar to the one I did for her other son so it shouldn't be too bad.
Boy, it's a good thing I'm not still working at the bank!
I'll be getting my giveaway back up and running in a few days, and it will probably be a doozy to start off with.
Thanks again to all of you for being supportive and understanding.
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Post by krisconcepcion19 on Jun 7, 2006 12:58:26 GMT -8
I'm so happy that your puppy is doing so much better! I will continu to pray for you and your family and don't feel guilty or anything if you miss a giveaway or can't be on here as much. We all understand and we are all here for you. |
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Post by BunnyRabt on Jun 11, 2006 9:08:31 GMT -8
Hello everyone! Here is an update on Cissy. She's doing great, and is even surprising the doctors by how well she is doing. Of course she DOES have a full-time nurse...me! But I'm glad to do it. She hasn't had any accidents at all in the house or in her crate for a few days now, and is going outside. Which believe me, is a BIG deal!! We still have to take her out using a leash and her little sling, but we have to hold her back...she wants to run and jump, and she isn't allowed to do either. She is still unsteady on her back legs, so she can't just be out of her crate on her own. We have to have a hand on her at all times. The ramp Art built helps a lot. It's very sturdy, with side rails and carpeting..even Katie who weighs in a 98 pounds, can use it.
Anyway, in the next few days I'm going to try to get caught up on the boards, which will amount to tons of reading. I'm not going to do congrats on the giveaways that have occurred while I was away because there are just too many! (which is wonderful, btw..you guys are doing a great job)
I'm pretty much just staying home all the time, because she cries when she can't see me. I know that's spoiling her, but it's only been three weeks and she was gone for two, so for now I'm staying close by her. I'll slowly start leaving now and then for a bit, so she can get accustomed to being home in her crate without me. Art and I haven't even had our motorcycle out of the garage yet this year!!!! It would be nice to get in a short ride at least. All in due time I suppose.
Anyway, thanks to all of you for filling in any gaps my absence has caused. I really appreciate all your prayers and concern.
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Post by serrenity20 on Jun 11, 2006 10:31:32 GMT -8
I'm glad to hear she is better! |
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Post by volleychick0007 on Jun 11, 2006 11:56:16 GMT -8
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Post by fullbloom720 on Jun 11, 2006 13:49:11 GMT -8
It's such great news to hear how well your puppy is doing, bunny! It must be wonderful to know she beat the odds and proved the surgeon wrong! Although the doctors must have helped a lot, and that senior volunteer. It looks like they really care..and especially you and Art, too! If you don't have time to respond to everything you're catching up with on the boards, no problem..I'm sure the fact that you're reading the boards is good enough.. Lastly, I hope you and Art find some downtime to get a motorcycle ride in this year! You two deserve it!
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Post by TNgirl924 on Jun 11, 2006 19:46:20 GMT -8
I'm so happy for you Bunny that your Cissy is making such great progress! Our dogs that we have had over the years have been just like members of our family, so I can totally understand wanting to do all you can for her. And it seems it is all paying off now with her recovery going so well. |
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Post by fairy_tale_girl64 on Jun 11, 2006 22:31:39 GMT -8
well bunny everything reacts to love...and i know you shower her with plenty of love and even though you two don't speak the same language..both of you know that bond and love you two have for each other...i know because i had kids my pets were my kids and they know...and with love she will continue to be fine....glad to hear everything is going well and everyone is adjusting as best as possible
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Post by krisconcepcion19 on Jun 12, 2006 1:10:08 GMT -8
I don't blame you bunny. I know if Eclipse was recovering from such a serious injury and especially if he cried when I left I wouldn't want to leave him alone.
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Post by BunnyRabt on Jun 12, 2006 4:44:08 GMT -8
My mom is having surgery this morning. She didn't want me to go out to the hospital and sit with Dad because Cissy would be alone. (Mom and Dad love her too) But, if she gets to come home this afternoon, which is the plan, I'm going to go over and cook supper for them. Art is working, so Cissy will have to be alone for a couple of hours. I can't take her with me because I don't have a pet carrier, and I don't want to take a chance with her just being in the truck with me. (although usually she sits on my lap which is SO safe when I'm driving...  ) I do have a crate that folds up that would be ok to use while I'm there...but just no way to transport her. The crate is pretty big to have in the back seat of the truck...not even sure it would fit, and it could snag the leather seats even with a blanket or something. So, she will have to be alone for a while, either today, or tomorrow if they keep Mom overnight. But she will adjust. She's pretty resilient. |
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Post by fullbloom720 on Jun 12, 2006 18:47:37 GMT -8
So many things, so many things! You are a busy person, bunny. But so caring! I hope Cissy is okay while you are away.  Here's to wishing your mother a safe and successful surgery!! |
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I hope she recovers super fast and that the surgery went well!!
I know what you feel like i had this dog for like 10 years and towards his later days 
so the wedding annivarsries are sad but he was older. but I'm so HAPPY that your puppy is getting better !!!!!! thats such a great closing from 50% to 100% recovery 
) I do have a crate that folds up that would be ok to use while I'm there...but just no way to transport her. The crate is pretty big to have in the back seat of the truck...not even sure it would fit, and it could snag the leather seats even with a blanket or something. So, she will have to be alone for a while, either today, or tomorrow if they keep Mom overnight. But she will adjust. She's pretty resilient. 