HAW RIVER, NC.......To say we are overwhelmed is an understatement. We are beyond that and have been for the last couple of months. There does not seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel because the abuse cases keep coming. The cases we have seen this past month tear your heart out daily. When I am not posting updates and begging for money, it only means one thing, I am too busy saving animals and working with Specialists to get on the computer to do the posts. I apologize for falling behind on updates and will do my best to get some posted this week.
Precious Lucy is one of the most heartwrenching cases we have been working on. We were contacted by a Volunteer in NC that wanted to make us aware of a tiny Chihuahua she was trying to save. Lucy is between one and two years old and was found abandoned in a horse barn. Animal Control came out from Burlington, NC to pick up the tiny pup to see what they could do. It appears Lucy was abandoned after being attacked by a much larger dog. She did not want to move or eat and was in shock.
We were contacted, and I immediately said we would take Lucy, but she had to get to the ER in Matthews, NC as soon as possible. I assumed we were dealing with multiple bite wounds that had gotten infected and knew this pup needed help. I went on about my day working with all of the other Medical Cases we had when I started getting e-mails and calls from the ER saying they needed to talk to me ASAP about the new pup that had just arrived. Not much shocks me these days, but this did. The Surgeon called to say I had to look at the x-rays for Lucy and to call her back as soon as I had seen them. I couldn't even figure out the x-rays because it appeared part of the body did not appear normal and was not showing up. This adorable pups shoulders had been crushed beyond recognition. It was as if she did not have any on the x-rays. They were in multiple fragments that were now in her body but no longer connected. Lucy was in shock and had a raging infection on top of everything else. We had a long discussion on quality of Life and what could be done. I decided to put her in ICU, get her stable and let Lucy decide her fate.
For five days, this little Angel was given round the clock care to give her every chance to come out of this nightmare. She had to fight with all her might to survive, or she would not make it. If she began to improve, then I would proceed with figuring out what to next but she had to decide. Lucy was surrounded with people that loved and pampered her every second of the day. If she crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, she would not do it alone and would be in the arms of people that loved her.
Our little Miracle turned the corner and started to come around. I spoke to Dr. Michelle Nanfelt along with the other Specialists, and we decided she had to have shoulder surgery or she would not survive. She had improved enough for us to move forward with the next step.
No one had ever seen an animal this crushed that had survived. Complicated surgeries happen every day, but this was beyond complicated. Lucy had tiny, fragile bones that now had to be put back together. Her shoulders could not be wired because the wire cut through the tissue and bones. Dr. Nanfelt used special sutures to put her back together. Each shoulder had to be done on a different day because the procedures were so long. Lucy also had to have time to recover before they put her under sedation again. I am happy to report that both surgeries have been done, but now Lucy has to Recover and Heal in ICU. Lucy is still in critical care recovering. For the next two weeks, she will be monitored round the clock.
Everyone is rooting for this little Angel to make it. How she survived the pain associated with her injuries is beyond a Miracle. How anyone could have abandoned her in the condition she was in is Criminal. We need everyone to Donate toward this amazing little dog. Her Surgical Bills and ICU have been through the roof.
It is a Miracle she is alive and even a bigger Miracle, we had a Surgeon that was confident and determined enough to put her back together. Very few Specialists would have touched this case. Please, share with everyone you know so we can get the funds we need to give Lucy the Medical Care she needs to continue healing.
