🌟 TIMBER UPDATE — A HARD WEEK, A HOPEFUL DAY 🌟
It feels like every time I share encouraging news about Timber, the other shoe drops and we find ourselves ten steps behind again. The emotional whiplash has taken a toll on everyone — especially on us. I’ve gotten to the point where I ask the specialists to tell me the bad news first, because I’ve learned there’s always a “but” coming. I now find myself bracing for it, even when nothing bad is happening. Three straight weeks of this roller coaster would break anyone.
The only one blissfully unaware of all this stress… is Timber.
Our incredible boy has his eyes set on one thing: getting out of the hospital and back to living the life he LOVES. He has no idea how dire his situation has been. He takes ten steps forward, then a few days later, ten steps backward — and still, he wakes up ready to fight again.
For the last three days, I’ve been on pins and needles waiting for that call saying the new antibiotic has failed, or that his kidneys have taken a hit from the amikacin. I am usually very optimistic, but after so many setbacks this week, I’ve tried to stay grounded so I don’t get crushed by hope.
But today… today was different.
Timber still has absolutely no clue how sick he’s been. He is eating and drinking like a champion racehorse. If you saw him, you’d never believe he belonged in a hospital. He looks that good, and he’s even kept his weight up. His drain continues to produce excess fluid — sometimes more, sometimes less — but the most important part is that there is NO bacteria in it right now, which is exactly what we hoped for.
If things stay steady, his medical team would like to pull the drain in a couple of days to see if his body can manage the fluid on its own. Letting his body step in and do what it instinctively knows how to do.
I spent today with Timber at CVRC, and I can tell you with all honesty: he looks amazing. His critical care team has handled every obstacle — every unimaginable twist and turn — with such skill, love, and determination. His treatment plan changes throughout the day based on his labs. Every single person working with Timber is committed to seeing him recover and walk out of that hospital. They cheer him on, they love him, and they believe in him.
We are not keeping Timber alive. We are supporting his body while he keeps himself alive. Timber could give up at any time — but he hasn’t. Not once. His will to live is enormous. Without medical support, even a dog as strong-willed as him could not have fought off this raging infection… but with the right tools, he’s doing his part and then some. And I want to be very clear: Timber is not suffering. He is happy, comfortable, and doing everything he can to heal. His biggest complaint is the vet techs disturbing his sleep for vitals — which is why so many of them take his vitals and then let him fall asleep in their laps.
Without getting ahead of myself… I truly believe we are making incredible progress. This time last week, the antibiotic had stopped working. Today, the bacteria has not returned.
Timber still has weeks of antibiotics ahead, and we pray his body tolerates them. We’re supporting his immune system as much as possible so he can keep fighting. But today — today is a really good day for our boy.
It’s late, but I didn’t want to wait until morning to share good news. I pray nothing changes overnight, but right now, I am grateful. Grateful for progress, for small miracles, and for every moment Timber keeps pushing forward.
Thank you all for your love, support, and encouragement.
Some days, that is all there is — and it means more than you know. 💚
