Sounds of Silent Spirits

I was doing the bedtime dog chores and one of them is potty time for Thumbelina. I put her in her cart and she races me to the door, I open it and out we go. When we came back in side she surprised me as she went for the chewy toy on the floor that Zsa Zsa or Cowboy had been chewing on earlier. This is a first. She did her best as she stood in her cart, grasping onto the Nylabone Wishbone chew with her front paws as she gnawed on the worn toy. I finally interrupted by asking if she wanted some love time. Of course she scurried over and I unlatched her cart and picked her up and we sat on the sofa while I scratched her head and massaged her back. Tonight her right leg responded to the thigh scratch, do you know that one? It’s where you scratch the length-side of the thigh and their leg extends. Well her leg extended and she looked up at me as if in disbelief that she could feel her leg. I said isn’t that amazing Thumbelina and her response was do it some more please. When we where done I helped her into her large crate and handed her her the chewy toy which she is still chewing on. Wow what a difference a village makes in a life so desperate for help. Thank you ALL for your support while we rehab Thumbelina.

Happy President’s Day weekend everyone.  Thumbelina has been slowly improving everyday.  We wanted to share you a new updated video of how her treatment goes. The incredible Vet tech at Bear Valley Animal Hospital was very kind to let me film how a laser treatment works.  When they do a full session it’s longer at a deeper laser level.  But Thumbelina already had three treatments last Friday, so we did a mild demonstration for all her friends to see.
Thumbelina is also doing very well in her hydrotherapy sessions and will blog a new video soon.

Today Thumbelina was able to do 4 one minutes hydrotherapy swims.  Yesterday and the first two today she still wasn’t moving her rear legs. But the last two sessions she was moving both the rear right and rear left legs.  It’s not only her legs but stomach and thighs that need the building up of muscle.  So, some weeks of exercise will be significant in her recover.  Tomorrow she will meet with Dr. Velasco at Bear Valley Animal Hospital in Apple Valley for her weekly check up.  Then she will stay to have her three laser treatments.  She will be doing the laser for at least another three to four weeks.  I drive her out to Dr. Velasco on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and drop her off in the morning and return at 6pm to bring her home.

As you can see in this video below how weak her legs still are and that’s why the sling and cart are necessary for weeks to come.

We are still looking to raise more funds for her recovery so the more folks who like this blog and share it the greater chance we can get our goal of 400 donations of $5 per person.  Thank you.

Please click here to make a donation through Paypal.  Please make a note that the donation is for Thumbelina.

I actually slept in this morning, a rarity around this ranch.  But I awoke in the same manner as usual, my feet hit the floor running.  There is an order to who and what happens.  Today our guest Sorbet, a cream frenchie, is lead out into the dog room to greet our other beloved dogs, as I open each of their crate doors they bestow me with kisses, wagging tails and a quick rub.  Out the door into their ample yard to do their business and repose in the warm sun.  Back inside I go, a quick hello to Zsa Zsa who is still in our bed slowly waking up. She snorts back. To the Living-room I go to wake Cowboy opening his crate, he turns around to face me and stretches a moment before he goes into  I have an important date mode, which is to the sun filled drapes which he loves to slowly walk through.  Followed by a torso side drop on the carpet to rub himself then the other side is done then over on to his back for the darn this feels great wiggle rub.  At this point Zsa Zsa has joined Cowboy in the sun-filled living room to watch my morning hustle.   Next is letting in the Barn cat who is  a well trained boy who spends the day inside with our other cats after a night of rodent hunting.

Now mind you this entire business takes about three to four minutes before I get to our precious Thumbelina.  I remove her privacy cover and there she is standing and wagging her tail for her morning potty time. Although she can stand she can’t walk as of yet because the atrophy in her rear legs and thighs. Diligent physical therapy consisting of ball core work, cart walking and hydro therapy is needed to built back her muscles so she can properly support her frame, so the sling and cart are still very much needed in the weeks to come.

I now have to tell her to wait and stay when I open her crate as she is feeling better and tries to walk because she can stand. I snatch her up and put her in her walking sling set her down and off to the races we go!  She dutifully waits at the door until I open it and then she pulls me out to the porch and down the two steps to her favorite tinkle place.  A long pause then off to her other favorite place to do her pooping.  It’s a lovely sunny morning, the birds are chirping and because it’s Sunday it’s especially quiet in our neighborhood.  Thumbelina pulls me along by her amazing Hulk like upper body strength for quick trip around the car stopping at each door hoping for a car ride.  She loves her car rides.  But I tell her no lets go inside so with that commands she eagerly pulls me through the yard to the porch and through the open front door into the house.  At her crate she stops instead of going inside.  I say crate and she looks up at me and moves with happiness.  I look around to see where my other Frenchies are, no sign of them, so I scoop her up and we sit on the couch.  

Although we have done this massage everyday for three weeks Thumbelina’s transformation is one of joy!   I am massaging her back and sides she is rubbing her head into my thighs and looking up at me, and mouthing my hands and repeating all these wonderful gestures of happiness.  This is a first for this. Today marks her three weeks with me and her seeming awareness that she will walk again astounds me.  Her apparent gratitude should be par for the course as I see it with our other rescued abused dogs all the time, it’s just a wonderful surprise with her.  Thumbelina has been dutifully compliant, well behaved, sweet and patient.  None of this lovey goofy behavior. I am a seasoned foster for abused animals but I am glad to report I still feel absolute elation when the transformation happens. This morning I saw that burst of true happiness in our Thumbelina.

Well, I have many more chores to perform this morning but I just had to stop and share this burst of love with you.

Melissa

Thumbelina is now standing in her crate with no aid. Mind you it’s not that long but she repeated this feat many times today. She also wiggled her tail as she talked to me this morning.  I am thrilled and wanted to share her progress immediately with this photo, it’s kind of grainy as I had to lighten it up in editing.

Thank you!

400 donations of $5 is still our goal and hope you can share Thumbelina’s Blog.

Please help out by clicking here and adding a note that your donation is for Thumbelina.

Well we are now on our ninth day of Laser Treatments over the course of Two and a half weeks.  Thumbelina, can now stand up from a sitting or lying position. She also, can make her rear legs move while in her cart.  If the weather was better we could do hydro therapy, but we have an excellent substitution, a small exercise ball we place under her belly to help her develop her stomach/core muscles.  Her cart is the perfect way to slowly but actively build up her leg muscles.  She has a strong upper body strength that amazes me, but alas, she has become solely dependent on it and we need to get to relearn that yes your legs are working again.  The delicate balance of encouraging her to use her legs but not over do it.   The custom cart that was generously donated by the Abu Badu’s is very instrumental in her re-hab, it enables her to rest her upper body a bit by distributing her weight taking the burden off her shoulders.

Dr. Velasco is insistent Thumbelina will walk again.  And he has an amazing record with far worse dogs especially Dachshunds who have come to him paralyzed for 12 to 24 months and no control over their bladder and bowels.  Thumbelina has control over both.   Here’s her most recent video of her with her new Frenchie friends.

http://youtu.be/dNzoe8MQR_0

We are thrilled with the donations from Amber, Patricia, Taylor, Gail, Earn and Thyme, but we still have a good ways to go to meet our goal.  So, if you feel inclined to share this post we would be grateful.  We will continue to keep you up to date on her progress and all around cuteness.  A quick run down of her expenses.  8 weeks of laser, $1645, followed by 4 weeks of acupuncture $675, and the existing costs already $665. So we pose a fund raiser asking 400 plus friends to donate a mere $5 dollars.  That would make a huge difference.  Remember that your donation is 100% tax deductible.  We have to replenish our coffers which means pay off our Vet bill, so we can help the next extreme neglect/abused animal. Which unfortunately will be inevitable.   We really appreciate you sharing this blog and your sincere interest in this little sweet girls recover.

All Thumbelina’s travel expenses to and from Dr. Velasco office which is 720 miles per week, and her post laser acupuncture treatments by the awesome Dr. Nancy Modglin in Redlands, CA which is in the complete opposite direction, is 240 miles per week, has been graciously donated by Dr. Sam Patterson.

Donations either made by Pay Pal or mail SOSS, PO Box 2198, Lucerne Valley, CA 92356-2198,should be attn: Thumbelina  information is top of this page under how you can help.

Well, today we went for Thumbelina’s 6th laser treatment and to get medication for her UTI.  Apparently this kind of injury usually brings on Bladder infections as part of the course.  We caught it immediately so she hasn’t been in too much discomfort.  She actually stood today on her own.  Not for very long but WOW what a difference a week of laser treatments can make.  Dr. Velasco is sure she will walk again.  But it could take up to 8 weeks of treatments.  The cart that was so graciously donated by Mrs. Abu Badu is making all the difference.  Thumbelina has adjusted to it and is making great use of it.  As you can see in the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVAQHSPZm0Q she is now actually moving her rear legs independently.  Baby steps but nonetheless spectacular changes since we pulled her from Chula Vista on Sunday the 18th.

Only a 501 C 3 charity could pull her from the Animal control facility because of her severe injury to her spine. On January 13th Animal Control picked her up off the streets as she was dragging her legs behind her.  We will never know how or why she ended up alone on that street but she will never have to be abandoned or alone again.

Dr. Velasco has said surgery was a waste of time so we are thrilled to know that we won’t have to come up with $8000 dollars for that!  But we can sure still use any donation you might want to give.  Remember all donations are 100% tax right off.  As of today our closest estimation for the cost of Laser is $1,160 and follow up of acupuncture $568, a total equaling $1,728.  So any donation is thankfully welcomed.  We figure if we could be 400 individuals to donate $5 that would be perfect. The more that this blog is shared the more chance we have of meeting that goal.  Thumbelina and Sounds of Silent Spirits thanks you.
NOTE: Please indicate on your check or PayPal that the donation is for Thumbelina.

Good Afternoon Everyone.  Click on the YouTube link to view new video of Thumbelina’s new wheels.

http://youtu.be/qn4Mb51HGI0

I have been busy transporting Thumbelina back and forth to her Laser Therapy this week.  Her and I have logged 1595 miles by today’s end.  today’s photo is this mornings sunrise on the black mesa as we started our journey. 

Tumbelina is showing some slight improvement.  Dr. Velasco will assess her improvement this coming Monday.  Tomorrow we get to stay home and rest.  We will do some ball exercises with help her build up her core/stomach muscles. This is a great substitute for water therapy especially in this cold weather.  Thumbelina’s legs are moving independently but we are under strict instructions not to push or try anything until Dr. Velasco says so.  As you can see she’s trying to figure out the red wagon that Mr. and Mrs. Abu Badu’s donated.  If you could share this blog we would appreciate the fan base.  We are hoping to get much needed donations of any size for Thumbelina’s medical bills.  At this point we are hoping that the laser then acupuncture will stave off surgery but surgery could have to be done to fuse her 4th and 5th vertebra. Our donate info is above, click on how you can help.

Sincerely,

Melissa