|
Posey
This
little pup is very very special. She is a teeny little 13 week
old female Yorkie who became paralyzed about 13 days ago. She
can move all four legs but can not walk or stand at all. She
also falls over if you sit her up. The breeder is not sure what
happened but he didn't have the heart to put her down. So we
have stepped in to see if there is anything possible that can be
done. We already have an appointment set up with a
specialist...We are praying something can be done. Right
now she needs help doing almost everything. She needs to be
propped to eat or hand fed and also needs help getting to her
water. And because of her size she needs to eat and drink
every few hours. She will also bark to potty and we have been
here to help her to the wee wee pad to relieve herself. She came
home in a pouch and is being carried around in a pouch or pocket
this gave us the inspiration for her name "Pocket full of Posey"
or Posey... we hope you feel it fits her. If there is something
that can be done for her we will be doing it... but we
can't without your help. If you would like to become a "Friend
of Posey" please use her donate button below. All friends of
Posey will be listed. Please keep her in your prayers and check
back for updates.
update 10/1/08: We have some very sad news on our special
pup....Posey has been seen by two specialists one at Cape Cod
Veterinary Specialist and then off to Angell Memorial yesterday.
Sadly both feel that euthanasia is not out of the question for
her and her prognosis. She has been diagnosed Severe
AtlantoAxial Subluxation w/ non-ambulatory Tetra paresis. In
layman's terms she has a severe congenital defect between discs
1 and 2 in her spine at the base of her neck. The gap is very
large and because of her age and size they simply cannot do
anything for her. Her bones are two small and soft. We found the
news almost unbearable looking at this tiny little face so ready
for life. She is in a very fragile state as her neck could
easily become even more damaged to the point she would be in
excruciating pain or not be able to breath and that is our
biggest fear and concern. Because we cannot give up on her so
easily and she is not in any pain right now and we have seen
such promise in this little ones attitude we are trying the only
thing possible right now. Her neurologist at Angell suggested a
neck brace to stabilize her so that she isn't likely to do more
damage. We were expecting what we typically see in a human neck
brace....and were quite taken a back when she came back to us in
a full upper body cast. She is tolerating it fairly well and
continues to eat and drink and signal to us to potty. So we will
be seeing how she does for now with this hoping for some miracle
that she grows big enough to be a surgical candidate. Needless
to say she is not up for adoption right now and continues to
need your support and prayers. We will not let her suffer and if
we see that she is we will have to make the decision
then...right now we want to focus on allowing her some time with
love and attention.
Update 10/06/08: We have some wonderful news to report! Since
having her in her brace Posey has started sitting up on her own
and taking up to 10 steps at a time in just a few short days!!
We feel very hopeful! We do fully understand that this may mean
nothing as far as her being a surgical candidate but we do see
her spunk and determination and her Yorkie attitude will at
least be there to back her through all this! And just maybe she
will be our little miracle!! PLEASE keep the prayers and good
wishes coming. Her next visit with the neurologist is Weds and
this will be another expense....we desperately need your help
with donations to continue.
Update 10/8/08: Posey's neurologist Dr Farabaugh was just as impressed with
what he saw today as we have been. He is very encouraged with
all she has accomplished in a week! He feels that she is
certainly on the right road but it will still be a long one
ahead of her. But he said her spirit is incredible and that will
very much help her. He did still feel that she is the smallest
patient with the worst case he has seen and she will still not
be a candidate for surgery for some time. But that with any luck
her soft bones may fuse and surgery may not be needed. She will
likely be here at Yorkies Inc. for a long time as he said bones
fusing or surgery would likely be closer to a year old before
either happens. She goes back on Oct 18 for another brace
change. Please continue to pray!
Update 10/13/08: She is doing so well motoring around we
decided to move her from her Pak & Play and put down an
4x4 piece of carpeting and put her in an expen to give her
more room to stretch and exercise her legs. She seems to
love the extra freedom and walked around most of the
day....stopping on occasion to rest in a sun spot . Tonight we
have all the pups out in the living room as usual and
she is running!! She's making a great attempt to catch our
2lber Tate!! We almost couldn't believe our eyes!! She seems
to be up for any challenge that comes her way! We again feel
this is a promising sign for her future! Thanks to all for the
prayers ...they seem to be working!!
 
Update 10/18/08:Posey did good....she had her
brace/cast changed. Dr. Farabaugh is thrilled with what she can do
and shocked that she can do anything...it's the most severe
case any of the Drs. at Angell have see. Her Dr has consulted
with 4 other specialists and radiologists. They are unsure if
she even has both C1 and C2 vertebrae or if she has "dens"
between the bones...it's so severe they feel she may have NOT
have what she needs to be able to fix.....she's very deformed
or severely injured or both. they really don't know where this
is going to take us...she may live her life in a neck
brace...they can make it smaller as she gets older and
stronger...and her bones are hardened. OR she may fuse or she
may need surgery...right now she's a first so they can't
predict anything...just let her life as is and hope for the
best. They want her to live as she is living ....nothing crazy
but certainly don't want her in a box for a year waiting for
surgery or healing that very well may not happen. He says
because they have never seen anything like it and don't know
how she's walking she may just live her life in the brace but
that she's certainly got quality if she's allowed to have one.
He said things may get clearer in the months that pass but it
may not be know for some time. If things don't improve when
she's closer to full grown and a year old they will make a
determination on what to do then...for now we sit and wait and
go every week or so for brace change and an Xray now and then.
Update 11/6/08: For the past week we have seen Posey
continually have more trouble getting around. She was falling
more than ever before and seemed very frustrated that she
could not do the things she was able to do just the week
prior. I emailed her neurologist Dr. Farabaugh at Angell
Memorial with our observations and asked if this meant we had
no more options for her. He emailed me back almost immediately
and said that what we could be seeing is just that the cast
she was in was not giving her the support she needed and could
we get her in right away today for a cast change. Our
appointment was for noon today and he took her in right away.
The cast she is now in is very much like her original cast. We
should know in 72 hrs if she will get improvement and have
back what she had gained mobility wise. We are very much
praying that this is the case and was an easy solution. But
the doctor also said that if we do not see the improvement it
very well may mean that she is deteriorating and that a
decision might need to be made. PLEASE keep positive thoughts
and prayers heading her way. She has fought so hard and come
so far and is such a little miracle we hate to see it slip
away.
UPDATE:12/06/08 Posey's cast change worked last month and not
only has she recovered what she was doing prior to her set
back but she has gained mobility and is doing wonderful!! We
are more the excited to say she is actually running and
chasing her foster siblings and is trying to keep up with just
about everything they can do! Today she was seen again for yet
another cast change and Dr Farabaugh was THRILLED at her
progress! She is backing up, spinning, can sit, lay down with
head up and can climb up into a bed about 4 inches high....so
she is definitely acclimated to her cast....and as she grows
it doesn't seem nearly as big. Prayers are working please keep
them up!
UPDATE 1/03/09: Posey is doing just wonderful! She was seen
for another cast change on Sat and Dr Farabaugh felt we could
try cutting her cast down to give her more mobility. It's
working! She is starting to try jumping up and has a little
bounce in her step. She can now get a real belly rub and it's
so nice to have her look like more puppy and less cast! We do
have to watch for raw spots were the cast can rub but if all
goes well we do not have to take her in for another cast
change for three weeks!
Update 2/04/09: Posey had another cast change today and Dr
Farabaugh is absolutely amazed and the improvements she
continues to make! He stated that she has far surpassed what
they had ever expected for her at this point. We can go
forward with caring for her in other ways. So we have
scheduled her spay surgery at Angell Memorial so that Dr
Farabaugh will be on hand. She will also be under the care of
Dr Rosenblad for the removal of her retained baby teeth while
she is under anesthesia. We didn't want her to have to go
under twice so they are coordinating it for her to get all she
needs at once. Her cast will remain on during the surgery for
the needed stability of her still very fragile vertebrae. We
were asked to do a video of her playing in her foster home and
we hope to have that done and posted soon. There is no keeping
this little imp down and we are so very pleased at how she's
doing and that Dr Farabaugh has given her this chance!
Update:2/12/09: Posey will be spayed and have her baby teeth
removed at Angell Memorial tomorrow w/Dr Farabaugh and Dr
Rosenblad. She will remain there overnight for observation and
if all goes well she will come home Sat. mid day. Please keep
her in your prayers.
Update2/28/09: Posey had
her spay and 24 remaining baby teeth removed! She went
through the surgery with no ill effects and has recovered
nicely.
Update 3/11/09: Posey was
seen for yet another brace change and with this visit Dr
Farabaugh is now actively working on getting her into a
permanent type brace. He did some preliminary fittings and
with her next visit we MAY have something to start working
towards.
Above
you can watch the short videos of the progress Posey has made
in
the past months. As you can see she is doing amazing without
surgery and with the brace in place. This is why the Vet
and we feel that it's not worth the risk to her life to get a
better result. She is doing almost everything a normal pup can
do and enjoys life to the fullest. We will be looking to get a
brace made that would be removable for bathing etc.
Dr Andrew
Farabaugh w/Posey
A Very
special "Thank You" goes out to Dr Farabaugh for all he has done
for Posey!!
We feel blessed
to have found him!
UPDATE 4/19/09: Posey has been fitted with a permanent removal
brace that she will have to wear for life. But she knows no
different and like the true terrier she is, she continues to be
determined not to be stopped! Posey is just about ready to be
adopted. Because of the severity of her special needs and how
fragile she will remain for life we will be looking for a very
special home. Our requirements for Posey are very specific. We
are looking for a home where the main care giver will be home
most of the time. Experience in small dogs and or medical
background is also required. The home must have no stairs in the
main living quarters. Posey is not really a cuddly pup but
rather loves to play with other small dogs her size....We ask
that you have one or two other low-key small dogs 5lbs or under
is ideal so that Posey would have a playmate...or be willing to
adopt a companion for Posey. No children and a fenced yard
or area is also required. Also, because Dr Farabaugh at
Angell Memorial Hospital has been so instrumental in Posey's
well being we are requiring the new home to continue her care
there. The new home must not be more than 1 hour away from the
Boston area. If you feel you are that special home please submit
an application to be considered.
Any questions please email
Cathie@yorkiesinc.com
"Friends of
Posey"
Total
Raised: $2789.00
Goal Reached! Thank you all!
Allyce Sullivan
Mary Sullenberger
Joanne Eddy
Shonda Whipple
Jared B.
Dustin Whipple
Diane Cote
Annie Allen
Stanbridge College
Michele Blackwelder
Nazi Masoum
Brooke Gilliam
Wendy Scott & Jim Smith
of
Bark Harbor
Melissa Marcella
Lynda Fitzgerald
Wendy Scott & Jim Smith
In
Memory of
Mary McMenama's "Lucy"
Judy Rutkowski
Jaclynn Brown
Joe Tufo
Darlene Belle-Isle's "Coco & Cierra"
Stephanie Sousa
Nicole Stern
Kathy Greene & Linda Quintiliani
in memory of "Nikki"
Charisa Antigua
Randy Merkrebs
BettyAnn Morris
Dot Carpentier
D. Michele Stahl
Ruth Kirwan
Jessie Garrison
Frances Bugbee
Joan & John Sylvester
In memory of our "Willie"
In Loving memory of
Charisa Antigua's "Olive"
from Michele Cole
Ellen Banker
Carlene Pearsall
Dianne Schultz
David & Linda Gilbert & family
Keri, Chris & Buddy Koukol
For Yorkiechat.net Photo Scavenger Hunt
Annette Holder
Ruben Montano-Lopez
Carol Lotti
James & Anita Steenson
Debra McCarty
From "Sissy"
Helen & Raymond Shankel
as requested by granddaughter in lieu of Birthday
gift to
Mary Morris Evans
Carolyn Garon
"ChouChou", Kat & Rob
Michele Prahl
|
