"Wait!" I said. Dr. Bashara smiled and set the plant down next to me on Dr. Taplett's desk. Most of the leaves fell off.
Grizz!
I should know how long a dog's small intestine is. I don't. I mean I do now, 3-4 meters, which is about 9-12 feet. So if I open an abdomen of a sock-eating dog and find quite a length of necrotic intestine, next time maybe I will not panic.
I had another horrible cold. I had only three dogs coming in, including my cousin Bella. "Pete, can I go home when I am done?" I begged. He directed me to go right home and recover. "Just two patients to go and I will," I promised.
My very next patient was Sock Eater. X-rays confirmed an obstruction. We could fit our hands around the offender in her very thin abdomen.
We saw our last patient, and Kelly and I prepared for surgery.
We cheered when we found the area of concern. We grimaced when we saw the extensive length of dark red bowel loops. Nothing dead could stay. I made a tiny incision and removed a very long sock. We watched for the intestines to pink up. They did not.
Kelly scrubbed in. We got to work. When we were done, we had a stitched together dog, a (smelly) sock and a length of intestine waiting to be measured.
"How long is a dog's intestine?" Kelly asked.
"I think four feet," I answered.
"I hope I am wrong...this is four feet and one inch! 124 centimeters!"
Fortunately, I was wrong. VIN (Veterinary Information Network) corrected me, and reassured me that dogs could do well with a shortened small intestine, but they did best with at least 50% of what God gave them. I had removed an estimated one third of Sock Eater's small intestine, a dramatic first for me.
I had planned to go home and sleep off my cold while Sock Eater recovered and come back to check her, but I found I could not leave her. She and I slept on the treatment room floor as her anesthesia wore off.
I hugged Sock Eater's family as they left to transfer her. Apparently, it is not emotional enough to have a mournful dog beg you for help with her beautiful brown eyes. This is also a family we love dearly.
Sock Eater spent the night in the capable hands of the emergency clinic team. I called in the morning to check on her. "The team is in rounds. They will call you back." I could read nothing in the receptionist's voice.
One and a half hours later I called back and begged, "I just need to know if she's alive or dead!" The team member laughed and quickly told me Sock Eater was finishing breakfast.
I vowed to be as happy as I was stressed, to celebrate as long as I would have mourned.
It was an excellent weekend.
I am so happy Sock Eater is doing well.
...
Post from one year ago today...
January 3, 2016
Oh Camille!
I asked Joy the Puppy if she wanted to explain all of the Barbie doll hands I found behind the couch.
Important changes coming at midnight!
For Christmas 2015 I received a Passion Planner from Russ’s Mom Karen. I knew as soon as I opened it that I loved it!
My most recent read was The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.
A sweet patient passed away yesterday after surgery.
This case is monumental enough to send me into an Obie-esque depression spiral.
Just this past year I have finally completed my own forgiveness for accidentally killing our own dog Obie sixteen years ago during anesthetic induction for dental work. At least, I think I have. We will see how the aftermath of losing this patient goes. I feel as though some scars could be ripped open.
To this day, I do not keep conversations kid-appropriate in the car. I asked Russ how I avoid a spiral. How to keep from letting the process of dealing with the grief of losing this patient be all consuming.
From the back seat, Amanda said,
Let it happen Mom.
But don't let it destroy you.
Thank you Kelly...Kristen...Hannah...Laura, Nicole and Renee. Thank you Dr. Bashara, and thank you family.
We love you kiddo. You sure have a great family - and a vet team - who all loved you deeply. You will be dearly missed.
My Pit Bull - Sharpei patient
I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season!
We spent Christmas morning at home.
We got Joy and Luna their own new beds and their own new toys knowing this would happen...
Instead of playing together with the monkey toy (The tag said, "two dog toy!), they kept stealing it from each other and sulking when they did not have it. Also, there were new dog toys everywhere.
We went to Mom and Dad's for Christmas Day. Best Christmas yet! Mom, Dad, Oscar Puppy, Felix Puppy, Aunt Becky, Uncle Bill, Dave, Sara, Olive, Robert, Arthur, Karen and Phill and were there. THAT is a fun group!
Look at those baby polar bear paws! I love them so much!
Abby taught the puppies how to play the piano. I think they made some progress. Dawn would be proud!
We heard you had ham? And beer?
I told Aunt Becky if she didn't want pictures of her taken, she should stop being beautiful. She could not do it.
Arthur!
I love this picture of Robert showing Abby his fire truck!
Ernie Dog ornament that my tech friend painted for Mom several years ago
Do you ever remember rain storms in Omaha on Christmas? I don't, and I am very, very old.
Thank you for this puppy chow Aunt Penny! It was almost too pretty to eat! Also...it is mostly gone :)
I love these pictures!
Are you tired Oscar?
We are a little tired.
Merry Christmas!
These are actually pictures through all of December out by Karen and Phill's and the Jones family's homes.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays all!
Lucy by her tree
The rarely photographed Phill Finch
I love this picture of Tidus and Lucy!
Karen and the doggies
Tidus being cute
Tidus being cute in a hoodie
Tidus and Abby
The rest of these are pictures from Christmas Eve at the Jones's house. Merry Christmas! We love you all!
Snookie Jones by her tree
The big kids decorating cookies
Abby and her hedgehog sweater and hedgehog friend-cousin
Oh Pickles!
Russ and Matthew
Facetiming with Kylah!
Nice smile Travis!
Matthew made this for Kristi! I cannot get over how gorgeous it is!
I tried to photoshop out Oreo's idiopathic corneal edema, but ended up leaving her in all her natural beauty. I could not fix it, but it does not hurt.
Jones's tree is always beautiful!
Amanda by the tree
:)
I am pretty sure by the time this is posted, Amanda will have stayed up all night reading this book from Aunt Jodi. She was so excited!
This is seriously about two minutes after the previous picture :)
That is not your hat, sir.
This is my favorite Christmas Eve picture! Aunt Kristi took it of Madi opening her gift from Kristi - a pillow with pictures of Madi and her horse on it :) I think Madi loves her pillow as much as I love this picture, maybe more.
When you are a big kid, gloves are a cool gift.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays and happy new year to you and your family with lots of love from ours <3
...
Post from one year ago today...
December 25, 2015
Merry Christmas <3
Get well quickly Jax!
For the past several years, we have gotten our Christmas tree from Cirian's Farmers Market in Midtown Omaha.
It does not show in dog and cat vision, but the tree Abby was looking at was flocked a beautiful bright green.
"Why do you flock trees green?" I asked the person helping with our tree.
"Because we can. Why do they dye their hair purple?" he replied.
:)
Abby noticed a tree was flocked black with sparkles. So this year for the first time, our tree is not only flocked purple, it also has sparkles. What's the downside?
The tree is BEAUTIFUL! So is our floor. In EVERY room. And both dogs. Again, no downside!
Russ and Joy prepare to decorate.
My favorite picture - Amanda lifting Abby up to put Grandma Amanda's angel on the top of the tree!
One picture in full color! Because, purple you guys!
This tree skirt is missing hand prints from the years we have had pets who would have peed on it. We are missing quite a few years. Still cute though. And pee-free!
My friend vet tech Erin has a friend named Stephanie.
Stephanie has a turtle named Olivia.
Olivia visited Santa.
The picture of Olivia visiting Santa totally made my day!
I hope it makes your day too.
Olivia, were you a good turtle this year? What did you ask for from Santa?
Do you want to see MORE pictures of Olivia in the future??
I have heard from reliable sources that Olivia has more sweaters and that there are more pictures of her! :)
...
Post from one year ago today...
December 21, 2015
Pet Safety for the Holidays
The day my friend vet tech Trey told me he saw a one star review online for the Hindu Temple in Omaha because they do not have a food court is the day I stopped obsessing about veterinary hospital reviews.
I have been much happier ever since.
...
Post from one year ago today...
December 19, 2015
Our neighborhood Christmas party was this past week. As always, we had a very nice time. We have the best neighbors!
Russ was compared to a young Moses, which is, of course, a compliment!
Mary and Sarah led games again. They were so fun. :)
We had to draw a Christmas scene on top of our heads!
Top left - Russ's, top right - mine, bottom - Abby's. My great idea to hang our pictures on our wall was vetoed.
Sandy won! Woo!
Irma won the alphabet game! It couldn't happen to a better person!
Merry Christmas All!
...
Post from one year ago today...
December 18, 2015
Jojo the Chihuahua mix came to us as a newly adopted dog. We all fell in love with him.
Jojo came back two months later with an accidentally broken leg. We treated and bandaged and planned. We set him up for surgery with Dr. Thoesen. His family would not take him back.
Thank you Dr. Thoesen and Rachel and the rest of your team.
Those guys have a crazy busy schedule and set aside time on more than one day trying to get Jojo fixed. Either they are awesome or you can fall in love with Jojo just hearing about him. I suspect both.
The Nebraska Humane Society, also an awesome group, took Jojo back and got him the surgery he needed, and got him healed and will find him a new family in plenty of time for the holidays. Thank you so much guys.
We love you Jojo. We are so glad you are well! We hope to see you soon in this next happy chapter.
...
Post from one year ago today...
DECEMBER 17, 2015