|
Oh boy... (actually GIRL) - What have I DONE???? 4 Attachment(s) I honestly don't know what made me do it.... We lost my 11 year old son's 10 year old Havanese girl this morning and I suppose I just felt compelled to try and help this little one. I'm a little hesitant to feel much for her... or rather, I WAS - a couple hours ago, but.... well..... here's the story. A friend emailed me this evening and directed me to an ad on craigslist.com. It was a young couple pleading for SOMEONE to take their newborn baby Chihuahua girl - born last night around 10:30 pm.... one of a litter of (actually, now that I think of it, I don't remember how many she said... it was kind of a fleeting few hours!) - - - anyway, the couple (young kids, maybe in their early 20's) - didn't notice until about 5:30 this evening that this little baby girl was born with a facial deformity - - and was unable to suckle. 7:00 pm - - I couldn't tell from the photo they sent if it was a cleft pallet or cleft lip, or both.... or the severity of the defect..... but it didn't really matter.... The first thing they wanted to do, was to take the baby to the vet to "have her killed" (in the words of the young girl) - but they couldn't afford to do that, and they wanted, they said, to at least try to find someone who would be willing to give her a chance.... Well..... (if you know me even a tiny bit) you know that I simply couldn't just "click" and let that go.... regardless of how I may very likely be CRUSHED all over again in just a matter of hours... or days.... :( Time was ticking away and the baby wouldn't last much longer without eating... (evidently the kids didn't know to at least try a bottle... dropper... squeezing milk from mom and giving it on a fingertip... ANYTHING). So.... 7:20 pm - knowing that this little girl had already been over 20 hours without a drop of nourishment since her birth - - I got these kids on the phone, hopped in my car and drove 80 mph the 30 miles (midway between them and us) to pick her up! They brought her to me in a little white washcloth.... a little chilled, but not too bad (never thought I'd be thankful for a 105 degree day!!) - - - so I scooped her up, snuggled her down in the heated bed and blankets I'd brought - - and made a mad dash for home. 8:23 pm - - Home - and warm... I weighed her first off.... 3.4 ounces... good weight! I wanted to get her a little warmer and for just a little longer before I tried to get her to take some formula.... then, the second I put the dropper to her lips, she was gung ho for her first taste!! - 8:44 pm She ate pretty well actually... not much, but better than I expected. I'm still pretty fearful that she'll aspirate but I am THRILLED that she is able to swallow and willing to take formula without my having to tube feed. (that just scares me to death!) 10:24 pm - - Belly full... new Mommy... and snuggly warm - she seems pretty content for the time being.... a couple of licks and few minutes of "rooting" and........... yep.... I'm in love..... <<sigh>> So, I took the opportunity to take a few pictures and introduce you all.... to baby Emma (meaning - "whole"... "complete" - which I know she may not be just now... but we pray that one day, she will be!) :) I can't keep her.... not forever.... but if indeed we are able to help to give her a forever to be had, I pray that there will be a wonderful family out there willing to share it with her!!! :) I welcome your experience with this type of deformity... prognosis? Treatment? Surgical procedures? Time frame? This is something I am quite unfamiliar with.... Please welcome... and say a few prayers for..... our beautiful little baby Chi girl, Emma... |
3 Attachment(s) Just a few more... |
Thank you for taking this baby! I am PMing you. |
ohhh my goodness! You really saved this lil ones life! WOW! She is so tiny! Good luck to you! |
Bless your heart!! when 1 life ends- another begins! what a wonderful thing you are doing to help this baby!! I am sure you are going to get some helpful advice from some of the memebers here! Best wishes to you and baby girl!! |
What a little angel, crooked lip and all!!! I hope the very best for her. You are amazing for saving that little ones life. |
I know there have been threads about cleft palate. If you want me to I can look them up for you and post the links so you don't have to spend time looking. Joanne |
Oh that poor little baby. This brought tears to my eyes. THANK YOU SO SO SO much for saving this little angel. I PRAY that she makes it. :( Please keep us updated. Again thank you so much for saving her. :love: I would have done the exact same thing as you. |
|
Wow what a story and how wonderful you come along to help her through this time. She is so delicate and small. Sounds like you have alot of help from up above. |
What a lucky little gal Emma is. :) Praying she is happying and healthy. |
That was such a kind thing for you to do! that poor little pup. i actually know alot about cleft lip, my cousin was born with on. it seems scary at first, but was easily corrected. so hopefully this is just as easily corrected for a puppy as it is for a human. Good luck with her! |
You're an amazing person- God bless you both!!! I will pray for her- All the best!!! |
Quote:
Thanks to everyone for the kind words and support!! |
You should contact Breny .She has a chi girl with the same problems. Emma is lucky to have you. ((HUGS)) |
Quote:
|
Oh, that precious baby. I'm so glad you are trying to help her. (hug) |
Well, the second feeding of her little life - at exactly 24 hours old - went pretty well, so I feel a little better.... at least she's getting a bit of nourishment. She can't form her mouth to suckle, but she's slowly taking the drops of formula from the eye dropper and swallowing rather that "gurgling" - so I'm happy about that. I've been frantically searching for Natalie's snuggle buddy (heat disc) - to no avail.... I have absolutely NO idea where I put that thing... <<grrrrrrrr>> so right now, I'm using a heated rice bag for warmth in Emma's bed.... I'm afraid to sleep though, because it doesn't stay warm for long. Gonna' be a long night, but I'll rest easier tomorrow when I'm able to get out and get another snuggle buddy for her so I don't have to worry about her getting chilled. I've found a wealth of information from previous YT posts and am feeling more positive about Emma already. In PM'ing with Sammi (again, I can't tell you enough how much you are appreciated!!) and from the information that she has provided - I'm feeling like Emma may be lucky enough to only have a cleft lip - with a normal palate..... we'll know for certain at tomorrow's vet visit. :hands: I really need to say..... that had I not been a part of YT - and had I not known that there would be an abundance of wisdom, experience and support here.... I don't think I could ever have found it inside myself to bring this little angel home............... but I'm so glad I did - - - regardless of the outcome! Thanks to all of you!! :yorkietal |
Dena, if anyone can do this, it is you. Emma is very lucky you came into her little life. She will be very loved and that will take her a long way. Hugs from all of us and a very special one from Glory "B". |
Oh Dena... another thread that chocked me up some... wow what a girl.. and what a darling emma.. please keep us posted.. and tube feedng is really not that bad.. at least you know your gettting that food into them and how much.. easy for me to do I guess oppose to what your doing.. but what ever works... she is on sweet teenie baby... and if anyone can keep her alive I am sure you will.... anne |
We are so thankful for people like you. This reminds me of a bird I rescued 2 weeks ago. We had a big storm and the next day I went to one of my classes and walked outside for our break (the classes are 3hrs long since they are summer classes...so we get 10min breaks). I noticed this little bird sitting on the mat by one of the doors and he was covered in ants. At first I thought he had a hurt leg, so I went upstairs and showed him to my math professer and he told me to do what I needed to do. I took him to the nature cented and they wouldnt take him, so they gave me a name of a bird rescuer, who ended up not taking him either, due to not having the room for him. I took him to my vets office. They said he was not hurt, but was in shock instead. They gave me a number of a rescuer 2 hours away. The rescuer could not take him until the next day. I put him in a box and put a towel mostly over it, to keep him in a safe place where he would not be distracted. I feed him watered down dog food, as you would feed a puppy, because that is what the rescuer said to do. The next morning I drove 2 hours and gave her the bird. He is doing well and is out on his own. I hope your little puppy does just as well. I know she has a great future ahead of her. She has already beaten the odds. These first two days are the most critical, because that is when they get all the good stuff to protect them from diseases from their mothers milk. I would def. get some supplements asap. |
Quote:
Yes, the first few days and mother's milk, I know... this is one of the things I'm so worried about.... because the only mama that Emma has, is me.... I was kind of hoping that our Cessy would give me a hand with Emma as far as helping to keep her clean and warm... give her some of the natural interaction she's missing from not being with her own mom.... but Cessy is still quite busy with her baby Jethro (even though he's a big boy at 15 weeks old already!!) and is interested in Emma as more of a "squeaky toy" rather than a new adopted daughter! :eek: So, I think it's best to keep some distance there for now. Besides, without having those additional antibodies from her mom, I'm afraid to let Emma near ANYONE or ANYTHING at this point... Has anyone used Bene-Bac with newborns? Do you think that Emma would benefit from it? |
Oh Dena.......bless your heart for saving little Emma! I hope she will be a healthy, happy pup and find a very special forever home. |
AWWWWW!!! How great of you to save that little baby! She is so precious!! :heart to |
I second that.....god bless your heart for helping this little Chi baby. You really are an angel for searching her out and helping to give her little life a chance! I can't comprehend why they would want to kill her:mad: People like that have no business breeding dogs. But thank god for angels like you!!! I have so much respect and admiration for you, you really must be a very special person :thumbup: ~Everyone should aspire to have the heart that you do Please keep us updated on her progress, I will be praying for her |
Dena, Wow. Emma is so lucky! I wish you both luck and strength. I will be following this story closely.:animal-pa |
It's amazing what you're doing! :love::love::love:WHAT A HUGE HEART YOU HAVE!!!!!!!!!:love::love::love: Your generosity has no bounds!!! Emma is lucky you found her, and please keep us updated. I know I would love to see how she progresses over time. :cheer::cheer:I'm rotting for her well being!:cheer::cheer: Sending many prayers your way. |
YAY!!! 3rd feeding went well again and the "after feeding" was even better!!! (I promise not to update EVERY time she eats, haha!) But........ she did eat well.... just tiny bits every time... 'bout 1 - 1.5 cc each feeding.... and THEN - she did a good job "makin' a pee" with some stimulation... AND........ her very first POOP!!! (I'm so excited!!) haha... I know, I know.... I'm a freak.... but seriously... it was just a relief to know that everything else seems to be functioning normally - so I feel great about that... :) Thank you all again and again for your posts!! <<big hugs>> |
Quote:
|
God bless this little one and make her whole. Hugs Shirl x :daisy: |
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:10 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2003 - 2018 YorkieTalk.com
Privacy Policy - Terms of Use