Worried about Layla

[linz06]

Thank you so much. We are seeing improvement because of all the prayers!

I am amazed today. She was sleeping behind me, and I took a picture. Then she rolled over a little, and I took another picture. She's a cutie, what can I say? Anyways, I was about to go down and move her butt sideways so that her back wasn't twisted. Her front end was laying on the side, but her back end was still straight. But before I could change it, some coworkers came to my desk and we were talking about work. They left after about 5 minutes, and Layla was snoring the whole time. I turned around to correct her, but she had somehow gotten all 4 legs to stick out sideways, so her back end was on the side too!

And now she's laying on her belly again in another part of the crate, and both back legs look to be correctly in position under her. This never happens! I am always correcting her legs for her!

[dwerten]

Thanks for posting pics she is so adorable

[DebbieD]

I have been following your plight from the beginning and just wanted to add my two cents here. You are a very strong young lady and Layla is drawing her strength from you. Keep up the good work. I am sure all your hard work and positive energy will be rewarded. Celebrate the baby steps in her recovery and try to not get discouraged. I just have a feeling that there will be a happy ending, believe it!

[AddieandMiaMom]

I'm so glad to read about another baby step towards improvement! She is quite the cutie. It seems that some of her improvements started after the Reiki healing? I've heard alternative therapies can be really beneficial in conjunction with medical therapy.

Prayers and thoughts every day for the three of you!

[linz06]

You know, that's true. She hadn't progressed at all before Reiki! I just realized that. But according to the vet, her progression now doesn't show at all that her spinal cord is healing, just that she's getting stronger reflexes. So I don't know, but I still believe in the Reiki healing and I'm hoping it will help heal her spinal cord and get the rest of her functions back.

[scentlady]

Originally Posted by linz06

You know, that's true. She hadn't progressed at all before Reiki! I just realized that. But according to the vet, her progression now doesn't show at all that her spinal cord is healing, just that she's getting stronger reflexes. So I don't know, but I still believe in the Reiki healing and I'm hoping it will help heal her spinal cord and get the rest of her functions back.

that's our prayer too!

[linz06]

I finally just tried to wipe the tears off her face... after surgery she got huge black chunks of gunk under both eyes, and I know it must have been really itchy and uncomfortable for her. It took a lot of soaking but I think I got most of it out, and I cut off the rest. Now we can see her beautiful eyes better And I think she's feeling more comfortable too, because she couldn't scratch at them before.
We really need to cut her nails but she is so unbalanced now she doesn't like her front legs being touched at all. Even when I pick her up and am supporting her chest and her back, she is frantically grabbing at me with her legs because she doesn't feel balanced in her front end (and she can't feel the back). So I'm worried to try clipping her nails if she's going to freak out and start squirming and twisting, which is hard on her and on us. I wonder if I could ask them to do that while she's at rehabilitation? Apparently she's really calm as she's getting massaged.

[scentlady]

Originally Posted by linz06

I finally just tried to wipe the tears off her face... after surgery she got huge black chunks of gunk under both eyes, and I know it must have been really itchy and uncomfortable for her. It took a lot of soaking but I think I got most of it out, and I cut off the rest. Now we can see her beautiful eyes better And I think she's feeling more comfortable too, because she couldn't scratch at them before.
We really need to cut her nails but she is so unbalanced now she doesn't like her front legs being touched at all. Even when I pick her up and am supporting her chest and her back, she is frantically grabbing at me with her legs because she doesn't feel balanced in her front end (and she can't feel the back). So I'm worried to try clipping her nails if she's going to freak out and start squirming and twisting, which is hard on her and on us. I wonder if I could ask them to do that while she's at rehabilitation? Apparently she's really calm as she's getting massaged.

that's what I would do!

[AddieandMiaMom]

Originally Posted by linz06

I finally just tried to wipe the tears off her face... after surgery she got huge black chunks of gunk under both eyes, and I know it must have been really itchy and uncomfortable for her. It took a lot of soaking but I think I got most of it out, and I cut off the rest. Now we can see her beautiful eyes better And I think she's feeling more comfortable too, because she couldn't scratch at them before.
We really need to cut her nails but she is so unbalanced now she doesn't like her front legs being touched at all. Even when I pick her up and am supporting her chest and her back, she is frantically grabbing at me with her legs because she doesn't feel balanced in her front end (and she can't feel the back). So I'm worried to try clipping her nails if she's going to freak out and start squirming and twisting, which is hard on her and on us. I wonder if I could ask them to do that while she's at rehabilitation? Apparently she's really calm as she's getting massaged.

Definitely ask them about clipping them. I'm sure they do it all the time.

[linz06]

I managed to do them a tiny bit tonight. Her back ones were no problem of course. I clipped them pretty short and trimmed all the hair between the pads of her feet so she might get a little more grip while standing. Scott held her while I clipped the front ones but she was freaking out as I thought she would. She even bit him! When we finally got through it we tried to relax for a bit and then put her on her exercise ball to do some standing exercises but she hardly even wanted to stand. So we're calling it a night.

[yorkieusa]

Thank you for taking the time to update us. Her piccies are adorable. She's just beautiful. Sending the best for little Layla and prayers, too.

[celstu1]

Still sending huge prayers to Layla and you! As you post each day, there seems to be more and more good signs and 'better reflexes'.... I know shes getting stronger! Keep loving and pushing her to recovery!

[linz06]

I am trying! I went to the doctor this morning for myself and I let him know how stressed I've been and it may have a bit of a negative effect on my health. He said he totally understands that and asked if I've been praying, and I said yes. He said that's good and it's good for the body too because when you give God some of your burden, your stress level decreases. He said he is going to pray for Layla too, and he will be hoping for good news when I go back to him in September. In his words "Doctors can do so much, but God needs to do the rest. We aren't smart enough!"

I will post an update when I hear from her vet today to find out how she did in rehab.

[linz06]

Layla is consistently standing for 10-20 seconds every time she held her up today. She also got acupuncture and started on the underwater treadmill... she would walk with her front feet, and the therapist would place her back feet for her in a walking motion. She said sometimes that can start to get things going. She said that overall this is a tremendous improvement in the last 5 days since she's been back working with her!

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by linz06

Layla is consistently standing for 10-20 seconds every time she held her up today. She also got acupuncture and started on the underwater treadmill... she would walk with her front feet, and the therapist would place her back feet for her in a walking motion. She said sometimes that can start to get things going. She said that overall this is a tremendous improvement in the last 5 days since she's been back working with her!

I'm still following this thread and praying for Layla. Her progress has really been impressive over the last week or so. I can feel the difference in the tone of your posts. Sounds like you have a strong, determined little girl there.