Worried about Layla

[6 yorkies]

I am so happy that things turned out well for all of you. I had the wheels made for Lil Abner when he had his stroke 6 weeks ago. The wheels gave him the confidence that he needed to heal himself! Before we had the wheels made, I used a long towel to hold his back side up so he could walk and to go to the bathroom. Lil' Abner is now running around on three legs just fine. His third leg is weak, but, strong enought to hold him up.
Good luck to you and call me if you want to talk.
Kathy

[AddieandMiaMom]

I'm so glad they were able to find what was wrong! Even more prayers and thoughts to you and sweet Layla!

[lil louis]

I am so glad to hear that the surgery went well. I will keep checking this thread for any updates on your sweet girl.

[Connie]

I've been thinking of Layla so much and so glad to see that she came through the surgery. I'll be praying that she is able to recover quickly and walk again. Hugs to you!

[roseslevi]

Sending prayers for Layla...... Rose and Levi

[gemy]

Originally Posted by linz06

Thank you! I think she would do okay in a cart. We will just have to carry her up and down the stairs, which we probably will for a long time now anyway.

The surgeon also let us know there is a acupuncturist at the hospital and she would definitely recommend that as part of her rehabilitation, as it can help get the muscles and nerves communicating with each other. I think we should try everything we can!

Most definitely!! I used acupuncture on Magic as part of his rehab for his spinal injury. Also have the acupuncturist show spinal massage to help with circulation and stimulus. When she is ready underwater treadmill is great. Highly recommend this one. Also contrast bathing - hot 5 minutes on cold 5minutes on. Have them show you passive Range of motion for all the hindquarters - ie hip knee ankle.

Magic's rehab took a little over a year. If you have questions pm me. I'd love to help as I can

[BonBon]

I've been thinking about Layla all night. What wonderful new on the surgery. I continue to pray that it was a success. Have you heard how she's doing this morning?

[linz06]

I have tears in my eyes from all of your loving support. I was trying to read all of your posts to my boyfriend and I got choked up. I don't know what I'd do without this forum. I don't post a whole lot and I'm not well known but you have all just jumped in to help us out in any way you can, even if it's just prayers, and I can never express enough gratitude for how that has made me feel!

I just talked to the student who is sharing in Layla's surgery and recovery with another doctor. He said she is awake and alert, and able to sit up. She is doing about as well as she was yesterday, but NO WORSE, which is a great sign. She seems comfortable in her cage. He said he would give me another call tonight, but I asked if we could visit. He said "Oh yeah sure! Visiting hours are 5-7" so we will go over right after work. There were a few questions he couldn't answer so maybe we will be able to speak with the other doctor on her case tonight. I am just so happy that she's doing okay. With how quickly she was going downhill before, I think they targetted the right spot for her not to be any worse now.

She will start going in the pool as soon as her stitches heal. Her surgeon said that's the best thing for them. And we will be doing anything else possible that could help!

We stopped at the vet in town last night on our way home and she told us to keep our hopes up. She told us a story of when she was a student and doing rounds at the same hospital. She inherited a large dog that had basically no hope of recovery. He had been flown in from B.C. with wobbler's syndrome and after surgery he was completely paralyzed and couldn't even lift his head. She stayed at the hospital night and day, even though she had 3 kids and a husband at home. She rolled him over and massaged his muscles constantly, and took him outside on a gurney so he'd get fresh air and feel like a dog. It turns out he had a reaction to something they used to stop the bleeding during his surgery and after about 6 weeks he developed a large ball of fluid in his neck that was pressing on his spinal cord. The fluid was drained and it was amazing... he could get up and walk! The family flew out to pick him up after 7 or 8 weeks and she said it was just like a movie when he ran out to greet them and she'll never forget it! But in the end, the best of the best are working at this hospital and even if they feel there is no hope, they will continue to try and push for recovery. She said she feels confident that she will recover. Layla is young and spunky and stubborn, and she WANTS to walk.

Please keep your prayers coming. Layla's recovery is in God's hands now and I am praying every second of the day that she will be back sucking on the corner of my pillow as I sleep and giving us morning kisses on the nose! It's good the weather is miserable because she's not missing too many opportunities to bark at the neighborhood kids playing around our yard

[paulalowe6]

I have been praying for Layla! I'm so happy that she has came through the surgery with flying colors! I will continue to pray for you and Layla. Hang in there. Layla will be running around her new yard in no time.
It sounds like she is being taking excellent care of. That is wonderful.

[ladyjane]

Thank you for the Layla update!!! I am so happy to hear she is coming along and sitting up!

She is so lucky to have you....the fact that you got her in so quickly saved her life...of that I am SO sure. I have a feeling that your vet is right...you are going to see even more improvements. They really are amazing little critters!

Definitely keeping her in my thoughts and prayers...and you as well!

[ARCHIE]

What wonderful news to read she sat up! Amazing.
I certainly hope and pray she will do more as soon as she's feeling
better and comfortable. Your both wonderful pet owner's.
I can't imagine the worry and stress you have been threw.
Sending my prayer's for a complete recovery.
With her strong will she's proven to be a fighter for sure.

[linz06]

Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts. We have been hurting a lot over this. Even when I force myself to eat, my stomach is not having it. I am just hoping for any sign of improvement, even any miniscule sign that something is working, and I think it will releive a lot of my stress. I am at work right now and I can't concentrate AT ALL. 2 more hours until we can drive across the city to see Layla.

[ladyjane]

It will be good for you to see her....and also good for her. I was discouraged from visiting because my Maxwell was in ICU; but I insisted and told them he needed to know I was still around and that IF he was going to improve I believed I would be a part of it. They finally relented and he immediately started to do better after two days of my visits! They don't understand how they end up in these places...they cannot be told...so, I truly believe having their humans visit is good for their recovery!

I am so sure you will be relieved to see her! Just prepare yourself for what you will see...I am not sure how she is...but my Maxwell had a trach and was seriously bruised and swollen from his surgery. His was in his cervical spine so they went in through the front of his neck. Not sure where they did Layla's surgery, but I am thinking it may have been lower down the spine. I was stunned when I first saw him...but, as I said before, he immediately stood up when he smelled my hand. It was good for him to know I was there!

[linz06]

Layla's surgery was on her back, right where her ribcage meets the lower part of her spine. I'm not sure what to expect, but all I care about is looking into her eyes so she can let me know if she's okay.

Yesterday I was actually releived to be in the hospital and no longer just waiting and wondering what was going to happen. It felt like we're finally taking action. I asked my boyfriend if he felt the same way and he said "I'm glad I'm here and the only reason I'm here is so I can keep getting Layla Bean kisses on my nose every day" and he turned red and started crying and I knew at that moment that everything has happened for a reason. If Layla was going to have this problem no matter what, she had it at a time when I have this great man in my life who loves us both with all of his heart, because I would not have been able to get through anything without him right there beside me. And, as I mentioned, it happened at a time when I have the money to get through it. I feel like I am so blessed, even though we are going through a really rough time right now. I hope that we will continue to be blessed with a full recovery.

[ladyjane]

Awww...that just brought tears to my eyes. How lucky you and your boyfriend are to have each other and Layla...and how lucky she is to have the two of you!!

I am sure that you all will have many wonderful happy years together!