Our dear girl is facing major surgery

[sugarmamma]

Wishing you and Gail and Gidget all the best on her upcoming Surgery in August. Many can and will help I can tell how much Gidget is truly loved and valued, no matter what her humble beginnings may have been here in Florida

Oh.....GO GREEN!! If she has to sport a cast....that is one way to it!!

DS is graduating from MSU in December

IMG_1752 MSU resized!.jpg

Here is our Sugar Baby sporting Spartan Pride
The shirt was a gift from a very dear friend in the gift exchange ~ we love it

[kjc]

Keeping your baby in my prayers....

[Schooby]

Keeping Gidget in my prayers. What a sweet baby, and I just love the cast (I'm a MSU fan ) Thank you for keeping us updated!

[yorkiemini]

Prayers for Gidget and your family!

[ladyjane]

Prayers for your sweet Gidget and you and your wife. Please keep us updated!

[msyorktown]

poor baby...so sorry you are going through this. Gidget, you and your wufe are in my prayers. Please keep us updated on her pre and post surgery.

[kantzb]

Hi Everyone,

Gidget made it through surgery without a problem. She was in the operating room for four hours ending up with six screws, four wires, two rods, a bone graft taken from her shoulder and a bunch of bone cement to hold her C1 and C2 vertebrae together.

We left Coopersville at 6:00 a.m. this morning to get her to Michigan State by 8:00 a.m. They didn't start the surgery until 11:00 a.m. and she was out of the OR at a little after 3:00 p.m. The big concern was taking her off the vent after surgery because some fur kids won't start breathing on their own. The next hurdle was the CT scan to determine if the screws were all in the right place and not protruding into the spinal canal. If they were in the spinal canal the neuro surgeon would have to start all over again.

The neuro surgeon, Dr. Probst, put on a new body cast after the CT scan and vet assistants worked to bring her body temperature back to normal. Their body temperature drops after being on a vent and general anesthesia for a long period of time. When all of that was taken care of Dr. Probst took us to the intensive care unit for a visit with Gidget. She was pretty groggy because of the pain medicine but her eyes were open and she seemed to perk up when she saw Gail and me. We didn't visit long and we are planning to go see her tomorrow. She may be able to come home Thursday or Friday.

Dr. Probst gave us a tour of Michigan State University's Animal Clinic after we finished our visit with Gidget. I am amazed by this facility, the doctors, veterinary assistants and students. The clinic has a dozen operating rooms, CT scanning equipment, MRI equipment, obviously a large radiology department; they have specialties for allergies, soft tissue surgery, orthopedics, oncology, cardiology, neurology and I'm sure many others. Dr. Probst and his assistant, Liz, spent a lot of time with us before and after the surgery. We didn't get home until 8:00 p.m. and some of the long day was because of all the attention we received.

I hope some of this information serves as a reference for other ALI parents. Particularly if you are anywhere near a university that has a veterinary school. You shouldn't hesitate to look into the resources available at a university. Personally, I would take my fur kid to Michigan State for any kind of serious condition even if I lived five hundred miles away.

Another important reference is what Michigan State is charging us for the surgery and follow-up care. The price quoted to us today was between $2,500 and $4,500. The cost is higher if we have to leave Gidget at the clinic for more than two or three days.

On a personal level, I was a total wreck when they carried Gidget away for her surgery prep. I wanted to get away from the clinic for awhile and we made the mistake of going to Denny's for breakfast. The waitress must have thought Gail and I were getting a divorce because we sobbed through breakfast.

We still have a long way to go until Gidget is a somewhat normal dog. Thank you for all of the prayers and support. The prayers were answered.

Barry

[kantzb]

I apologize. You may see this post twice in this thread. I did a quick reply to a post, probably the wrong spot to post this information.

Hi Everyone,

Gidget made it through surgery without a problem. She was in the operating room for four hours ending up with six screws, four wires, two rods, a bone graft taken from her shoulder and a bunch of bone cement to hold her C1 and C2 vertebrae together.

We left Coopersville at 6:00 a.m. this morning to get her to Michigan State by 8:00 a.m. They didn't start the surgery until 11:00 a.m. and she was out of the OR at a little after 3:00 p.m. The big concern was taking her off the vent after surgery because some fur kids won't start breathing on their own. The next hurdle was the CT scan to determine if the screws were all in the right place and not protruding into the spinal canal. If they were in the spinal canal the neuro surgeon would have to start all over again.

The neuro surgeon, Dr. Probst, put on a new body cast after the CT scan and vet assistants worked to bring her body temperature back to normal. Their body temperature drops after being on a vent and general anesthesia for a long period of time. When all of that was taken care of Dr. Probst took us to the intensive care unit for a visit with Gidget. She was pretty groggy because of the pain medicine but her eyes were open and she seemed to perk up when she saw Gail and me. We didn't visit long and we are planning to go see her tomorrow. She may be able to come home Thursday or Friday.

Dr. Probst gave us a tour of Michigan State University's Animal Clinic after we finished our visit with Gidget. I am amazed by this facility, the doctors, veterinary assistants and students. The clinic has a dozen operating rooms, CT scanning equipment, MRI equipment, obviously a large radiology department; they have specialties for allergies, soft tissue surgery, orthopedics, oncology, cardiology, neurology and I'm sure many others. Dr. Probst and his assistant, Liz, spent a lot of time with us before and after the surgery. We didn't get home until 8:00 p.m. and some of the long day was because of all the attention we received.

I hope some of this information serves as a reference for other ALI parents. Particularly if you are anywhere near a university that has a veterinary school. You shouldn't hesitate to look into the resources available at a university. Personally, I would take my fur kid to Michigan State for any kind of serious condition even if I lived five hundred miles away.

Another important reference is what Michigan State is charging us for the surgery and follow-up care. The price quoted to us today was between $2,500 and $4,500. The cost is higher if we have to leave Gidget at the clinic for more than two or three days.

On a personal level, I was a total wreck when they carried Gidget away for her surgery prep. I wanted to get away from the clinic for awhile and we made the mistake of going to Denny's for breakfast. The waitress must have thought Gail and I were getting a divorce because we sobbed through breakfast.

We still have a long way to go until Gidget is a somewhat normal dog. Thank you for all of the prayers and support. The prayers were answered.

Barry

[ladyjane]

Oh, what wonderful news about Gidget!! Thanks for updating and yes, the information about MSU is great for others! I am a fan of the vet schools myself. I currently have a foster at Texas A&M for surgery.
I will continue to pray for Gidget...may she have a speedy recovery!

[lillymae]

So happy to hear Gidget had an uneventful surgery. I will be Praying for a fast & full recovery.

[Perrella]

As I'm reading this...I'm in tears of joy for you all! This is such wonderful news, sending gentle hugs & kisses from me & Zhoie.

Going through this with my girl, I've been a nervous wreck waiting to hear. I so understand the heartache when she was taken from your arms. My DH & I left and went to get something to eat at Waffle House the morning of and sat there and just bawled...I'm aure the waitress thought we were crazy

Keep us posted on Gidget's progress, I know she will amaze you with her recovery.

I totally with using a vet school 100%! Zhoie's surgery was done NCSU and the surgeon, staff and facility is amazing. We travel 7 hours one way and its so worth it.

[lisaly]

I am truly happy that Gidget is on the road to recovery. I pray that she heals quickly and is soon free from pain. My heart goes out to you, Gail, and Gidget. She is so lucky to have parents who love her so dearly.

[Cha Cha]

I just finished reading your story. So happy to hear Gidget made it through her surgery. She is so lucky to have such loving people caring for her. Sending healing prayers for Gidget.