praying for both Joanne and Cocoa - and the vets and caregivers

My prayers are with Joanne and Cocoa.

Dear Joanne and CoCo please know that we are sending up Prayers to you both from Pennsylvania. Hugs to you both too, :hearts6::big_hug::hands:

So sorry to hear that.:cry: I will pray for Cocoa and Joanne.

Have there been any updates? Prayers are sent your way!

Oh Wow, thank you for posting this.... I had no clue all this was going on. I'll also be praying for them!

Lots of prayers and well wishes coming from across the miles! Joanne and Cocoa will be in our thoughts.

Joanne, I have you and Cocoa in my thoughts and prayers. :hug::hands:

Thank you to Nancy for this thread and for all the prayers offered on Cocoa's behalf. It was a scary time for me since she only weighs 3 lbs. and is 10 yrs. old. But she received excellent care and made it through with your prayers and His blessings on the K-State doctors. We are finally home after five days at the K-State Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in Manhattan, KS. Cocoa had her consultation on Thursday where they gave me 3 options----do nothing in hopes she would live her life out without the gallbladder giving her problems but know that if it did she only had a 50% chance to live, put her on meds to dissolve the stones but know that if it didn't work and she became sick she would only have a 50% chance to live, or do surgery now while she is well and hope that there are no complications. Hated having to make a choice all by myself. Her gallbladder was completely filled with stones, the stones were also in her liver ducts and in the drainage duct. Chose surgery but cried the entire time wondering what I was doing to my little Cocoa. She made it through 4 1/2 hrs. of surgery. They did not remove the gallbladder since there are still stones in the liver. She will be on meds to dissolve them, hopefully. They found an enlarged liver and a nodule on it which they removed and are having biopsied. Since they had to open the intestine to clean out the drainage duct they also did a biopsy on Cocoa's intestine to find out why her protein count is low. In the end they had to hurry and finish the surgery because her blood pressure was dropping. During the entire stay she was in ICU because they had problems keeping her glucose and protein level up. She was on drips for both. Cocoa turned out to be very calm for them---no frantic circling. I was so relieved! That was my biggest worry because I was afraid that would hinder her from healing. They had a difficult time getting Cocoa to eat, but she finally did yesterday morning so they sent us home late last night. She ate well this morning, so I am relieved, needless to say. We are now waiting on the analysis of the stones to tell us what direction they need to go to prevent this from happening again, the biopsy of the liver and the intestine. So far she has not had to wear a cone. Yeah!!!! I did find some onesies at Target that were smaller, narrower than any I found elsewhere, even a preemie at Dillards. Cut off the end and it covers her entire tummy area. Hope it works as she get better and starts investigating. I was only able to spend about 3 hrs. per day with Cocoa so I spent my time exploring Manhattan. A challenge. No streets go through. Scared to death of getting lost. Found a cheap hotel room that was small but very clean. Spent time shopping, napping, reading, watching TV, or doing word finds. It was at a great location. Dillions was right behind the hotel, Wal-Mart was a few blocks away, Hobby Lobby and a small shopping center was just about a block away, and a large in-door shopping center was about 4 blocks away. All the food joints that you could imagine were almost within walking distance. Now we have to get Cocoa better because the next thing they want to do is re-do her knee. It is out again. Was told that it is deteriorating her hip and we have to do something or her leg will have to be amputated. Oh, oh, oh. Let me tell you a horrible story. A young farmer and his mom came in with their 10 mo. old lab who had been hit by the mailman's car. They were fussing about the automatic $200 charge to see a vet. It was just a broken leg. Then I was leaving awhile later and they walked out carrying the puppy. I rolled down my window and asked what was going on. They said that the surgeon couldn't operate until Monday and had given the puppy a strong sedative until then. Would you believe I accepted that?!!!!! There are surgeons at the hospital all the time for emergencies. In the middle of the night it dawned on me what I had seen. They had the puppy PTS!!!!!!!!! and were carrying it. Oh, was I ever sick. The receptionist at the clinic said that they see that all the time. Nauseating!!!!! Then on the other hand I met two young college girls who were involved in training service dogs. Awesome job!!!! Anyway, guess this is kind of long, but I wanted to explain everything in one swoop. Cocoa is home, has eaten, and is sleeping on my lap. Feel very protective of her. Love her a lot. Must say a big thank you, to my dh. He took care of my other 3 doggies in between his work. Very much appreciated. Wanted to acknowledge that. ~Joanne~

I thank the Good Lord, for watching out for you and your baby, I know how much you love that little girl. Your husband is a real sweetheart for holding down the fort while you are gone, I'll bet he was glad for your return. Missed you, and I'll bet Yorkietalk didn't use near the bandwidth with you being gone. (This is an inside joke, Joanne sends out LOTS of animated gifs, and comments.) I'm so glad your back, and pray for a speedy recovery!

Welcome back Joanne. That's awsome Cocoa came threw like a champ.
What a strong little lady she is. I hope the meds dissolve the rest of the
stones so she can get on with her puppy life. Your a wonderful mommy.
I bet the two of you are so very happy to be home.

We have been thinking about you both everyday and so happy to hear the update. It sounds very postitive. :) Glad you are back, and you both will continue to be in our prayers. Sending hugs to Kansas.....

I am sending positive thoughts and prayers to you .

Joanne,

I am only now seeing this. I am so glad that Cocoa came through everything okay. Prayers for her continued recovery. :hands:
Hugs.

Oh, I am so glad to hear that Cocoa is home and doing fine! I knew that the vets at K-State would take good care of her. I used to work there at the emergency desk and yes, it is hard to believe the number of sad things we have to see there. I know what you mean about Manhattan being hard to get around, it does seem like none of our streets go through! The motel you stayed in is a great part of town, everything is almost within walking distant. The Dillons right behind you is the one that I work in.

That is great news!!!!! I will keep her in my prayers until she is back 100 percent!

Welcome back, Joanne! I thank God that He has brought little Cocoa through this surgery and will continue to pray that He will strengthen her daily.

I'm so glad to hear Cocoa is home .I hope her meds Dissolve the stones.

Joanne, prayers for Cocoa's recovery and for you. Hugs. jeanie

Thank you so much for the update. Thank God little Cocoa is healing. I will continue to pray for her and for you as well. God bless you all.

welcome back & thank you for the update. Praying she continues to heal and that she responds positively to the meds

Cocoa is eating well and is quite alert although I am limiting her activity......barking hysterically at the wild cats on our yard. This morning she had dry-heaves but I am hoping that it was just because she was hungry. We'll see what the day brings. Thank you, again, for all the well wishes for Cocoa. ~Joanne~

I am so glad you are home and I am praying for all of you. That must have been so scary for you. With all that you have been through, I must say that you and Cocoa are amazingly strong. A 4 1/2 hour surgery - oooohhhh my gosh!

You sound wonderful in your posts and I am so glad to see you on. I haven't been on much lately, but in another 2 weeks or so, I should be on more. I'm so sorry I haven't been on here to post while you have been going through this. You are in my thoughts and prayers and I'm prayer for a full and fast recovery for little Cocoa. And for you I'm praying for continued strength as Cocoa recovers. Thanks to your DH for all he has done and continues to do for you and the furbabies.

I am so Happy that you & Cocoa are back home! You Both were so strong through all this!! Continued Prayers for Cocoa's health! HUGS to you Both!!:2hearts2:

I am very glad to hear things are going well for you and Cocoa. I wish her a speedy recovery too!

Just wanted once again to thank everyone for the prayers and healing thoughts. Cocoa has finally started eating without it being a big deal. Feeding her every 2-3 hrs. Had a phone consultation with Cocoa's local vet. Was uncertain about the protein/carb ratio when feeding home-cooked. She told me 1 to 5. Was feeding way too much protein. Said that it is the carbs that will put weight back on Cocoa. Also said that she can be on this simple home-cooking that I am doing for maybe a month or two without supplementing with vitamins. I'm very concerned about the micro-nutrients that she is missing out on. The vet also suggested I feed a little salmon with the chicken to get more calcium into Cocoa. Anyone have any thoughts on what the vet told me?

You might want to start a thread in the diet forum. I'm so glad Cocoa is eating and holding it down.