She's an older girl. She had surgery today and it was not easy for her.
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JB and I picked Stella up at six tonight and we were shocked when the vet nurse brought her out. She couldn't stand, she fell on her hind legs, to the ground, when she tried to walk.
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Her right leg was in a bandage-cast. Her head was shaved and two four inch stitches, two inches apart. We stupidly agreed to have a benign removed since she was have surgery for her cancerous tumor anyway. Mistake. There are three cuts in her skin instead of one, and they hurt.
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She is in pain, unsteady. She must have been very afraid without us.
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Stella came to us from a rescue shelter four years ago. Her life had not been easy, and over time (like a year or more) she learned to trust us.
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Her judgement is right about that. She can trust us to the moon and back.
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So tonight, JB and I are taking turns staying with her, on the floor next to her bed if needed, and tomorrow and the next day, we will (with difficulty) juggle our work so that one of us is home. She needs us. She can't walk, she'll have to pee, she needs her pain meds. She has a family and at its best that's what a family does.
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We can't be sure that this tumor will not return again. It hopefully won't but it might. If it does, I doubt we'd put her through this again.
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We can't be sure. But we are fucking damn sure that this dog is loved to the endth degree and she knows it. She is on her bed now, grateful to be home. As are we.
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Love love
kj
Oh baby Stella. I feel for you as I know how this is when you bring your loved one home after an ordeal at the vet's and you wish you could explain it all to them. This I KNOW, they know we love them and they know that we do our best. Her pain will get less and you will grow and this will pass.
ReplyDeleteLove and be loved, this is the most important thing.
(((HUGS)))to all 3. xoxo
oh kj i'm sorry to read of her pain, but happy to see her alive and home.
ReplyDeletelove to that big beautiful woof stella and to you too xxx robyn
oh dear, poor baby. she'll be alright soon. i would be like you and not able to leave her side.
ReplyDeleteshe's going to be okay, with all the love, attention and affection she'll be recieving, how could she not?
take care all of you!
love,
lori
oh poor doggie! but she'll be OK and she loves you and you are right there by her side.
ReplyDeletelucky doggie.
oh... here is wishing her a lot of loving.. and of course, healing. Hope she gets over this soon..
ReplyDeleteOh, KJ, that goes straight to my heart and to memories of our very first dog, Moe, a gentle giant (he was part Great Dane). Your Stella is obviously so loved and I am sure she knows it! Poor baby - and I feel for you. It's so hard to watch your furry friends suffer. Sending you all lots of love!! Silke
ReplyDeletePoor, poor Stella. I'm so glad she has you and JB there to care for her. Hope she heals up quickly!
ReplyDeleteShe couldn't be in better hands. I know. I witnessed the love♥
ReplyDeleteHer little tongue is still sticking out from the anesthesia.
She does look wiped out but she'll come around. You know that.
Please give her a big smooch from Auntie Lolo.
xoxo♥
Been there, done that, as they say. Bonnie was so sick over Christmas that after her three days in the emergency vet hospital, she was still so ill that she would lie for hours and not move a muscle. I had just had shoulder surgery, and Peggy was out of town, so the neighbors came over three times a day to force medicine down her throat.
ReplyDeleteAll this to say that I probably do understand. I would guess that Stella will bounce back faster than you or I would.
Stella looks like the sweetest dog ever. Please give her a little kiss on her nose for me. It is so hard to see our furkids in pain. I hope today she perks up some, and that you all get some well-deserved rest. xoxo! Pam
ReplyDeleteOh KJ,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that Stella had to go through such trauma, and like you, I hope that in a few days all is well for her.
Dogs are little angels on four feet; they don't judge, they love unconditionally (unless given reason not to) and they are faithful to the end.
No doubt Stella is glad to be in her own bed and have people who love her close at hand. ♥
All three of you--take care!
XXOO!!
Anne
You know Nate recently had surgery as well...he'll be ten years old in about two weeks. He had a local sedative, which is easier on the dog. He's much quieter after the surgery, still.
ReplyDeleteStella had the whole deal...it is the anaesthetic which will make her look worse than she is. And she's older, like Nate, so it is a shock to her system, a little worse than a local.
It may take her awhile, but she'll be just fine after she's had her dreamtime sleep and there will be no more worries about the benign tumour and hopefully they got all of the cancer. You did the right thing,kj!
I'm glad you will be home with her, though. I always think kids and dogs do so much better with an adult around when they're sick, heh.
Stella is a lucky dog to have such a loving family and I know she loves you guys just as much!
Oh my darling kj, my heart goes out to you and JB and your dear Stella!
ReplyDeleteAfter our Beau had surgery to remove a huge tumor from near his spine, I also vowed never to do this to him again. But the surgery gave him more time with us, just like your Stella will have more time with you.
She is a wise one, your Stella, and she can feel your love for her. I'm sure that being home, on her own bed, with you and JB there to care for her, is the best thing for her. She will heal, in time, and feel better again soon.
All my love to you all,
(Beau sends his, too.)
xoxoxo
Angela
KJ, you and JB did what you thought was best for Stella...she is home now and you must let go of those feelings of how afraid ahe was while at the Vets.... she KNOWS she is HOME, with her parents.... LOVE will now be the main healer and Stella could not have more of that. Your home and your hearts overflow with LOVE.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy you and JB will take turns being with her... that is the best medicine for her now.
She will regain her strength quickly... LOVE is always the key.
I am sending her Love too... and healing thoughts.....
Please give her her a kiss from me.
Love to all,
♥ Robin ♥
KJ I am so sorry for your Stella's pain. I do hope she recuperates quickly. Thank you for joining my one year anniversary giveaway. I do hope to see you often and will stop by to see how Stella is doing. Elena of My Quest http://elena-myquest.blogspot.com/2010/05/giveaway.html
ReplyDeletePoor poor Stella, but with your good care she will be better soon, I am sure. It is not easy when our beloved pets are ill, because you cannot explain things and they don't understand it is for their own good. I hope that her recovery will be fast and permanent. Our eldest dog Yazou is also ill at the moment. She is nearly 14 and she has eaten something bad or she is having a virus. We don't know what it is. If she is not much better tomorrow morning, we will bring her to the vet.
ReplyDeleteStella can not hope to know how lucky she is ... to have landed with you and JB. I hope she recovers quickly. xx Jos
ReplyDeletePoor Stella bella. She doesn't need to be in pain kj get your vet to give her something for that. Surgery is hard on an old dog but somehow they know how to keep still and behave until things right themselves.Big hug for you and a gentle tickle forStella.
ReplyDeletePoor Stella bella. She doesn't need to be in pain kj get your vet to give her something for that. Surgery is hard on an old dog but somehow they know how to keep still and behave until things right themselves.Big hug for you and a gentle tickle forStella.
ReplyDeleteHi Kj, sorry to see Stella so knocked out from her operation. Our fur family members do seem to have the ability of bouncing back to health relatively faster than their human pets. She'll know she's home and being cared and loved for and in no time will be looking for something to eat, which is always the best sign.
ReplyDeleteLove to the three of you*!*
Oh how sad. Poor poor Stella. At least she's not alone. **blows healing kisses** Deb
ReplyDeleteHi kj! I'm just stopping by because I was thinking of Stella, and hoping she is feeling better. xox to all! Pam
ReplyDeleteHow many times have I said this?
ReplyDeleteI love you because you love Stella.
(one of the reasons)
She is loved and knows it. You get gold stars for being a good human being.
xoxo
Linda
Awww, poor baby. ((((STELLA))))
ReplyDeleteIt's good to know she's in such a loving home.
Oh my, she will need help all right. They are so happy to be home, that they hold no other thought. Neat stuff about pets.
ReplyDeleteIt may take her a few days to bounce back, but your nursing care will help, as will the pain meds. If you need help getting her outside to potty, using a bath towel as a sling under her belly will help manuever her and support her. Also, you might want to use those 'human' incontinence bed pads under her as the will keep her dry and soak up any pee..and of course, lots of kisses to that sweet forehead.
ReplyDeletewhat a GREAT bunch of friends I have here!!! thank you so much for your well wishes and very helpful advice.
ReplyDeleteI worked today while JB stayed home with stella. she is going better though not yet best. she is such a sweet and thankful girl. we are happy to help her stay comfortable.
but i'm tired. too tired to answer each comment as i usually do, or to visit my wonderful favorite blogs. but i will tomorrow!
don't ask me how emily managed to write her 'column' with all the commotion going on here. that emily......
love from me to you always,
kj
Poor Stella. I hope she is ok!
ReplyDeletePrayers for your sweet dog and both of you!
Oh kj my heart & prayers go out to you, Stella & jb - I hate to see any living creature suffer, most especially our beloved family members with fur. I hope since you posted this she is doing better and can get some relief. Stella has the very best family she could ever hope for, hang in there and keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteLove and big hugs xoxo - Susan
Oh poor baby ........
ReplyDeleteMy heart breaks seeing her like that!!!
That was Monday I sure hope she feels a lot better already....
hugs for her and a speedy recovery
♥♥♥
>M<
Dearest KJ I have been reading your posts, starting from day 1. I can definitely see why my sister grew to care so much for you. She would be so over the moon with the Renee’s book of love. This will be such a wonderful gift to our family. I have always saved her posts just in case they somehow were erased, thus she called me the “History Keeper “. I have always thought that I’ve known how big Renee’s Community of friends are in this huge world of blogging, but I really wasn’t aware of just how many people she impacted and how many people truly grew to love her. Today I read the post of June 28h 06, the one when you first got Stella. I can’t imagine anyone hurting animals. I’ve also read of her recent op, sure hope she is feeling better today. By the way I love Emily Rabbit,Such fun.Say Hi to JB. Thank you KJ
ReplyDeletePoor sweet Stella. I'm sending her healing wishes and kisses. Our shelter girl Frida had cancer three times, t a fairly young age. They included a very aggressive tumor on her leg, and she beat the cancer each time (unfortunately a secondary infection took her life, after brain cancer...) I have high hopes for your Stella and know that she is getting the best most loving care possible. Dogs are so amazing - teachers at accepting what is, adapting, and rebounding with grace. Much love and wellness to you all, Karin
ReplyDelete