Tuesday, July 3, 2012

She's Home!!!



 I don't even know where to begin.  I am so overwhelmed with emotions right now!

First of all, I got the call from Dr. Corbett saying that Lexie could come home around 10:00 a.m., but I had a few reports I needed to get done at work before I could leave.  I was also crossing my fingers that Justin would be able to take off work early, but by 2:00 p.m. he texted to say his chances of leaving early didn't look good, so I decided to go by myself to pick up Lou.  After all, Dr. Corbett had told me that she thought Lexie would be fine riding in the back seat by herself during the trip home.

So, I arrived at MedVet around 6:30 p.m. this evening, and the first thing they wanted to do was settle my bill, the total of which was significantly higher than I had been anticipating (over $3500!).  However, you guys aren't going to believe this:  I learned that not only did Lexie's local vet donate a large sum towards her MedVet bill, in addition to the generous donations I have received through my and Chad Dressen's blogs, an incredibly kind woman from Canada, named Wanda, whom I have never even had the pleasure of meeting before, had also called MedVet and offered to pay the balance!!!!!  

I.  Am.  Speechless.

Stuff like this doesn't happen in real life, does it?!?!?!  It doesn't!  At least, not in MY real life.  I am still in shock.  I just happened to be standing at the front desk when the billing assistant called Miss Wanda to get her credit card information, so I asked if I could speak to her before the billing assistant hung up.  I'm so glad I was able to thank Wanda myself, although she may not have understood me through all the tears.  I am also  hoping that Dr. Ellis is in the office tomorrow so I can thank her, as well.  I mean, seriously?!?!?!  Seeing so much GOOD and kindness in people has truly been the most beautiful, amazing experience of my life.  It has definitely made me want to strive to be a better human being, and I can only hope many other people who have been following our story feel the same way.  You guys have been nothing short of incredible, and I cannot thank you enough.

Speaking of incredible, Lexie is home!!!!!  In fact, she's laying beside me on the floor as I type this blog.  Justin and I are already so impressed with how well she's adjusting, too.  She's actually getting around BETTER than she was right before her bilateral enucleation surgery.  I wonder if maybe she was depending a little too much on being able to distinguish shadows and light, because now it's obvious she's using her senses of hearing and smell a lot more than she was a week ago.  She's also not walking directly into things like she used to.  She ALMOST walks into things, but as soon as her nose gets really close to the wall, chair, door, etc., she kind of pulls back and changes direction.  Since being home, she's already located the food bowls and had some dinner, she drank about a gallon of water after finding her water bowl all by herself, and I even walked into the foyer at one point to find her cleaning Sam's ears!  She is definitely the same ole Lou she was before this whole ordeal began last month, and I can't tell you how happy that makes me.

The one thing that is kind of worrisome is the fact that she's bleeding a lot from her incisions.  The vet tech at MedVet told me that this is normal, and even brought in the ophthalmologist on duty to confirm this for me.  He said that, as long as the fluid coming from Lexie's eyes was just bloody and not actual blood, then it was perfectly fine.  However, since we've gotten home, I swear it looks more like blood and less like bloody fluid coming from her eyes.  She looks just like a crying vampire from True Blood!  I'm applying a cold compress, like the vet at MedVet suggested, but I just really wish her eyes weren't bleeding at all.  It makes me nervous.  In fact, I ended up asking him if they could wrap Lexie's head like it was when I brought her in on Friday, just for the trip home.  Poor little thing.  She looked like I had kidnapped her.

Other than that, though, my Lou is home and is doing so well!!!!!   Yaaaayyy!!!  Her eyes do look a little funny, like Dr. Corbett had warned me, but I can't help but think she looks adorable.  I was afraid she'd look sad all the time without having any eyes, but she really doesn't.  I mean, come on, that smile is pretty undeniable.  :)  She's also been giving the MOST hugs!  In fact, she hasn't really wanted me to leave her side since I picked her up.  During the first few minutes of the drive home, she kept resting her head on the console between the two front seats just so she could be closer to me.  She didn't look comfortable, though, so I pulled over and brought her up front to the passenger seat beside me.  I laid the seat all the way down, then stuffed a big comforter in the floor, just in case she fell forward at some point.  She curled right up into a little ball, though, and slept as I pet her the whole rest of the way home.  

I am just so relieved to have her with me finally.  If her eye incisions keep bleeding like they have been tonight, I'll probably have Dr. Ellis take a look at her ASAP.  So, I'm not 100% comfortable yet, but I definitely feel a LOT better now that she's home.  :)

24 comments:

  1. :) I don't know what else to say. This is just so great. All of it.

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    1. You're speechless, just like me! It's beyond amazing. I still can't believe it. People are awesome.

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  2. I am so excited for you and your beautiful dog! Congratulations on the bill being paid, such sweet gestures from all. (That's an understatement, really...) I hope Lexie has a speedy recovery! <3

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    1. Thank you so much. I still feel like I need to EARN the huge amount of kindness that has been shown to me by so many. This experience has definitely changed my life. As soon as Lexie heals, we're going to start working on figuring out a way to pay it forward through fundraising, volunteer work....SOMETHING. We appreciate your well wishes!

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  3. Wonderful news! So glad things are on the up & up :-)

    - Amy & Bella

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  4. Congrats. So glad she is home.

    Winnie is adjusting to the cone around his head.

    Be positive and we all will make it thru this.

    Amy & Winston.

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  5. Echoing your sentiments on Ms Wanda from Canada! Thanks to her for helping you bring your baby home!

    Speedy recovery!

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  6. We are so amazingly happy for both of you! This just shows that people are genuinely good and that we not only love and want to help each other, but also our furry friends. I have tears in my eyes as I typed this little note. Please let us know if there is ANYTHING we can do to help now that you guys are home... and don't drive to Ohio alone again... either or both of us would be glad to come with you and are almost always available. Once again, so very happy for you. You have dealt with enough hardship in your life; you deserved a miracle!

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    1. Amen, Christi! And thank you very much for all of your support. :)

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  7. Honey, it's very easy to 'earn' it as you say...as people say to me all the time: Pass it forward, luv. Pass it forward. I am THRILLED that your baby is home. Sending energy that the bleeding fluid stops. <3

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    1. Thank you, Janalyn. I've been looking at the Special Needs Dobermans website a lot over the past two days. I will probably become a very regular donor to that wonderful organization in order to pay it forward. :)

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  8. Heard about your story from reading the Ramsey and Pablo blog. I'm so that that she's home!

    So far as donations go....sometimes the Internet just works magic, I guess ;)

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  9. Great news that so many people were willing to help out! That is truly amazing! I'm glad that you have one less thing to worry about.

    Jess McCormick

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  10. I to heard your story from Pablo and Ramsey. I'm so happy to hear Lexie is home.
    Keeping you and Lexie in my thoughts and prayers!
    Cindy and Xena the Wonder Dog

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    1. Thank you so much, Cindy! Your pup has a FANTASTIC name, by the way. ;)

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  11. I'm crying reading this. Out of happiness this time, not sadness like the first time I read your posts. She is still an amazingly beautiful and happy looking dog. This is truly an inspiring story, and I am SO happy for you and Lou that everything is turning out fine. Best wishes with everything!

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    1. Awww...thank you so much Kimberley. As much as I hate for our story to upset anyone, I'm so thankful that at least there is a reason for people to cry HAPPY tears now. :)

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  12. I am very thrilled to see that Lexi is home and doing so much better! I think all of us who donated are just happy to see how it is all progressing and were more than happy to help (as most of us have been there, or somewhere like it). I'm glad you had the courage to ask for assistance so some of us who are eager to pay it forward ourselves, could. :-) I hope the bleeding stops very soon and all of you (Lexie, Justin, you, and everyone else close who was helping) rest easy from here on out. Sending love and healing vibes, JMJ

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    1. Thank you very much for your kind words and donation, JMJ. I keep saying this over and over, but I really do wish there was some better way for me to express my gratitude, because a mere "thank you" just doesn't even begin to cover it. I just hope you know how much I appreciate you. :)

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  13. We are absolutely thrilled to hear she has come home and seems to be doing well. I think I would be like you-- worry, worry, even with the vet's reassurances. Wanda from Canada, THANK YOU for your kindness and generosity!!!

    Courtney, thank you for sharing your story and fur babies with us. As one who grew up with Dobermans and have continued to have them, I am so grateful to see how we can help each other, even if it's "just" words of encouragement or understanding.

    Please give some love to Lexie and the others from us! Including our current baby, Emily, a red Doberman.

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    1. Thank you, but unfortunately she was only home for a whopping 11 hours before I had to rush her back to our local ER, then the vet the next morning, and finally back to MedVet that night. You can read about it in my other blog posts, but she is currently awaiting another surgery this coming Wednesday.

      :(

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  14. Someone sent me this nice comment yesterday, but my fat finger accidentally pushed "Delete" instead of "Publish" on my iPhone. So, I'm going to copy and paste:

    Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "She's Home!!!":

    I'm so sorry Lexie had to go back to the ER and that she needs another surgery. Praying for more happy posts to come...would love to hear when she is finally on the mend and back at home. Just wanted to share a word of encouragement. I take my dog to volunteer at a nursing home & one of the other dogs had multiple surgeries that were unsuccessful at saving his eyesight & he is now totally blind. He continues to come & provide pet therapy to the elderly residents. He navigates his way around that nursing home, maneuvering around wheelchairs, med carts & all types of obstacles. And when he is done, he walks out to the parking lot, right to his car, & jumps in his back seat...ALL without hardly being led by his owner. It's amazing! They are so resiliant. They don't let themselves be held back by any self pity...oh the lessons we could learn from dogs! Please take care and don't get discouraged.

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    1. Thank you so much for sharing this little story. It really did make my day, because this is the type of thing that I'm looking forward to experiencing with Lexie. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I have a feeling that this little blind Dobe is going to amaze us once she's all healed and adjusts to her new life. :)

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