The parvo puppy is still hanging in. Every day he survives is a victory, and I’m allowing myself to feel optimistic for the first time since he was admitted.
On the second day he was hospitalized, he was struggling. The plasma transfusion we performed had been minimally helpful. So once again, I pulled a Hail Mary and called in the quarterback.
He’s so big now, and the wee pup so small, I barely needed anything to get enough for a blood transfusion. Fresh whole blood has some majorly nice goodies in it- antibodies, white blood cells, red blood cells. Brody was very good. He trusts me and my team, even though we did something uncomfortable. We made it up to him, promise.
I normally wouldn’t have fallen sucker to the lure of the 5 ton rawhide bone, but it’s Christmas, and you have to admit for a puppy only 7 months old Brody has done a lot of good in this world to deserve it.
A couple of weeks ago, I saw the last puppy I used Brody to transfuse. She is three times the size she was back then, happy and shiny and wiggly. Like this puppy, she had a whole lot of negative prognostic indicators that should have meant her demise. The dog we have now is in even worse shape, practically and statistically speaking, but if you think about that too much you give up too soon.
I got a wee bit emotional on Christmas Eve thinking about the universe and the role we all play in it, hoping against hope that lightning will indeed strike twice and I will be lucky enough to pull off something that I shouldn’t be able to.
And by “I”, I mean everyone- the owners who agreed to let us try, knowing the odds were 50/50 at best and committing to pay to treat this puppy they have owned for 4 days. My team, who sat with the puppy doing a multitude of treatments, keeping him warm, talking to him, and coming in on Christmas to do all of this. And my bosses, who gave me lots of helpful advice on the case and never once suggested I recommend these owners throw in the towel.
I asked for a few things this Christmas- a nice scarf, a sweet Santoku knife (seriously, every house should have one) but more than anything I asked for something even Santa couldn’t bring: on this day, if only for a moment, please make Kevin stay at home.
And he did. I do not know what tomorrow brings, but today continued to bring hope, and that is more than I thought I would have. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Hoping the best for that puppy, and big paws to Brody for his efforts! Thank you too for being the kind of person who signs up for the hard cases, and sees these dogs through.
much love and Merry Christmas!-
Bridget Pilloud
Merry Christmas to you Doctor V! Give Brody a hug from all of your followers, you two make an awesome team 🙂
I sometimes think that Brody coming into your life was written in the stars, some things are just meant to be. Either that or you have a furry Emmett shaped angel watching over you.
Hope you and your family had a great Christmas Dr V, hugs to the Brodester 🙂
Merry Christmas, Brody, Dr. V and the whole V family! You help me believe in Christmas miracles. (And the santoku knife is awesome…)
What wonderful Christmas news. Super Brody to help try to save the day again. He is a wonderful, Christmas angel.
Merry Christmas to you too! Last night in the ER was a nightmare, but I survived. I’m so glad to hear your parvo Christmas miracle is still fighting. My Christmas miracle went home the day before Christmas eve. That bunny really should have died. My boss and I pulled him back literally from the grasp of Kevin’s icy fingers. It remnided me that I really should always keep fighting, even when the odds are against you, because when you win, it feels really, really good 🙂
such beautiful words and images! i have you to thank for my tear-stained cheeks before i head off to work! 🙂
Merry Christmas! I’m really glad that Brody was able to help this other little guy and I am hoping for a full and speedy recovery for him. And I’m completely with you on the santoku knife thing–it was the first thing I bought for my new apartment.
Hooray for Super Brode and hooray for you. It really does seem like Brody was brought into your life for a very special reason. Sophie, Oscar, and I continue to send up prayers for the little guy, and I asked Bailey to watch over him too. Please keep us posted!
Kudos to you and Brody, working on your own Christmas miracle.
Here’s hoping!
Pssst, you’re featured on phetched today!
wow thats a huge bone for Brody but he deserves it after all. Prayers and hugs to you , Brody and the little pup. Keep us posted.
Where did you get that bone? I’m trying to find one that’s larger than 24″