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We Are Flying Solo

July 23, 2017

Not The Solo Update I Wanted To Post

Solo has been fighting for his life over the past five weeks at the NC State University Large Animal Hospital.

After all this time since the last post (if there is anyone still out there reading, bless you), I wanted to tell you about how he recovered from his tendon bows & went back to frolicking with joy with his big-little "brother" in the fields.  Because he did.

Feeling good yesterday in the "horse-pital" paddock
But in mid-June, following a horrific series of emergency vet calls & midnight vigils, I had to take him in to hospital in Raleigh for an emergency admission.  When it began on a Thursday evening, we thought it was an allergic reaction, but the next Tuesday, we discovered he has an extremely rare infection of one salivary gland.

As in, this is only the 2nd case they have seen on the Soft Tissue service in 15 years.

We will never know the exact cause, it can be anything that irritates the opening of the gland under the tongue, a grass seed, a piece of food, a...?  Like any injury in the mouth, once there is an opening, all the bacteria which normally live in your gut & the soil & the world, get into spaces they are not supposed to be.  The result was large, infected abscesses that are still draining through two surgical incisions under his jaw.

To say it has been a difficult road would be a gross understatement.  Two weeks ago, we were having the conversation about euthanasia, twice.  Solo, however, has remained true to his nature:  his heart defies the limitations suggested by his body.  I drove to Raleigh twice expecting to have to say goodbye to my best friend, but Solo shocked us all & said no, he was far from done.

I do have photos of the progression of the drain tracts, infection, & incredible healing, but they are extremely graphic, so I will not post them directly without a warning (I could link them, but the site I used to use for that no longer offers that service).  I drove home many times after helping with treatments, covered in blood, pus, necrotic tissue, & steeped in reeking anaerobic bacteria. 

Packed main drainage incision last weekend, looking really good
Today, I watched my horse hang out in a paddock, graze on clover, talk to his horsey neighbours, & enjoy a good roll.  It was a gift beyond measure that brought the good kind of tears to my eyes as I smelled his warm fur in a hug.  Even more so because there have been far too many of the other kind of tears in the past month.

He is very close to being able to come home:  as soon as the drainage tract no longer requires packing, I can take over his care.  He is feeling like himself again, fat, sassy, no pain meds for the past week, & eating & pooping & drinking well.

The most difficult part is the currently impossible financial situation, made even more complex because this entire thing has been once of uncertainly & creeping increments.  With no case history in the scientific literature, we had no way of predicting how things would go.  With stutters & complications, there have not been any big "opportunities" to have any kind of budget plan (if that is even possible with horse anything).  And now, we are beyond invested, better beyond expectation, & cannot risk attempts at short cuts. 

I haven't figured that part out yet.  I am enormously grateful to kind contributions made by our wonderful friend, Erica, & my mom.  Huge thanks to my neighbour, who has been sheltering Encore during all of this.  Whenever I get half a chance to breathe between this & the busiest time of year at work, I will have to look into options, as I've already put my own medical care & everything else short of electricity & fuel on hold.

I get the best people
There aren't words to encompass my gratitude towards the incredible team who worked alongside us with compassion, insight, phenomenal communication, respect, & sheer brilliance:
  • Drs. Timo Prange & Callie Fogle
  • Drs. Alex Fowler, Laura Marley, Kelly Shaw & Arlie Manship
  • Solo's Interns - George, Megan, & Emily (& now Leland) 
As well as all the techs & hospital staff going out of their way to give Solo baths, scratches, treats, hold his food when it hurt too much to eat off the ground, take him for walks, & so much more...

This is not something that I would do for any horse, nor has it been embarked upon lightly.  But I have never in my many years among horses &  people, experienced a relationship like this one.  Solo is 21, but looks half that; he remains strong, healthy, & even his student interns have noted his determination & enthusiasm for living.

If Solo had told me he was done fighting, I would have let him go, that was a promise I made to him long ago.  And a responsibility of care that I have carried out for other beloved friends when it was time.  But he didn't.  And he has always been there for me, even through the darkest time of my life that defied expression.  He quite literally saved my life.

So as long as there is breath in me, I will be there for him.  And I will do everything I can to return the favour.  

30 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness. How scary and overwhelming. I have never heard of such an infection! I imagine most people have not! I mean wow. Many hugs your way, and good wishes to Solo!

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  2. Oh my heart breaks for you- that must have been so scary. I'm glad that he's on the road to recovery!

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  3. I had been wondering about you and your boys recently. Sorry things have been so scary, but happy to hear that you and Solo are hanging in there!

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  4. I'm so sorry for you both!! Wishing all the healing thoughts your way

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  5. Oh lady!!! What a horrible time to go through. How hard this all must have been/must be. Solo has been (for the 5 years I've read your blog) an eventing inspiration and now he's a medical one too. Sending love and hugs to you both and all the support you can handle.

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  6. Very, very sorry that Solo and you had to go through this, y'all are a couple of tough cookies. I know you can't wait to have him home. Wishing all the best! Keep us updated!

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  7. I'm so sorry you guys are going through this. Sending healing thoughts to both of you. (((hugs)))

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  8. What a terrifying ordeal! So relieved to hear solo is recovering after all that. He's lucky to have you fighting for him!

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  9. Of course we are still here, waiting for the latest news!
    So glad to hear your journey with Solo is not over, and that he has you in his corner. Best healing wishes to him, and hopes that the financial stuff will ease up.

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  10. That is so very scary, but I'm glad to hear he's out of the woods. Hugs to both of you!

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  11. I'm so sorry to hear that y'all have had such a intense, crazy scare. Solo is a special horse and a fighter, and personally having had horses at the vet school I know he's in the best of hands. Wishing y'all the best!

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  12. I'm so glad he's feeling better! Best wishes for a speedy recovery and homecoming :)

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  13. Oh my goodness, y'all, thank you so much for all your kind and supportive words and for taking the time to read this! snifflehugs

    Solo apparently heard me type that post and decided he was not done enjoying barn air conditioning yet, so unfortunately, he developed a new abscess pocket which we discovered this morning. :-( It was not overly large and is connected to the primary abscess at its base, so it will drain out the same opening and we hope we can continue to move forward, albeit slower than the already existing turtle crawl. Which is still better than a stop.

    It wasn't all bad, I was there for the scope check and much of the tissue inside his gutteral pouch and mouth looks worlds better. We are apparently just going to have to hang in there for more fits and spurts of bacteria which have spent literal eons perfecting the art of survival in hostile environments. Because my feelings for them are definitely hostile.

    Thank you all so much again for your overwhelming kindnesses, you have no idea what a welcome gift that is amidst this storm. <3

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  14. I'm a long time lurker, but I had to pop in to say keep going, you're making good decisions, and when the bill comes, please let us readers help. I've admired you and your ponies for a long time. You write so well, and I feel very involved, though it's been awhile since you've posted. That wasn't supposed to sound like criticism, I cherish the small glimpses you give us.
    Keep strong. Rely on us when you can.
    Lex

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    1. That is so wonderfully sweet and generous of you, Lexie. And the latter part not taken critically at all. Thank you.

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  15. Oh my God, I'm so very sorry to hear this. I'm glad that you are in a positive place now, but that is so utterly terrifying. I'll be thinking of you both.

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  16. oh no, sending you and Solo lots of good vibes!! Get well soon Solo and hang in there xx

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  17. Oh my goodness!! This is crazy, but my Aunt and Uncle had something similar happen with a dog of theirs (rare infection, never been seen by the special teaching hospital, few recorded cases). Unfortunately his was in his spine so they had to say goodbye. You and Solo are deep in my thoughts and what a lucky horse is he to have a person like you.

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  18. Thank you to each of you very much. I'm so sorry about your family's dog, L. Williams, infections in these difficult places are heart-wrenching. I've been passing on all of your good wishes to Solo!

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  19. Solo has true grit (and so do you). I wish you both well for his continued recovery.

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  20. Was concerned when you disappeared...even stalked you a bit. Poor Solo. I hope the next news is great news!

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    1. Awwe, thank you, I feel very honoured to have been deemed worth stalking effort, truly! <3

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    2. Only on Facebook...the land of the stalkers!

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  21. What a fighter and a brave boy! Thinking about both of you and wishing him good luck on a speedy recovery

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  22. I have no words to convey my sympathy and support, praying for you both. ������

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  23. I'm so sorry to hear about Solo! Sending good vibes your way and a speedy recovery!

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  24. Thank you all very much for the kind words! I want to post a good update, but we are monitoring a few things that I'm terrified to even tempt fate with. Solo has improved a lot and sends his thanks as well!!

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  25. Brena, I cannot tell you how glad I am that your Best Boy is hanging in there through all of this (and that the tendons healed, too). I was a stalker too and just glad to hear from you at all! You have a loyal fan group here who truly care about you and your ponies. Sending ((hugs)) to you and all healing thoughts to Solo. <3

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  26. Oh gosh, Brena, what an ordeal in every sense of the word. I've been thinking about you and popped over to the blog to check on things, was I ever surprised by the current developments! You are an incredible horseman, kind and generous and patient. Every possible healing vibe I can send your way I'm sending.

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  27. So terribly sorry to hear of this ordeal you are both going through. Sending all of the positive vibes to you and Solo!

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