Before proceeding, I cannot say thank you enough for all of your kind words & support - I have read & re-read them, each one a mini-life buoy amid some seriously rough seas. I even read your well-wishes to Solo, I think he definitely appreciated them (
at least he appreciated that I cannot read to him & squirt nasty medications in his mouth at the same time).
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| Normal is an unbelievable treasure |
Posting delays inevitably result as I struggle to fit work, which forced me to travel last week, & 8-hr intervals of equine nursing duties into days with insufficient hours. But I can tell you that Solo is home. Beautifully, wonderfully, shiny-ly (
it's a word now) home.
He's gone back for his first hospital follow-up, during which we got to get rid of the catheters that had been keeping the abscess drain tracts open. The endoscope revealed much healing & no additional signs of new infection, which was a first...& a very welcome one.
We've just finished (
I hope) the course of antibiotics. I am flushing those tracts daily & he has to stay on a special gastric medication until his albumin levels return to normal, as he developed some colitis in the hospital due to the combined stress & intensive pain management medications.
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| Home. Free. |
But Solo is feeling good. He looks fantastic. Grazing with Encore, napping in the shade, rolling heartily after a tasty meal - all without my having to tape his head together anymore (
perhaps I will be able to show you all the phases in a future missive). He gets to be a horse. And while I am physically, mentally, & emotionally exhausted, while we still have hurdles to clear & work to do, this is a very very very good thing.
Because when I look out my window, I see what I feared lost, so many times, on so many trips to Raleigh, in so many hours with that cold vise of fear around my chest. I see all the best parts of me embodied in a chestnut larger than his own life:
A Haiku For Hope
Softly shines again
That heart who defines for me
Every part of Home.
I am so, so glad your big red guy is home and on the mend. I'm waiting for a general quote from Virginia Tech about my Vannah. Her squamous cell carcinoma is going again, sadly. If I can figure out the finances, I want to get her over to VT to see the vet school people. Like you, I've had many sleepless nights worrying. May we both have better days ahead! Hugs to you, my friend :)
ReplyDeleteOh no, blue! Many hugs back and I hope VT gets back to you soon. I know some folks up there in endangered species propagation and pathology, but unfortunately only related to aquatic creatures. The financial part is so brutal on top of the worry, we are here if you need a shoulder. I don't think I can buy food until 2019, and we still have at least 2 more follow ups and meds, so Solo is getting stern lectures about finishing healing already. Hang in there, Vannah!
DeleteThey had an opening for today, but it wasn't enough time for me to get her hauled over. Urgh. They were going to call me back with dates farther off and a general cost outlook, but nothing yet. I will have to call them one day this week. And then I'm sure I will go into sticker shock. Blink blink...
DeleteHope you have been able to find a schedule spot! If you need to feel better about sticker shock, rest assured you have company. Let me know how it goes, thinking of you both.
DeleteYour blog waa the one that started me reading years ago.... Definitely before you got encore. I'm so happy this all worked out for the best ��
ReplyDeleteSo very kind and I thank you!
DeleteSO pleased and excited to read this update! :)) I can imagine how joyous it is to see him grazing out your window once again. It means everything. Welcome home, Solo - keep healing and eating and rolling and playing with your brother and filling your mom's eyes with your handsome presence! <3
ReplyDeleteA beautiful and sorely missed sight indeed. From your keyboard to his ears I hope!
DeleteGreat to hear that he is home!
ReplyDeleteGreat news!!
ReplyDeleteBEST PHOTO EVER!!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so relieved for you! Wishing smooth sailing from here out!
ReplyDeleteShiny-ly, at last! Wonderful news.
ReplyDeleteThis made my heart happy. I love the haiku.
ReplyDeleteHee, glad you enjoyed it - it's not very inspired but it popped in my head while I was watching him graze, maybe Solo sent it to me. ;)
DeleteVery happy this whole episode has a good ending, enjoy that shiny-ly chestnut!
ReplyDeleteSo glad he's doing better and able to come home!
ReplyDeleteThis whole thing is terrifying and I am so glad to hear a positive update. Fingers crossed for a full recovery and return to normal for all of you <3
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad to hear that Solo is home!
ReplyDeleteYay! so happy for you both :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, and yes, Dom, the scariest part has been that so much of it has been things I couldn't do anything about. It is a truly terrible feeling of helplessness to be standing next to your friend, knowing he's asking you for help, and being unable to do anything but brush him & try to cry quietly so as not to disturb him.
ReplyDeleteWe go back next Monday for 2nd check. I hope hope hope we get to stay calm and completely and utterly boring.
Aww, so happy hes home!
ReplyDeleteYeah! My farrier has a mare who had an abcess by her pancreas...the first vet wrote the mare off, but because she is nursing and his disabled son's mare (and a puppy dog personality), once the abcess broke (and really made the mare smell) they got a second opinion and she is on antibiotics and hopefully will survive...but what a battle. Good to here Shiny is home!
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear! It is certainly a battle, we are still working on ours, but even small steps move towards something better. We hope and hope..
DeleteSoo happy solo is feeling better. I remember reading about him from the equisearch forum and this blog as well and was so sad to read your previous post. Many well wishes from VodkasMom and Malibu ��
ReplyDelete<3 You gave me goosebumps - the good kind - when I saw your name and Malibu's...hugs to you both and gratitude for sharing in the story of the force of life and love that is Solo.
DeleteHow is the red team doing?
ReplyDeleteSolo is doing really well - we've had an unexpectedly eventful winter with other crazy things, but I hope I can get an update here soon. Thanks so much for checking in and sorry for being a terrible updater!
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