Driving with Miss Daisy - An Update

Lots of people have been waiting for a Daisy Mae update.  We recently took a trip to North Carolina to visit family, and do a few other things I either can't or am waiting to talk about.  Don't you love intrigue?  Since Daisy's issues might be a little much for a kennel to appreciate - and that is IF there actually were a kennel available here we decided to take "the girls" with us.  Uh, Trudy and Daisy.  Trudy loves the car - she's an experienced traveler.  She loves, loves, loves her super huge padded bed and we throw it in the back of the SUV and she sleeps.  Daisy, oh crap, that's a dog of a different flavor. 

Trudy and Daisy behind my makeshift barrier in the car.  Ready for the trip!

 

We prepared well for this trip.  Since we were staying with the kids on the farm we went to the vet - we got super dooper tic and flea stuff (NC has more tics than Michigan) and in Daisy's case because she is still in "puppy mode" we decided that she was going to need more, just plain more.  Remember when I cancelled dog obedience when she splayed her legs and we found out about the major hip dysplasia?  Well, we still haven't had that course and she is a spaz when she's out of the yard.  I thought we'd be fine the other day and I let her out of the yard - yup, you guessed it - me, hubby, and several neighbors were out coaxing her back down the block and home again.  Thank goodness for a rural area and no traffic.  That was the incident that tilted me in the direction of an implanted electronic identity marker.  What if she got away and I couldn't catch her?

So, I bought a new harness - she had outgrown her other one and we're off to the vet for the super tic stuff, nails clipped, electronic identification, and to talk about our hip progress.   And, LOL, I had taken a video of her in the car.  Don't get me wrong - she loves the car.....but...  There is Trudy all curled up and happy and then there is Daisy trying to get into the front seat - jumping on Trudy, licking windows, nibbling my husbands ear (and getting air swatted - "Get back there &*%5#!!!.").  I video taped it for the vet.   At  the vets we get out of the car.  Trudy jumps down after she gets her leash on - and out flies the adorable spaz - I thought I had a grip on her - oh hell no - she had chewed through her harness and was FREE.  Out run the vet techs, we're hysterically calling her, and she is oblivious to the traffic (we are now on busy road and not in our neighborhood).  Trudy sensing the panic sits dutifully while we wrangle Daisy.  I am forever thankful that our Daisy is sublimely happy, good natured, and can seem to sense when I'm about to have a heartastroke and gives in to whatever it is that I need from her.  Into the vets we go and the techs give us a room immediately.  No waiting room for who they lovingly call "Crazy Daisy".  She well known there and well loved.

Trudy goes in the back for her spa treatment - cookies and nails.  And then they take Daisy - who strains at her leash - we also had on a collar besides the harness...she's excited to go with her friends while Mom and Dad talk to the vet.  In a few quick moments the vet is called to the back - I sense Ms. Daisy is being a slight handful and they'd like some "guy" arms to assist.  Ah, sweet youth.  Back comes our wonderful vet with our baby girl - who is pulling him all the way and we are cleared to go to NC.  He laughs at the video and decides that Daisy needs the equivalent of Xanax or Valium for her ride. Nothing that will knock her out.  She will be able to get out and pee and drink and so on but she will be sleepy and we are so down with it.  If we found someone to take care of her while we were gone they might not understand how bad that leg actually is (her current musculature hides it pretty darn well) and they might think encouraging her to chase the ball is a good idea (NOT!) - so it's this or stay home.   Staying home was not an option - we've put this trip off for a year to get to this point.  Drugs it is - but we decide not to give her the recommended dosage.  We know we can handle some of Daisy's enthusiasm for being in the car.  We just can't do two seven hour days of it.

Despite the drugs she decided she had to be touching her humans.  Okay, I removed the barrier and she went to sleep.

Off we go to NC on Daisy and Trudy's excellent adventure.  And boy was it.  The kids have three horses, seven cats, and a dog.  They also have 23 blissful acres so we decided we'd try and teach Daisy to come.  Uh, we've improved - but we are definitely not there yet. 


The horses and "the girls" - introductions and carrots all the way around.

 

The fur babies had thee best time.  Daisy thinks cats are a great invention.  She became part of the clowder (a term I just learned from my friend Mallory) and carefully chased after a laser light with them every evening.  She took her turn and no cats were damaged in the games of laser tag.  I've never seen a dog that will chase a laser light - have you?  Daisy and seven cats cheerfully scooting across the front room trying to trap that light.

 

The horses were great fun - Daisy pounced at them until they'd get too close and she's duck back under the fence.  Trudy, well she took up grass chewing along side the oldest of the horses - Sienna (my DIL's therapy horse).  There is even a beautiful creek running through the property and in the heat Daisy decided that trotting up and down the stream and picking up rocks off the bottom was just divine.  She was soaked from stem to stern.  Trudy, she likes water but doesn't really appreciate a good soak without bubbles.  She waded in and found the only hole in the creek...she spent a few quick seconds in a dog paddle and then the "stink eye" commenced, as if we'd pushed her into the hole. 

 

And tug-o-war was a favorite pass time for the three dogs - as they'd trade identical toys they'd just de-stuffed.

Kianja playing tug with Trudy and Daisy

It was a great time for all concerned. 

 

As to the vets impression of her hip.  No, there has been no miracle but there has been incredible improvement.  She is not toe-stepping and she gives the leg and foot full unadulterated normal pressure.  We only have been using her scrips on an "as needed" basis and not frequently.  Since she had the exuberant outburst at the vets and pulled him no matter where she went with him he had a cautionary tale to tell us.  Our plan, take her into Michigan State University and have the hip replaced this fall.  His plan - "not so soon".  I was floored - completed taken off guard.  Jean Wells helped me think this through because my  head was truly wrapped around finishing this quest to make sure Daisy had her hip in place by this winter.  After all she's full size and wasn't that what we were waiting for?  Apparently not all of it.  I guess I should have known this - after having my own knees replaced.  It's not all that easy and requires down time.  In Daisy's case it is going to take 6 weeks on a leash - even with a backyard that is fenced.  Out on the leash even for bathroom duty.  She can not stress the limb in any way, shape, or form while the muscles are adapting to the new instrumentation.  Okay, or so we thought.  NO, says the vet.  Oh shoot me please runs through my head, as we have this bank account with her money in it from all of these generous people who want to help this puppy become and stay "normal".   I relay this to the vet - uh, we've saved and many many people have given of their hard earned money to make this a reality.  He rolls his eyes and says, and I can't quote it exactly because my ears were ringing from a sudden rise in my blood pressure and a panic attack at having my well laid plan disintegrate before my eyes, "She's not ready", he says. 

 

What?

 

And here comes his reasoning.  My reasoning being, "Why not, she's full grown now.  Isn't that what you told me?" "Yes, it is - but, look at her," he says. Uh, duh, what?  And here we go - - - "You can take her to MSU and ask the surgeon if she's now ready for surgery and he is going to say - absolutely - We've got a bad hip here - let's do it."  "Sharon, It's their job to 'cut and cure'.  It's what they do.  It's what all surgeons, human and animal do - but it's not the whole picture."  "Okay," say I, "then what is the whole picture to you - because this dog needs a hip or she's going to grind those bones to dust and get arthritis and be crippled and you said so."  See, I'm livid, panicked, and so many things are running amuck in my brain I'm pretty sure he senses I'm about to melt down...on him.  "That hasn't changed - but you've done what we asked - you carefully worked those back leg muscles into great shape.  She's off her meds, she's not in any chronic pain, she's not toe-stepping, limping or favoring that leg what-so-ever."  I'm like red in the face.  "Thanks, but, what does that have to do with the fact she's GOT to have this hip replaced."  "Well, she's not ready - I just took her in the back and we wrangled her for the implant and walked her and watched her."  "OK, so?..."  "She's a baby, and a spazzy baby - she pulls at a leash like a sled dog or a tractor in a tractor pull."  "OK, yeah?"  "Well, she can't do that - not in a harness or a collar - she's got to be emotionally old enough to just walk on leash because if she doesn't she will pull the hip right out of the joint on the first tug - and she can really tug....she LIKES to tug."  I'm like, really?  Come on now, really?

 

Oh excuse me but all I can think is WTF.  I'm telling you my head was wrapped around a plan - Take the trip to North Carolina - come back to an appointment at MSU and a surgery date.  My apple cart tipped over, they're rolling everywhere and I can't gather the buggers up fast enough to prevent them from being squished by the horses. 

 

So there we are.  Daisy's jumping around the room.  Trudy is calmly sitting between Brian's legs.  And I am struck dumb.  We get in the car and I keep mumbling, "Well, now what?"  Jean and I were in contact and she really helped to talk me through it a bit.  My apples were being squished at an alarming rate but Jean gave it some perspective for me.  Thank goodness.  The money is in the account - the hip will get done - maybe not until spring - maybe not in Michigan (probably, but maybe not).  It's like the army or state civil service - hurry up and wait. 

 

And how is Daisy?  Well, you just heard about her excellent trip.  Did she tug and pull at her leash at every single stop on the way to NC and back.  YUP!  We've got a lot of work to do.

 



Garage Sale -

I've listed some lampwork goodies on Lampwork,etc. in the garage sale area.  So I thought I'd let my lampwork friends know incase they are interested in a new press or something.  I also posted my well-loved but packed away torch on Facebook. 

 

In the case of the beadroller - well, I usually would never sell any press but at some point I misplaced my beadroller and bought another one - since I have not developed octo arms I guess one is enough.  All the proceeds are going into Daisy's account.  So far we are a little less than half the way there so we've got to press on.  If anyone is interested please visit LE or Facebook and let me know.

 

The story of the torch.  It's a Major Bench burner.  I kind of progressed quickly form my hot head but I never much used the "major" part of the burner - just the minor torch at the top - so eventually I was going to retro fit it and talked to Jean from Nortel torches and we were going to retrofit the major into a midrange burner and Nortel sold me the fitting.  Unfortunately that was about the time I found a used Lynx on sale and I switched so I put everything away.  I'm selling the torch and retrofit together so if you purchase it - well, it will be getting like a brand new torch.

 

And here is my Daisy of the Day...she enjoys bringing logs onto the deck.  Good grief!  As if melting snow in the yard wasn't revealing the great "spring fling it into the woods" clean up.  Why oh why doesn't that stuff melt!

 

So much sun outside I might need sunglasses - this is Michigan - we are Vampires in the sun and all squinty!

 

 

An overdue story and our "new normal"

It's been a rough week.  Well, maybe that is the understatement of all time here.  To do this I am going to have to back this story up almost seven years.  It will help to explain the anguish we are feeling here in this house at the moment over our puppy.  If you can not handle a sad tale you should probably stop here - right now, it's not too uplifting.  I do promise if it gets that way (happier) and I will post that too.  This part of the background is bad - but it could be worse and you thank the heavens for small favors - I have - I do - and I am grateful beyond belief.

Since I have never told this tale and only a few close friends know of the ordeal he (darling husband) went through I figured this post ought to have the background as to why what is happening to Daisy is so upsetting on so many levels.  Even friends don't have all the down and dirty details and it would take a book I'm not allowed to write to put them here.

So lets start in 2008/2009.  That was the year my husband had a debilitating pain down his right leg while participating in an art show near Grand Rapids.  My DH was a master toymaker - sold his toys all over the country at the finest of art fairs and wholesaled them to fine baby shops.  At the time, Little Seed - (Soleil Moon Frye's baby store in LA) and a beautiful upscale shop in Toronto.  Several others I can not remember.  He maintained a large studio facility behind our home - air conditioned and heated.   Not a factory by any means but not fly by night either.  An artist's wood working studio.  That's the background. 

Daisy, getting "Dad" out into the sun

This pain was so severe he called home.  He could barely rise from his chair and was not sure if he would make through the weekend.  Family (son's/ daughter/ myself) were all ready to run to his aid.  He asked us to delay this - what a prideful person he can be.  We were lucky as he had lots of friends (other artists) at the show who aided him all weekend and helped him to pack up following the show.

On Monday I phoned our physician and we ran to her office.  The pain was excruciating and they immediately put him on major pain modifiers while they ran tests.  The pain killers didn't do much to modify the pain (I understand medication - 23 years as a substance abuse counselor will do that - and he was on the "big" ones).  This particular man was used to wielding large amounts of hardwood and was quite physically fit.  Also no wimp and not a complainer.  He's a fellah without the grace of a grand education but gifted with talents for building with wood, creativity, and much much more.  I am a lucky girl.  My father called him, "a man's man".  He meant he is a great husband, father, and person.  I couldn't agree more.

After a great deal of testing (this saga started at the end of September 2008) we ended up at a neuro-surgeon.  There was a bone fragment that had calcified near a nerve and needed removal immediately.  That surgeon was to do that surgery.  Then, supposedly, he fell and dislocated his shoulder and could not do the surgery and we were referred to his partner.  The partner declared that the aforementioned surgery would do no long term good to relieve DH's chronic back pain and recommended a spinal fusion.  It was now nearing the end of November.  

Daisy, taking up permanent residence in Trudy's heart too.

After two full months of that kind of pain you'd give up your house to have it repaired.  Remember, all this time he is in a blur of medication.  He can barely walk or sit - clear thinking and relief              is no where in sight for him.  He just wants the agonizing pain to stop, by any means necessary. 

We schedule the surgery - It is in the first week of November.  It IS supposed to have nearly immediate results in the pain level.  That didn't happen...it worsened.  We told nurses at the hospital something was wrong - told the doctor.  Refused physical therapy more than one day.  No one much listened.   Upon release from the hospital we visited our family physician who was becoming alarmed.  Mid-stream of retesting and being "blown off" by the surgeon who did the operation DH developed a blood clot in the leg.  We had also gotten emergency CT scans and so on - these were sent to our physician as well as the neurosurgeon.   At an appointment in December she (family doc) literally took me by the lapels on my jacket and told me we needed a new neuro-physician and needed them NOW.  DH was still in the hospital with the clot. 

She began the process of searching for a physician who would take his case.  Luckily, my daughter-in-law works at one of the finest hospitals in Michigan...Henry Ford.  Literally, no one wanted to touch someone else's work (the surgery).  But, DIL knew people - who knew people and they were going to move DH from the hospital he was in to Henry Ford.  When the hospital he was in found out - well, voila - near immediate discharge.  And then an immediate (next morning) appointment at Ford's. 

The first surgeon at HF paled at the sight of the scans and info.  He asked us to hold on while he conferred with a colleague.  Turned out the colleague was the head of neuro-trauma surgery and asked to take the case.  He asked how my DH felt about being admitted to the hospital - immediately.  We were relieved to have someone who actually could see the urgency of the situation.  It's now December.  We've now three months worth of agony.  He was admitted right then and given a room.  Five days later, despite the clot (a filter was inserted to prevent a future clot) they opened up his back a second time.

Insurance, I think, is a heavenly gift if you are lucky enough to have a job that provides it.  I did and kept working.  Used up sick days and vacation as we progressed through this maze of appointments and hospitalizations but kept moving - - - you have to keep moving.

It's the second spinal surgery in just over one months time.  I am told to expect my husband to be in that operating room from 4 to 12 hours.  They would not know how bad the damage was until they were in there and would be altering their surgery as they went for the most optimum outcome.  They talk like that, don't they?  Surgery ran over five hours.  When they came out we found out some grim news.  DH had been within days of possibly being paralyzed.  To quote the doctor he felt as if he had just witnessed a miracle.  Two out of three pedicle screws were inserted wrong into the cage and one had traversed the spinal canal.  It creased the thecal sac on one side and trapped the nerve that runs through it on the other.   It was a miracle it had not severed that nerve or pierced the thecal sac.

They removed the "medical debris" and since there had been some healing and the spine could support itself he was to remain on a steady path to his "new" recovery.   They also reported some foreign substance had been used between the discs and had caused other bulging that they repaired.  It was stated to us they didn't know what it was and they thought they ought to since they are a teaching hospital. They thought they should of seen this material before...they were baffled.  From this point on we began a very arduous journey.

And how did that new recovery go?  We deal with what we call the "new normal".   The nerve is damaged - irrevocably to the end of time and the spinal column is forever damaged.  DH can not lift, walks bent over.  During this we cancelled art shows and contracts with those businesses.  We sold our remaining stock on Etsy.  It's been what - five years now.  He spent nearly three trying to recover.  Lots of time and PT -  moving from walker to cane to walking.  We are enormously grateful for that and to Henry Ford Hospital and it's wonderful Health System.  You thank God for the blessings you are given not the shortcomings you are left with - right? 

I should maybe explain the new normal a bit.   Our dream was for me to retire and us to take the business around the country to visit locales and have a wonderful time.  Plans change.  Even now he can not walk the length of a Walmart without the aid of a shopping cart.  The pain will overwhelm him if he tries - he walks slightly stooped.   There is no going back to work, recovery is over, pain is a fact of everyday life, there will be no new career (too many maintenance medications).  He sleeps in a hospital style bed that never sits flat.  An improvement over the old front room recliner he slept in for a long time.  So much continuing medication it can be mind boggling and at times, for him, it is.  Total per month with insurance - about $200.  Without it would be thousands.

But, again - we are lucky.  Our home is now free and clear and we have that insurance.  Comparatively, in this world, things could be worse.  We are grateful they are not.

Now, I know you are going to want to ask - did we sue - yes.  That took about five years.  A lot happens in that amount of time - we will talk about that.  Did we " make out like bandits" from that suit?  No, we did not.  It is less than I would have made working for two years (a whole different chapter) but it caught up outstanding bills, and so on.  You do what you have to do, right? 

So here we are with the "new normal" and we had begun the adjustment.   Sorry - legal issues preclude me from giving details beyond what I have said.  We live in a don't tell system and are bound by that.  I can't and won't.  Makes me think of the military during don't ask - don't tell.  You have to think to yourself - ah, just who was that set up to help?  Please, there are plenty of things to feel bad about in this world so do not grieve for this too.  We did the best we could under an awful set of circumstances and have spent a great deal of time moving forward.

And this bring us to 2011 - huh, I better get a move on with this story of mine...maybe tomorrow.