FINALLY.
I feel that tomorrow (Thursday) might be our (mine and MamaTess’) lucky day!
The podiatrist specialist from our very excellent Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center is actually leaving the hospital and coming to the ranch to treat Tess at 10am.
When the Director of the Loomis Basin Equine Medical Center, Langdon Fielding, called to tell me the news, I almost reached through the phone and noogied him…! I never thought he would offer one of his vets to come all the way up here!
As some of you might remember, my Aladdin spent 3 months in Intensive Care at this same hospital. It was during the final hour when Aladdin was clearly dying that Dr. Langdon Fielding – in a last ditch effort – acted on a hunch and gave Aladdin a drug he thought might work… and it did!
I wrote about that experience here. “A disease so rare and my horse had it…”.
Sadly, however, a year later, Aladdin passed. But, I have always felt that Langdon gave me an extra year with my boy. Forever grateful.
So… when he called last night and said that ‘we had a long standing history’ and that he would be more than happy to send podiatry specialist Dr. de la Cruz to Tess on Thursday, I actually yelped.
Hubby came running.
“I’m OK, I’m OK – I’m just happy!!!”, I squealed!
Today is MamaTess’ big day! The Specialist is coming and whatever she needs, she will get.
THE WHOLE SCHEBANG!
Dr. de la Cruz will take Xrays (inject dye if he needs to) and then proceed with whatever support or trimming she may need (she needs a trim for several reasons but I don’t trust anyone to do it anymore…). He will also use his big brain to help with a protocol.
Whatever Tess needs, she shall have.
I’m really very hopeful.
And, I think MT knows… I ran down to the barn last night to tell her and she seemed as excited as I was. I know she is in pain (she needs her soles/bars to be trimmed) and I also know that she is stoic and maintaining. Tonight when I fed her I reiterated that tomorrow was her big day!
She nickered, as always, and asked for more food – as always.
I do not think the Doc will tell me that all is lost. I think he will tell me that this is bad, but that if I am willing, he is willing.
At least that is my hope.
Dr. Langdon Fielding is my hero. He arranged for the specialist to come to Tess’ stall. So kind.
FROM THE INSIDE OUT…
Also, I spoke to an equine nutritionist who will help me deal with rebuilding Tess from the inside out. Clearly she has been on drugs for a long time and she needs boosters for her own system to rebuild.
And, I want to get to the source of this founder. I want to know the imbalance that caused it. Is it merely Metabolic Syndrome or is it much deeper.
If we are lucky enough to fix her feet, I want to also fix her on the inside.
The nutritionist has a hunch and is running tests…
To be honest, if the nutrition works for Tess, I am going to hire this gal to fix me, too. From what we have surmised so far, we believe Tess may have Lyme Disease – just as I do.
Odd but true… The nutritionist had no idea that I suffer Lyme and Sjogrens.
But, I’ll tell you what – If she helps my horse, I’m next in line.
Crossing fingers and HERE WE GO!
This was MamaTess tonight as I told her all about her big day tomorrow!
MORE PICS OF HOPE
I published yesterday’s story of Hope’s success before I received even more new photos of Hope. So, here they are today!
Do you remember Hope? She went from this… to the below pics after surgery!
This is Hope’s buddy, Dom, who only has one eye… he was adopted with Hope (as a best buddy pair) from Alder Hill.
Beautiful grazing.
Hope also hangs with the minis.
Big, happy family. There are 12 horses that live here. Nice.
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