[Dailydrool] Update on my Blueberry!

[Hinchliffe at aol.com]

BLUEBERRY ATE TWO CHEESEBURGERS!!!
 
Now let me explain why this is such joyous -- and truly miraculous  -- news.
 
I posted here in anguish after her devastating diagnosis -- that her  kidneys 
weren't working.  First of all, there is no way that I can put into  words 
here how much the incredible loving support of our Daily Drool family  meant to 
me.  Those first agonizing nights when I couldn't sleep, the  e-mails poured 
in, embracing Blueberry and me in your caring and understanding  and love.  I 
printed them all out and read them over and over and over, and  they calmed me 
and soothed me and gave me an anchor and hope and a giant,  protective e-hug.
 
(And although other people here wondered why we were having such a rainy  
spring -- I knew it was all the Drool being sent Blueberry's way!)
 
Well, for almost five weeks following the initial acute onset of  symptoms 
and her subsequent four-day hospitalization and  diagnosis, Blueberry just 
would't eat AT ALL.  I don't mean  picky.  I mean she would eat absolutely nothing. 
 I tried  everything.  I cooked her all of her human favorites.  I tried  
tempting her in any desperate way I could think of.  She wouldn't take even  the 
tiniest bit of her favorite chicken, or pound cake, or oatmeal cookies, or  
doughnuts from her favorite bakery, anything.

Up until that horrible week  when she got sick, she had always been my sturdy 
little dirigible, eating  everything she could find, happily and constantly. 
It just broke my heart to see  her reject everything.  

What astonished me was the reaction of the vets.  They offered no hope  or 
help.  The ones at the hospital said to maybe not even take her  home.  The 
local one, who has known her since she was a baby, said to give  up on her right 
then.  No suggestions on other approaches, meds, tricks to  help her eat, etc.
 
After my first DD posting, along came my angel -- Tawny.  In memory of  her 
dear Oakley, she gave me not only understanding comfort, but guided me to an  
incredible online support group.  
 
That group -- and therefore Tawny who led me to them -- literally saved  
Blueberry's life.
 
These wonderful people gave me so many suggestions -- from sub-q (under the  
skin) fluids daily that I can administer myself, to anti-nausea meds and  
appetite enhancers I insisted my vet prescribe.  They taught me how to  prepare a 
special mixture of food in a blender and then four times a day syringe  it 
into her mouth, holding it shut until she swallowed, so that she could get  
nutrients.  They shared secrets of foods to keep her going -- everything  from baby 
food to Ensure.
 
For five weeks, five long weeks, these people, and a host of meds and  
feeding attempts, were the only thing that kept my Blueberry going.

In the meantime, frustrated and disappointed and alone at sea after the  
reaction of the local vets, I researched and found a kidney specialist --  that's 
all she does! -- at a vet school halfway across the state.   We've been out 
there twice and it's made a huge difference -- she's  matter-of-fact, positive, 
takes time to explain EVERYTHING.  She changed  and added amazing meds and 
treatments, and gave Blueberry new food and  suggestions.  I didn't even know 
such a thing existed -- why didn't my vet  or the hospital vets suggest it when I 
begged them for any other options?
 
Then, finally, the miracle, truly a miracle -- BLUEBERRY ATE  TWO 
CHEESEBURGERS!!  
 
It made me giddy with joy!
 
Every time we've passed McDonald's I've stopped and tried to interest her  in 
her very favorites, but she was just too sick to even try a taste.  So  it's 
an absolute miracle that she ate -- and loved it, and didn't get sick  
afterwards!  
 
And she's prancing and dancing and wagging that furry butt and gaining  
weight and yelling at the mailman and playing with her yorkie boyfriend and  
chasing squirrels -- what a dream that was to see again! -- I can't tell  you how 
I've cried with joy and relief!
 
 
And as I'm typing this, through the living room window she spotted a  strange 
Golden Retriever on "her" street, so she leaped off the couch and raced  out 
onto the porch and onto the chaise, where (in very unladylike  language) she 
told him in no uncertain terms to go away!!!

I'm  overwhelmed with joy!!!

Just wanted to share this with you wonderful  people -- you have been such 
treasured comforts and supports through this  devastating time.  No-one else 
will understand how much this means -- but I  know that you will. You are my very 
special family.

So, that's our update ... the first five weeks were devastating, and a  
battle (for both of us) every minute of every day, just hanging in, praying  she'd 
even wake up the next morning.  (Too many nights she was so sick  I was afraid 
she wouldn't.)  Now we went on two walks today, and she ran  over, tail 
wagging, to greet every person and dog we passed!  And she can't  wait each day for 
her stop at McDonald's, or my homemade meatloaf and angel food  cake, or 
whatever new treat I can think of.
 
The condition is still there, of course, and I know it will be a battle  
every day of her life.  And she still won't eat her dinners by herself,  though I 
am able to progress to spooning the mush in her mouth instead  of syringeing 
it.
 
But I have my Berry girl back!!  And I can hug her and hold her and  cherish 
every minute, and rejoice in her and rejoice in today and rejoice  in what is 
truly a miracle.
 
And we both rejoice in the loving support of our treasured Daily Drool  
family.  Thank you, thank you, all you wonderful, dear friends.  You  mean so much 
to me, and to Blueberry.
 
Love to all,
Beth and the woofing, cheeseburger-eating Blueberry ("Where are the car  
keys?  Let's go to McDonald's!!!")
 






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