Jack Russell Story Jack Russell Story
Story Name: Patch Beats the Odds
From: Maureen Lyons
My Jack Russell Story:
I have a previous story up here, "Patch and the Ocean". She has a newer. more dramatic story to tell. My little gal, Patch, will be coming home from a MONTH's stay at the vet's on Monday, 5/12. On 4/13, she went in severe shock for no apparent reason while being babysat by her honorary "grandparents", my neighbors, a retired doctor and his wife. The doctor recognized shock and being an experienced dog owner, whisked Patch to the animal emergency hospital in nearby Aston, Pa. There it was determined that she had - in all likelihood - a congenital diaphragmatic hernia, i.e. her tummy bits were working through the hole to her respiratory bits. An operation was imperative once (if) she recovered from shock. So, at 3am on Mon 4/14, the determined vet went to work. It was worse than expected as her spleen was up by her lung and there was some doubt that she ever had any capacity in that lung! Well, she made it through the operation, minus one spleen, a resectioned bit of intestine, and a stitched up diaphragm. The prognosis was very grim. I picked her up at 7 a.m. and took her to her own vet here in WIlmington, De. He looked horrified. Well, to make this long story short, her complete recovery was based on keeping her confined - no activity - for at least 4 weeks, in order to assure that the internal stitches healed. Keep in mind we are talking about a JRT! So, she became Queen of Lovering Avenue! I visited her 3 - 4 times a week, took nibbles and favorite foods and people, a 'blankie'.... you get the picture. Her last X-Ray, today, showed nearly total healing, enough for her to be released! Her vet said "The little dog was too brave to die", and remarked how truly amazing her recovery was. She is much loved here in her neighborhood (there are yellow ribbons tied to doorlamps etc) . I've written this long story simply to let you know about the very special nature of our wonderful dogs.