Honey Update!!

[The Berry Oaks Doodle Ranch]

Honey is in the most capable and and loving arms of Dr. Beam and his staff in Alvarado, Texas.  I spent some time with her before his staff took her in the back.  They explained she would have her surgery by Friday or Monday at the latest.  She then will begin a grueling and painful, for the first several weeks, 4-8 week rehabilitation.  Dr. Beam's assistant explained that because she is young it will probably be no more than 6 weeks and may be even quicker.  That is good news.

Before I departed his office to start back to Savannah I asked if I could see her again.  They took me back through their incredible facility to their kennels.  She was standing there in her large kennel with her favorite sleeping rug and her toys, but looking forlorn and confused.  I sat with her and held her through the kennel while she licked my ears, also known as Doodle Kisses.  I promised I would come back for her soon.  I then left.  It was not a good.....for me.

After regaining my composure I headed toward Savannah making it to Minden, LA before stopping for the night.  Tomorrow early evening I will make it back home. All-in-all I will log about 2800 miles.  Well worth it to me...and Joyce. 

Please keep in mind this was a DRC family effort.  We all participated whether it be making flight arrangements, the vets devoting their time and resources, her fosters, her transportation, those who donated for her surgery or the many who gave morale support to the latter.  As Jacquie commented today, we, DRC, are a family and a family can do awesome things together.

OK...time to get some rest and hit the road again tomorrow.  Thank y'all for everything EVERYONE has done.

Nite.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Cheryl, I am so sorry to read this and I hope your are doing ok and feeling better!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Aw thanks Lonnie. Last weekend crazy teenager on bike almost mowed down my dog (who btw was heeling by my side). We had to jump out of the way. Finn is thankfully ok but I didn't fare as well :( I may need to get some therapy hints from Honey :)

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Cheryl, that is horrible and I hope he stopped to help you!   Sometimes you just wonder about people/kids and what they are thinking.  I'll keep you in my prayers and Libby and I are sending big hugs to you!  Take it easy and heal fast!

[Bonnie and Kona]

I'm so sad to hear about your accident! Please take good care of yourself. We need you on DK and miss you when you are gone!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Oh no, I hope you get better quickly Cheryl! How terrible.

[DJ & Chance]

Heal quickly.

[Camilla and Darwin]

LOL!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thanks Bonnie and DJ.  I don't want to hijack sweet Honey's update's so maybe I better post somewhere else :)  

[The Berry Oaks Doodle Ranch]

There are some that may be interested in what  Dr. Beam had to do to make Honey's knees operate without pain and in a natural manner.  The picture below is an x-ray before the surgery.  You cannot see the misalignment in this view, but the lower portion of the leg, the tibia, is not in the correct position with the upper portion of the leg, the femur.  The operation placed metal braces in each tibia to correct this misalignment.

The lower picture shows the braces and cages inserted to make this correction.  The screws are quite long and you can actually feel them below her skin.  This may look uncomfortable, but it is not to her.  She runs, jumps, rolls and plays like a normal dog now.  In other words, she is happy, happy, happy-that's a fact Jack.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Thanks, I am very interested in this sort of thing.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Wow! The miracle of modern veterinary medicine. I'm thrilled Honey could get this care and then rehab with her loving family.

[Julie, Boomer, Milo & Casey]

Oh that's cool. Amazing!