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The Long Road Back to the Beach; Together we WILL make it

Against the odds

A heart breaking diarised account of a very brave French Bulldog and his courageous mum. An unbreakable bond challenged by such unfathomable pain and illness from cancer to IVDD Grade 5.  Can the trials of life be beaten time and time again by the simple power of love? - against the odds. 

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Lloris the very brave French Bulldog and his mum

Saving Lloris; One day at a time 

Our Story …

This blog is a diarised account of the 72 days of spinal surgery rehabilitation of one very special French Bulldog who has been left paralysed in his back legs following a diagnosis of IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease) Grade 5.  


Will he walk again?


Following his journey you could say 3yr old Lloris the French Bulldog has been the unluckiest puppy dog to grace the earth but I’m sure there are a million more tear jerking stories to challenge this one.  All I will say, is life has not come easy to this pooch and I can only believe it to be the shear volume of love and positivity around him that keeps his journey going when at times it really has seemed as if it is the end. 


When Lloris first came home from the regions ‘super vet’ hospital on 9th February 2022,  I searched the internet for stories of success and tips and advice on what to expect and how to handle the slow road of recovery but I found very little out there other than the stark facts that a grade 5 IVDD (spinal injury) patient had a mere 50/60 % chance of being able to walk again and could take 9months… and that has given me nothing to gauge any kind of level of hope. I am just heart broken and numb with disbelief. 


Friends and family ask me daily how it’s all going.  Some really wanting to know the answer and others playing lip service to a situation they believe I could decide to ‘resolve’ myself if only I would see some sense.  But I’m in too deep with this little boy.  I made a commitment to him so here we go, I’m all in, we’re both all in …. 


It’s just the two of us and together we are embarking on the long and very slow Road to Recovery or what I prefer to tell Lloris… “We’re on our journey back to those woods and bouncing on those beaches. You will see those days again and this is day 1 of getting there- chin up”. 


I hope for anyone else facing this journey with their furry friend who they cannot even give thought to life without them … that our story brings some reality to the hardest of stages, but offers at least some tips in getting through the darkest of nights, some amusement in the daily frustrations, shares the guilt and the contemplation of decisions we can’t bear to say we thought of.  You are not alone, take what you can from our story and I have everything crossed this journey will end as a story of hope to others - I really do! But this is early days and I would certainly not wish to temp fate! There really is nothing more scary than the unknown.


All I can promise is that I will keep going unless he tells me otherwise.

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Day 55: Physio Relaunch & the Pillow Case Pup!

My mind is spinning trying to recall all of the post spinal surgery physio moves we used to do prior to cancer surgery. I know it has...

Day 54: Manic Monday- Stagnant Car and the Grizzle Pig

Oh dear… I wake up this morning with such high hopes for the week and easing Lloris back into physio all starting today!, but would...

Day 53: Mothers Day Mischief

If a ‘mum’ is someone that nurtures, teaches right from wrong, feeds, waters, entertains, protects from harm, nurses when poorly,...

Day 52: The Team Mascot

Loris may not be looking overly ‘child friendly’ at the moment. He’s resembling more something out of a horror film than a cute Andrex...

Day 50: Lady Luck is on our Side

Seriously shake me and give me a slap I am becoming paranoid …I think?… am I ? Last night Lloris started heavily panting again like he...

Day 47: Lord Lloris Lapping it Up

It’s Monday and the working week is calling us, Lloris was going to join me at the office today, but his Nanny is instead kindly coming...

Day 46: Failed Woodland Walks & The Poltergeist

Lloris does love our little walks in the woods on a Sunday and it would be a shame for him to miss out, especially as he has woken up...

Day 45: Getting Back in the Game

Desperate to not see Lloris continue to deteriorate with his walking, I thought it might cheer us both up to attempt just a little walk...

Day 44: My Little Chinese Dragon - Alternative Medicines

In my search to do everything possible to find (if not a cure) at least a way of keeping all of Lloris’s alements at bay so he can live a...

Day 43: No Holding the Wild Beast Back!

After spending a quiet evening snoozing off the general anaesthetic Lloris shows a glimmer of effort to stand but topples over. It...

Day 42: Op Day - Let’s kick this big C’s butt!

Feeling slightly jaded this morning from my night before (self inflicted so I shall say no more), we’re up early and rushing to get to...

Day 41: Calling in the Cavalry

It’s a quiet day for Lloris today and deliberately so. It’s the day before his operation to remove his cancer and I want him to conserve...

Day 39: A Love ❤️ Hug as Physio

I keep hearing the term ‘strengthen his gait’ as in something that Lloris needs to focus on, but what exactly does that mean? I’d just...

Day 38: Best Behaved Dog EVER and a new worry!

I’ve got to start today’s entry by saying; yesterday (and so far today!) Lloris has been a dream. I don’t say that often enough; mainly...

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SpinalThank you for your interest in following Lloris the French Bulldog journey in his recovery from spinal surgery leaving him paralysed. 

"The long road back to the beach; together we WILL make it" is designed to encourage us and entertain you. 

Feel free to get in touch and I will get back to you soon!

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