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Day 1 - 6: The Things Nightmares are Made of ..

  • Writer: Samantha Knight
    Samantha Knight
  • Feb 8, 2022
  • 2 min read

Updated: Apr 18, 2022

Having already explained how we have come to find ourselves in this devastating situation, Lloris spends the first six days (Day 1 being the day of the accident and surgery) as a resident at the areas Supervets.

At £250.00 per night I am hoping he is being hand fed caviar and has a personal nurse attending to his every whim.


It feels like the longest 6 days of my life.


Every day awaiting the phone call that could come at anytime to update me on his progress.


I try to keep busy and try my best not to be that annoying owner who just cannot wait for the call, so calls in first. I shall confess to doing that on a couple of occasions! What can I say, patience has never been a virtue of mine!


Every day I ask the difficult questions that they just cannot give me the answers to, but everyday I hope a more positive answer will be forthcoming;


  • Is he standing yet? - Always a No


  • Does he have any deep pain feeling in his legs? -the answer is always a ‘very little’


  • Is he trying to move his legs? - not yet


  • Can he control his toilet habits? - No


  • Is he eating? - Always yes - when hand fed!, that’s my boy, you make the most of the hospitality!


  • Is he comfortable? - Always yes


  • When can he come home - soon!


  • Is he ’where’ he should be recovery wise? - every dog is different…

I am always told though, what a lovely well behaved patient he is and how he is very gentle. - that sets me off in tears everyday, because he is so loving and gentle and he just doesn’t deserve this. Not that any dog does! I am also updated daily on the higher than normal risk a french bulldog has of developing Myelomalacia. This is fatel should it occur and would result in Lloris having to be put to sleep. Luckily he has shown no signs as yet and would normally be apparent within the first week after surgery.


Whilst I’m itching to have him back in my arms I am of course fearful about the future, worried he won’t love me anymore for letting this happen to him and worried he will never be truly happy again.

When I think of our journey ahead I am full of insecurities such as;


  • Am I physically capable?

  • Am I strong enough?

  • Does he want to get better - enough?

  • What if I do it wrong?

During what seems endless hours of just waiting for daily phone calls, I suddenly feel creative at some stupidly early hour of the morning and write a little poem (no idea where this has come from!)… but I guess this is all my own therapy so I shall pour it out!


 
 
 

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THANK YOU’s

Whilst it goes without saying that a big chunk of credit for Lloris’s rehabilitation to being a walking puppy dog again goes unquestionably to him! There have been many helping hands along the way that are more than deserving of a mention … 


Thank you to; 

Davies Vet (Johnny & Alex) for their remarkable surgery, prompt action and after care. He came home a calm and happy dog…even if his legs weren’t working…his wound has healed remarkably well without scaring.


To Dr Rinnert van den Bergh - The Holistic Vet who never raised an eyebrow at his little accidents and always progressed him further after every treatment.  Lloris is especially grateful for the liver paste you would win him over with! 


To Nisha from Paws & Hooves - Hydrotherapy.  You have been remarkable in your patience with Lloris. Thank you for answering the phone when many others didn’t that day.  Finding you was meant to be.


To Willow Vets in Newport Pagnell who took Lloris on as a new case for his cancer straight away and operated within two days. The entire team of staff have been nothing but kind and professional and whilst Lloris will continue to hate you all (hate may be a bit of strong word…. But I’m not so sure?!) I on the other hand think you are all amazing. 


To his Uncle Cristian for building his ‘Frenchie Bouncer’ was a big game changer in our rehab! 


To his Grandad for building his Pig Pen which he has grown to love 


To his Nanny for his the daily love and company not to mention the endless cleaning of him and my house!  We truly couldn’t have got through this without you, you gave me the break I needed to keep my sanity. 


To Matt the Chippy for his back door ramp! 


To the IVDD Facebook support group.  I learned so much from you. https://www.facebook.com/groups/178483559398659/?ref=share


To my friends and family who reached out to help me. Everyone of you that messaged, read our blog and paid an interest in both his and my well being made such a difference on both the dark days and the light.   Lloris loves people so the visits and gifts all lifted his spirits and snapped him out of the sulks!


To Dan, Lloris’s dad. You stepped up when he needed you the most and answered our cry for help to get him to the hospital that day.  It will always be a shame we couldn’t stay the family unit we had wanted for him. We certainly tried!  Thank you for letting him live with me, I can’t imagine the heartache of giving him up. 


To the friend in my life that gave me focus from day 1 when I asked for help bringing him home … he said something like  “I have the dentist so can’t help you that day, I would if I could but … you’re going to have to get used to handling him and lugging him about on your own, so you may as well just get on with it now”. I thought he was being an unhelpful arse at the time but actually that was the best piece of advice I could have been given. Man up and get on with it.  You can’t turn back time or change anything. You are where you are, so take a deep breath and in the words of Nike - Just do it. 


And that we did! 

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