She's coming home!

After recovering another night at Rood & Riddle, Willow is actually in the trailer and on her way home!  Michael had to spend the night at a hotel in Lexington, but picked her up early this morning (so grateful)! 

The doctors were not able to find anything treatable regarding Willow's choking episodes.  Her choking is different than what most people know as the condition called "Choke".   Many have suggested wetting her food, beet pulp, etc... but with her she actually chokes more on that (and must know it because she usually refuses to eat it)...   We honestly feel that the choking has to do with muscles and/or nerves in her throat being affected by the EPM.  The doctors had taken her off her EPM medicine to avoid drug interactions during/after her surgery.  So hopefully once she goes back on them in a week, her EPM will continue to getter better and we can resolve her choking issues.

In any case, Willow is coming home!  It's going to be a lot of work, but I can't wait to see her!! ♥  Thanks to everyone again for all the kind words, well wishes and prayer!  I will update tonight once she's had a chance to settle in and meet her new friend (from afar of course)!

Oh, and it's snowing here!!! ♥

Broken

As if Willow hasn't been through enough...

I knew something was terribly wrong when I heard that our ranch hand was screaming for me to come out to the barn.... Willow and Raven had gotten into a kicking fight and one of the horses was really hurt.  Since Willow is so dominant and possessive, I thought the injured one would be Raven.  I ran outside to find Willow in her stall, shaking and in obvious pain. I could tell immediately that it was her front right leg and then checked the rest of her over... she had blood coming from her nose.  Of course I panicked and called Martha right away.  She was close by and said she'd be there in 5 minutes but to hold off on calling the vet... I think she was guessing it would be just a sore leg.   Within a couple minutes of Martha's examination, she looked up at me with worried eyes and said, "Call Dr. Kimmons, and tell him to bring his x-ray machine."   That was when I really lost it...   So many thoughts going through my mind... omg, could she really have a broken leg?  I had just watched the movie Dreamer so I asked Martha about suspending a sling from the ceiling so that we could save her if it was broken...  Martha explained that it wasn't a great option... and especially for a horse in Willow's condition.  By the time Dr. Kimmons arrived, I was hysterical... I had gone in the house to try to get all my crying out, but at this point I just couldn't stop the tears.  He knew it was broken before he even took x-rays.  And the x-rays confirmed it...  I cried into Willow's mane...   I'm still crying now.  I need you Willow...  I still need you.   And we've come so far together...  You are doing so so well... and you're going to be all well by summer... and it will be warm, and we can play and be happy.  I need you.... Please don't leave me...

Before he could say anything else, I told Dr. Kimmons that there was NO way I was going to lose my sweet Willow.  I would throw myself over her body before I let that needle come near.  He understood and told me about the surgeons at Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington.  He said they are the best in the world, and that if anyone could fix her leg, it would be them.   Lexington???  That's too far!!! Isn't there any hospital closer?   I won't be able to go with her...  my kids.. I can't leave my kids.  "For this,"  he explained, "they are your best hope."  Martha agreed, and I trust Martha so much.  So Dr. Kimmons emailed them photos of her x-rays and waited for their return call.  I heard him answering the surgeon's questions... the last answer was, "No, she isn't a show or dressage horse...  No, she's a rescue and a pet... but her owner sure does love her a whole lot."  He hung up and told me that the surgeon agreed to take her.   Dr. Kimmons gave Willow a shot of bute and a shot of some other pain killer, and then he gave me a hug.

So as Martha and Michael prepared the trailer and all her medicines, special food, etc., I stayed with Willow in her stall.  She kept looking like she wanted to lay down... her back legs were so unstable.. looking like they would buckle at any moment.  Don't lay down, Willow, I begged...  I was so worried she would lay down and we'd never get her up.   I put her warmest blanket on her and I held her bowl of grain up high so she could eat it.  By the time she finished eating, my fingers were frozen, but I found warmth under her mane.  And I put three tiny braids in her mane... hoping that somehow the nurses in the hospital would see them and know how much she is loved.  As I hugged her, I prayed... and I promised her that she would be okay.  But I couldn't help but worry that she wouldn't make the trailer ride... what if she fell because she was so weak and unstable and broke her leg worse... or in a place that couldn't be operated on?  What if she broke another leg?  What if the surgery doesn't work?   What if this is our very last hug?

Somehow they got her loaded into the trailer.  But Willow was kicking and upset...  frustrated and scared.  My heart felt like it was being ripped out of my chest  as I watched them drive away.  I am so worried.  I just can't believe this is happening...  Willow has a broken leg.  And I have a broken heart...