08/10/2024
About this time last night, is when I could really see Yoube starting to struggle with getting up on her own for the first time. Hoping it would be temporary, I kept an eye on it for few hours, but then we got into midnight and what went from lack of movement in one leg, had become completely immobile in both.
This appreared to be a neurological issue to me and our Project K-9 Hero Executive Board Medical Director, Kenneth Lust-dvm, as we were sharing videos of her and feedback throughout the night of her decline. Knowing that no veterinary hospital had a Neurological Surgeon and access to an MRI until business hours. I stayed up all night laying in by her side, just in case this was going to be our last night together. Just like I did with Rosso a few months prior.
At about 4:30 am CT, I started prepping her to travel to Chattanooga to the Veterinary Care and Specialty Group, so we could arrive by 7:00 am ET. As myself and our Kennel Technician loaded her for the hour drive, the last thing he said to me is “this doesn’t look good Jason.” While I agree it didn’t, I stayed positive for her the whole way there. No radio, no music, just me telling her I love her, over and over and over again.
Once we arrived, they brought out the stretcher and I physically cradle carried her to the staff who met me at the automatic ER doors. We got her quickly processed and comfortable, while I stayed with her there until the initial assessment was done by the on staff emergency room veterinarian. I was joined by the Trainer of Chattanooga PD K-9 Unit, who stayed with us all morning. At one time, he handled Yoube and knew how special she was to the entire Global K-9 Community. I said my goodbyes to Yoube in the ER, and waited for further information from the medical staff.
Within one hour, the Neurologist called me with her assessment and let me know she was scheduled for blood work, X-rays, and an MRI at 1 pm ET. Once the MRI was done, the Neurosurgeon called back with what her professional reading was on the films, and while Yoube was fully sedated, I approved them to go into emergency surgery that could have potentially taken her life.
I was warned that it would take hours, and in fact it was even longer that what we anticipated. I am happy to say that she pulled through the surgery without severating her spinal cord completely. However, we still don’t have the news we are waiting to hear and it may take some time for us to know the answer to, will Yoube ever walk again?
For tonight, she is resting on heavy pain meds and I will be not only updating everyone what I do know early tomorrow am, I will be headed into the ER to visit her tomorrow as soon as I am cleared by the staff to do so.
Please keep Yoube in your thoughts and prayers as she means the world to us at this organization and to me personally! Yoube is the closest thing I have near me everyday to family, and today was the first day in a decade that my cell phone ringer stayed on all day! For those who know me that is says a lot! We love you Yoube! -
For those of you who may want to donate to the $10,000 plus dollars Project K-9 Hero spent today just to even try to save her life, you may do so at:
https://projectk9hero.org/pages/medicalfund
