I have a LOT of medical problems and my care cost a LOT of money but my mom just loves me and we do best to get the most out of life!
26/09/2022
Happy 13th Birthday in heaven my sweet princess, my chicken pie, my cucumber girl, my best child. The words, I love you and miss you” cannot touch the impact of how I feel this morning. You’re my best girl 💗 I hope your birthday is all you want it to be. In your honor, I will introduce your favorite snack, whipped cream, to your baby brother, Tre, today. Thank you for letting me take those birthday pics every year even though you were simply putting up with me making you wear that foolish hat. Good memories they bring me.
Mama is thinking of you with a heart swollen full of love. 💗💗💗”
AGMD BEACON OF HOPE JOURNAL Welcome to our e-magazine publication! We invite you to submit content for publication consideration in our AGMD Beacon of Hope Journal. Please feel free to email mater…
06/07/2022
Please help us raise money to help pets get needed medical care! Profits from this week's sales will go to Beau's, a nonprofit assisting pets in need! Make your purchases now :)
HONORING BRI WITH HER LIFE STORY
Princess Bri passed at the end of May. Julie, Bri's mom, wrote a wonderful book in honor of Bri and the joy that they shared. Last year, Beau's Bridge Club helped Bri's mom pay for gall bladder surgery for the Princess. Julie is now paying it forward by donating profits from her book to Beau's Bridge Club through July 8th. Here is a link to the book:
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Bri posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Want your business to be the top-listed Pet Store/pet Service?
Share
My name is Bri and I’m a princess dog
Hi! My name is Brianna, but all my friends call me Bri. When people ask my mom what kind of dog I am, she says I am a princess dog. Really though, I came from Virginia as a rescue along with 4 of my siblings. Lucky for me, my mom was looking for a me and when we found each other it was an instant connect. I had a brother, Shadow, and he and I did everything together, even though I was such a pest to him when I was a puppy - I used to bite his feet! But he always put up with me and we had many good times together hiking, going for walks, sharing snacks and mom’s hugs.
My birthday is Sept 26, 2009 so I am almost 9 years old now. I love all food but I get extra excited when I hear the whipped cream can and I just love diving for scattered popcorn that is not even meat-flavored.
I am a mellow pup who mostly wants to just hang out at home with my mom beside me. Inside my house on the couch beside mom is my favorite place to be! But mom likes to go places and I’d rather be with her so I put up with trips to the shore, visits with friends and doing errands pretty often. I didn’t always dislike going out so much but since I got sick, well, things changed.
A few years ago I got sick, really sick. I started having tremors and fasciculations (involuntary muscle contractions), became disorientated at times and just felt altogether terrible. I would hide in Shadow’s old stroller and even once crawled into the dryer when mom opened the door to get her laundry. I kept trying to get away from feeling so badly. I not only lost my appetite but started refluxing many times a day. I lost 10 pounds during that time and that’s a lot for a 40 pound dog! My previously controlled grand mal seizures reoccured and I was having about 11 seizures a day. My liver enzyme values went through the roof!
My mom took me to several specialists to find help for me but it was a very long process because they simply did not know what was wrong with me. Finally I ended up at Angell Memorial Hospital where we started seeing an awesome neurologist who spent a lot of time trying to help me. He was honest with my mom that he did not know if he would be able to save me and once told her that I have been one of his most difficult cases of his career. And it was still a very long road before us of testings, hospitalizations, treatments, and a lot of patience and love on everyone’s part. And a lot of money, can’t forget the money .....
After months of testing that included a spinal tap, an mri, abdominal ultrasounds, multiple laboratory testings, along with hospitalizations, medication changes and even home subcutaneous fluids administrations because I just could not keep even water down, my neurologist said he believed I was suffering from an immune disease that was attacking my brain. I was put on high dose steroids and an immune suppressant, prescribed 3 different gastrointestinal meds for my reflux and poor appetite, my epilepsy medications were changed, and liver supplements were added. Still I was feeling miserable. I was exhausted all the time. When my mom decided to take me out to see if distraction would help me feel better I had to be pushed in the stroller. If I got out to walk, I would often just lie down on the ground after only a short time. I often left my food untouched. I even stopped barking for several months! I was a mess! And my mom was so worried. She even worried that she was prolonging my agony. One day her heart was so broken watching me suffer that she called my neurologist to tell him she didn’t know if she was doing the right thing keeping me here with her. My neurologist understood because he also saw my pain and could not say I would get better, so if we decided this was it he would support the decision. Mom called my local vet, who is superb at what he does and told him she thought today might be the day. We went to the vet that afternoon, mom distraught and me feeling miserable. He examined me. He stepped back and said that he saw how sick I was and he didn’t know if I would make it but “Today is not the day”. Since mom really respects my local vet’s opinion, she felt much relieved; she was not just hanging onto me for her own needs and she felt a little hope. We went to Dairy Queen after that and to the nearby park lookout. I had a few laps of ice cream and we sat looking out over the hill. We then went home; I threw up the ice cream and we went on with my treatment plan for awhile more. But this time there seemed to be longer periods (sometimes just in minutes) of improvements and here I am now!
It’s been a long road. I am still on multiple meds to keep me alive and they are EXPENSIVE. My mom keeps saying I need a job to keep up with my worth. But I am a princess! I am not all better and frankly I have some very questionable moments or days. I continue having episodes of vomiting and/or reflux. I have episodes of disorientation believed to be seizure/brain related. The fur shaved almost 3 years ago for my spinal tap and ultrasound has never grown back and no one knows why. Each time they shave my legs to insert an IV I end up with fur-less legs. Since I take immune-suppressants, I am susceptible to infection and this means occasional visits to the ER for treatments. My liver function has improved but there is still damage. Last year my thyroid levels were found low so now I take a supplement for that too.
I have a good life though. Many people love me to pieces. Many have followed my story and know just what I have been through. Many have prayed for me and sent me well wishes many many times and I so appreciate them all!! People can see me now as my mom posts about me at the shore or other special places I get to go and they know I live quite a life despite my illnesses. My mom does not go on fb so much anymore so I thought I’d start my own page so I can keep sharing how cute I am and everyone can see what’s up with me. I’ll share my stories, my symptoms and my excursions and I hope you’ll all keep praying for me and sending good thoughts.
And just so you know, my mom had to start a GoFundMe page because I have not found that job yet. She is trying to be sure my medical expenses are covered. I have pet insurance but it just doesn’t touch the expenses incurred for my treatments to stay alive. I lead a good life when stable and I want to stay around much longer. And my mom needs me. She loves me so much and really needs me. So if you have the means to contribute and do, we will be very grateful. Sharing our cause will help me too.
Oh! And when I finally started barking again after so many months never uttering a woof, I haven’t stopped since! My mom should have nipped that in the bud but she was so happy to hear me bark again that she just didn’t. ... I’m a little bit spoiled :)
