After nearly six weeks in ICU, we started to prepare Suki for discharge. Other than the one brief (and heart pounding for the student) walk, Suki had not been outside since being admitted to New Bolton. It was now August, and very hot and buggy. The ICU is air conditioned with no flies. It would be an adjustment! She continued her four times a day walks, which got her out of the stall and a chance to motor around a bit. For the most part she was very good about the walks with only occasional incidents! Neither man nor beast was injured!
New Bolton become almost a second home to me, and although the circumstances were quite precarious at first, we had all settled into a routine, and knew that Suki would survive. I think that was one of the most difficult aspects of Suki's case. She was in such critical condition when she arrived that her survival had been questionable. The staff in the ICU dedicated themselves to her care and though I know that is their job, there were many occasions where they went above and beyond their job description. We all kept waiting for the complications and setbacks. Thankfully, they never came.
Suki's first student caretaker, M, was amazing. She was diligent, dedicated and patient. When M saw how much of the VERY EXPENSIVE SSD was being used, she contacted the company and asked if they would be willing to donate any of their product for Suki. The company sent a CASE of large SSD jars. This saved me thousands of dollars. We made a thank you card with a picture of Suki and sent it to them. The kindness of strangers was beginning to overwhelm me! The receptionist who was always so kind to me brought carrots from her garden for Suki, and strangers would approach and ask me about her.
The tips of Suki's beautiful ears finally fell off. It was very sad to see. I know that sounds vain, but at the time it made me cry. One of the nurses told Suki that because she had eaten so many gummy bears, she grew bear ears! Those short ears are now her most endearing physical feature. There is a lesson to be learned here as well. When humans suffer from a disfiguring illness or injury they become self conscious, embarrassed and are subject to stares from others. While animals are also subject to the stares, they are not aware that they look different from "normal" and so are free to be who they are. Attractive physical attributes are wonderful, but they are nothing without the beauty that comes from the inside. Animals give love without condition, and do not hold themselves to the same physical standards that humans do. Suki is who she was before the fire, and that makes me smile. She still does her super model runway walk to show the world who she is!
Suki's skin required extensive daily treatments. The sensitive new skin needed to stay clean and moisturized and the small are of burned skin that remained across her back required gentle cleaning. We were seeing daily improvements and new hair growth as a result of the quality of care that she was receiving. In addition, there were the daily medications, which because of preparation and supervised feeding was fairly time consuming. I was worried that Kelly would feel overwhelmed. This was a huge undertaking, and I did not know how long this type of care would be required.
Each time I visited Suki I would look around the ICU to see who was there and what they were in for. One evening I saw a beautiful Clydesdale in the stall. The nurses told me that he had had laryngeal surgery which is apparently common to the breed. Usually it is very routine, but this guy experienced an anesthesia reaction and had to visit CU for a few days. I looked on his stall card and saw that it said "Budweiser". "How cute", I said. "His name is Budweiser!" "No", said one of the nurses. "He IS a Budweiser!" Any of the Budweiser Clydesdales that require this surgery are sent to New Bolton to have the procedure performed. I just thought that was so cool! He was VERY cute!
While Suki was in the hospital, a fundraiser dressage show was held in the outdoor rings at Pink Star, site of the fire. Initially this money was to be distributed among all of us. Someone decided that it should all go to Suki. Again, I was grateful for their kindness.
November 21, 2011
I got home from the conference at 1 AM. Uggh....VERY tired!
This morning I went over to check Suki, and of course, when I called her name she answered back. It felt wonderful to throw my arms around her neck and hug her (even if I would have to go to the office smelling like a horse!). Can't wait to see Nikki tomorrow.
On July 9, 2009, my beloved dressage horse Amiritta (AKA Suki) was critically burned when her barn caught fire. Suki's survival and recovery are considered miraculous. Her courage has made her an inspiration to people around the world. This is the story of our journey.....
Monday, November 21, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Finding a rehab farm
Five weeks into her New Bolton stay, Suki was still taking antibiotics and gabapentin. The gabapentin is used to treat neuropathic pain, which is common in burn patients. The healing of these burns can cause much burning and itching, and Suki needed to remain as comfortable as possible. It was vital for her to have these drugs, so it was a relief to have found a way for her to take them easily.
We also encountered some behavioral issues which were a result of the treatments, I’m sure. With her cloth halter and sensitive skin on her head, restraining Suki continued to be difficult. In fact at one point she became very difficult to catch in her stall. The size of the mare and foal stall made it even easier for her to evade people. The doctors did not want to put Suki back in the smaller stall because they felt that it was better for her to be able to move around more, and they were still hopeful that she would lie down. Ultimately we had to clip a short lead (about 10 inches long) to her halter for her to wear all the time. As it became more difficult to treat around Suki’s head, an animal behaviorist started to visit her and work through some of these issues. At some point she would leave the hospital and need to be handled in a less controlled atmosphere.
I really believe that Suki looked forward to my visits. I always called her name as I entered ICU, and she always answered with a nicker. As I opened the door and looked into the unit I could see her putting her eye close to the bars to look for me. Most people say that one of the reasons Suki recovered was because of the time I spent with her while she was in the hospital. I don’t know if that is the case, but from the beginning I knew that it was important for her to know that I was there. We had been together for six years and I would do everything I could to aid in her recovery.
Even with a significant amount of eschar still across Suki’s back, the doctors began to discuss her release from the hospital. This skin would gradually peel away with minimal assistance, but Suki was getting to the point where living in ICU would no longer be necessary. Once released, however, she would require oral medications twice a day and treatment to the burned skin. This was more than could be managed by me in a regular boarding situation. We would have to locate a rehabilitation barn. New Bolton has lists of a variety of facilities for that purpose but the majority were located near the hospital. I wanted some place closer to home so that I could be actively involved in the process.
My research and networking led to many dead ends. I contacted a local Hanoverian breeding farm. Although they did not have the staff to accommodate Suki’s needs, the owner passed along the name of a part time employee. Kelly Buss, who had her own small farm was a dedicated horse person with a good reputation.
I first reached out to Kelly by email, explaining the situation, followed by a telephone conversation with the details. We arranged for a visit. Kelly’s farm is in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, about thirty minutes from my house and twenty minutes from my office. The property appeared to be well maintained, with the barn far back from the road. The layout seemed perfect for my needs. Each stall had direct access to its own, individual paddock with a lovely view of the valley. This would enable Suki to begin to go outside again not requiring her to be led very far to get there. This was perfect since she was still not able to wear a regular halter or be restrained very well.
I liked Kelly immediately. She was friendly and passionate about her work with horses. Kelly suggested that she go to New Bolton, meet Suki and speak with her doctors. Learning first hand what treatments were required and how to perform them. I felt like I could finally breathe, even though I was concerned that once she saw the situation she might change her mind!
In addition to the medical needs there were basic living requirements that were different from the other horses in Kelly’s barn. Her horses were bedded on shavings, which is very common in our area. There were still some open wounds, plus the section of skin yet to fall off, requiring that she be bedded on straw. Straw is cleaner and better suited to her current condition. While it was important for Suki to begin going outside again she would only be allowed out before sunrise and after sunset due to the sensitive new skin.
Following her trip to New Bolton, Kelly called me and said that she was willing to take Suki into her care. I was so relieved.
November 19, 2011
I am still at the conference and missing my family (2-legged and 4-legged) immensely. Not to worry though. Nikki is being ridden by Meaghan, and Suki is being cared for by Deb.
We also encountered some behavioral issues which were a result of the treatments, I’m sure. With her cloth halter and sensitive skin on her head, restraining Suki continued to be difficult. In fact at one point she became very difficult to catch in her stall. The size of the mare and foal stall made it even easier for her to evade people. The doctors did not want to put Suki back in the smaller stall because they felt that it was better for her to be able to move around more, and they were still hopeful that she would lie down. Ultimately we had to clip a short lead (about 10 inches long) to her halter for her to wear all the time. As it became more difficult to treat around Suki’s head, an animal behaviorist started to visit her and work through some of these issues. At some point she would leave the hospital and need to be handled in a less controlled atmosphere.
I really believe that Suki looked forward to my visits. I always called her name as I entered ICU, and she always answered with a nicker. As I opened the door and looked into the unit I could see her putting her eye close to the bars to look for me. Most people say that one of the reasons Suki recovered was because of the time I spent with her while she was in the hospital. I don’t know if that is the case, but from the beginning I knew that it was important for her to know that I was there. We had been together for six years and I would do everything I could to aid in her recovery.
Even with a significant amount of eschar still across Suki’s back, the doctors began to discuss her release from the hospital. This skin would gradually peel away with minimal assistance, but Suki was getting to the point where living in ICU would no longer be necessary. Once released, however, she would require oral medications twice a day and treatment to the burned skin. This was more than could be managed by me in a regular boarding situation. We would have to locate a rehabilitation barn. New Bolton has lists of a variety of facilities for that purpose but the majority were located near the hospital. I wanted some place closer to home so that I could be actively involved in the process.
My research and networking led to many dead ends. I contacted a local Hanoverian breeding farm. Although they did not have the staff to accommodate Suki’s needs, the owner passed along the name of a part time employee. Kelly Buss, who had her own small farm was a dedicated horse person with a good reputation.
I first reached out to Kelly by email, explaining the situation, followed by a telephone conversation with the details. We arranged for a visit. Kelly’s farm is in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania, about thirty minutes from my house and twenty minutes from my office. The property appeared to be well maintained, with the barn far back from the road. The layout seemed perfect for my needs. Each stall had direct access to its own, individual paddock with a lovely view of the valley. This would enable Suki to begin to go outside again not requiring her to be led very far to get there. This was perfect since she was still not able to wear a regular halter or be restrained very well.
I liked Kelly immediately. She was friendly and passionate about her work with horses. Kelly suggested that she go to New Bolton, meet Suki and speak with her doctors. Learning first hand what treatments were required and how to perform them. I felt like I could finally breathe, even though I was concerned that once she saw the situation she might change her mind!
In addition to the medical needs there were basic living requirements that were different from the other horses in Kelly’s barn. Her horses were bedded on shavings, which is very common in our area. There were still some open wounds, plus the section of skin yet to fall off, requiring that she be bedded on straw. Straw is cleaner and better suited to her current condition. While it was important for Suki to begin going outside again she would only be allowed out before sunrise and after sunset due to the sensitive new skin.
Following her trip to New Bolton, Kelly called me and said that she was willing to take Suki into her care. I was so relieved.
November 19, 2011
I am still at the conference and missing my family (2-legged and 4-legged) immensely. Not to worry though. Nikki is being ridden by Meaghan, and Suki is being cared for by Deb.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Skin sloughing and hair growth
During her treatment at New Bolton, the dead skin fell away, and eventually we started to see significant hair growth. Early on the only areas that I was able to brush were her legs and belly, but after a few weeks there was new hair to take care of!
Applying ointment to Suki's head remained difficult, but that dedicated staff managed to do it! The eyelids had contracted slightly at this point during healing, but her eyes were still able to close completely. A significant amount of healing was ahead so the potential for surgery lingered in our thoughts. I dreaded the thought of eyelid surgery for Suki. Applying medication would be a nightmare!
I spent most of my visits grooming Suki, feeding her treats, or just talking to her. Some days were difficult for me because I would look at Suki and be reminded of the fear and pain that she must have experienced that night. It honestly did, and still does make my heart hurt. And how amazing that in spite of all of that, and her daily treatments, the opinionated, diva personality was still intact. I am told that many horses would have given up, but Suki had a strong will to survive. Great medical care probably had quite a bit to do with it too! : )
The daily walks increased to four times a day, and everyone said that Suki really looked forward to them Sometimes she would try to drag the person leading her down the hall, but usually she just strolled along.
Every 2 weeks a new vet student would be assigned to Suki. The selection was carefully made, because a bit of extra dedication was required to meet her needs. Among one of the groups there were not many to choose from and the vet student assigned to Suki was terrified of her, and Suki would take complete advantage! They had to reassign someone after only a few days.
Two weeks after the fire I started to take pictures of Suki's progress. I think before that I was afraid of jinxing her survival. But two weeks out I was confident she would survive. That was probably pretty naive of me, considering the number of complications that could occur!
November 17, 2011
Sorry for the short post this evening. I am at a conference in LA, and time is scarce. Suki is being well cared for though, so no need to worry! I am fortunate to have some really great support for her care when I need to travel for work.
During my long flight I read a book titled "Collective Marks" It is a novel that demonstrates the healing power of horses with a focus on dressage training. It's not sappy or corny, but I think really hits the mark.
I will try to continue to post while I am out here, but my brain is a bit fried, so I may just wait until I get home on Monday.
Applying ointment to Suki's head remained difficult, but that dedicated staff managed to do it! The eyelids had contracted slightly at this point during healing, but her eyes were still able to close completely. A significant amount of healing was ahead so the potential for surgery lingered in our thoughts. I dreaded the thought of eyelid surgery for Suki. Applying medication would be a nightmare!
I spent most of my visits grooming Suki, feeding her treats, or just talking to her. Some days were difficult for me because I would look at Suki and be reminded of the fear and pain that she must have experienced that night. It honestly did, and still does make my heart hurt. And how amazing that in spite of all of that, and her daily treatments, the opinionated, diva personality was still intact. I am told that many horses would have given up, but Suki had a strong will to survive. Great medical care probably had quite a bit to do with it too! : )
The daily walks increased to four times a day, and everyone said that Suki really looked forward to them Sometimes she would try to drag the person leading her down the hall, but usually she just strolled along.
Every 2 weeks a new vet student would be assigned to Suki. The selection was carefully made, because a bit of extra dedication was required to meet her needs. Among one of the groups there were not many to choose from and the vet student assigned to Suki was terrified of her, and Suki would take complete advantage! They had to reassign someone after only a few days.
Two weeks after the fire I started to take pictures of Suki's progress. I think before that I was afraid of jinxing her survival. But two weeks out I was confident she would survive. That was probably pretty naive of me, considering the number of complications that could occur!
November 17, 2011
Sorry for the short post this evening. I am at a conference in LA, and time is scarce. Suki is being well cared for though, so no need to worry! I am fortunate to have some really great support for her care when I need to travel for work.
During my long flight I read a book titled "Collective Marks" It is a novel that demonstrates the healing power of horses with a focus on dressage training. It's not sappy or corny, but I think really hits the mark.
I will try to continue to post while I am out here, but my brain is a bit fried, so I may just wait until I get home on Monday.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Suki does not like cows!
Slowly, Suki's skin began to improve, even as additional burned skin fell away. Her attitude was amazing. She truly seemed happy and almost normal. Of course, any diva knows, the more attention the better!
A sad development was the loss of the tips of her beautiful ears. We knew it would happen, but it just made me sad. Fortunately, animals do not have the neuroses that humans have about their looks! Actually her ears are quite cute. We joked that because she had been eating so many gummy bears, she grew BEAR ears!
Once the IV lines were removed, Suki's doctors realized that she needed to get out of that stall. Daily walks through ICU were initiated, and Suki loved it! When you are a very nosy horse, walks through the hospital are VERY interesting. Since Suki is such a BIG girl, those walks can be sort of like "power walks". I call it her runway walk. Her nickname has always been super model, and it truly suits her, attitude and all!
These walks led to few incidents. Because she hadn't been outside in a long time, someone had the brilliant idea of taking Suki outside for a walk. Ooohhh, they should have asked me first! Without a method of restraint, the big girl took complete advantage! Did I mention that she stood up? The poor vet student who had her out probably was not expecting that! Suki's walks were limited to indoors after that!
One afternoon as I entered ICU for my visit, Dr. H approached me. "Suki has some stitches in her ear", she said. "What happened?" I asked.
"Well, she was taking one of her walks through ICU, when she encountered a calf in the neonatal intensive care unit. Suki panic and reared, whacking her ear on the ceiling". Okay, no one likes to get stitches, but I found this absolutely HILARIOUS!! Suki HATES cows. I remember one time when she was on cross ties while I was grooming her, she heard a cow moo. Each time she heard it she would pop her front legs off the ground. The sound, smell and sight of cows truly offends her!
This is one of the great things about Suki's personality. She is extremely opinionated! Just being able to see that personality in spite of her injuries shows her determination to live!
November 15, 2011
Brief lunge due to increasing darkness. Suki really enjoys working. I am confident that in the spring when she can wear a surcingle we will be able to work in long lines on piaffe and passage. Suki likes to work, and have a job. She also loves to meet people. Is it apparent how much I love her??
Baby Nikki and I are also developing that bond. There is nothing better than the human horse bond. Tonight while I was grooming Suki, I just chattered away about "stuff". She does not judge. She is just happy. The same thing with riding. As soon as I put my foot in the stirrup and swing my leg up onto Nikki, the world is at peace. It is just me and her. It's a passion, a joy a bond. I am grateful to have horses in my life.
A sad development was the loss of the tips of her beautiful ears. We knew it would happen, but it just made me sad. Fortunately, animals do not have the neuroses that humans have about their looks! Actually her ears are quite cute. We joked that because she had been eating so many gummy bears, she grew BEAR ears!
Once the IV lines were removed, Suki's doctors realized that she needed to get out of that stall. Daily walks through ICU were initiated, and Suki loved it! When you are a very nosy horse, walks through the hospital are VERY interesting. Since Suki is such a BIG girl, those walks can be sort of like "power walks". I call it her runway walk. Her nickname has always been super model, and it truly suits her, attitude and all!
These walks led to few incidents. Because she hadn't been outside in a long time, someone had the brilliant idea of taking Suki outside for a walk. Ooohhh, they should have asked me first! Without a method of restraint, the big girl took complete advantage! Did I mention that she stood up? The poor vet student who had her out probably was not expecting that! Suki's walks were limited to indoors after that!
One afternoon as I entered ICU for my visit, Dr. H approached me. "Suki has some stitches in her ear", she said. "What happened?" I asked.
"Well, she was taking one of her walks through ICU, when she encountered a calf in the neonatal intensive care unit. Suki panic and reared, whacking her ear on the ceiling". Okay, no one likes to get stitches, but I found this absolutely HILARIOUS!! Suki HATES cows. I remember one time when she was on cross ties while I was grooming her, she heard a cow moo. Each time she heard it she would pop her front legs off the ground. The sound, smell and sight of cows truly offends her!
This is one of the great things about Suki's personality. She is extremely opinionated! Just being able to see that personality in spite of her injuries shows her determination to live!
November 15, 2011
Brief lunge due to increasing darkness. Suki really enjoys working. I am confident that in the spring when she can wear a surcingle we will be able to work in long lines on piaffe and passage. Suki likes to work, and have a job. She also loves to meet people. Is it apparent how much I love her??
Baby Nikki and I are also developing that bond. There is nothing better than the human horse bond. Tonight while I was grooming Suki, I just chattered away about "stuff". She does not judge. She is just happy. The same thing with riding. As soon as I put my foot in the stirrup and swing my leg up onto Nikki, the world is at peace. It is just me and her. It's a passion, a joy a bond. I am grateful to have horses in my life.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Life at New Bolton
Suki continued to progress for awhile without any setbacks. She did become difficult about being caught in her stall for treatments though. This was completely understandable, but needed to be overcome. Suki would allow me to catch her on visits, of course, because all I did was groom her, kiss her and feed her treats. One afternoon I was asked to clip a short lead to her halter. This would make her easier to catch.
About 4 weeks in, Suki developed a fever of unknown origin. She appeared normal, but during the routine vital signs check had indicated an elevated temperature. Concerns of respiratory infection surfaced, so the doctors decided to take Suki for a chest xray. ICU does not have its own radiology department, so it was necessary to walk Suki outside and across campus. With her cloth halter, Suki was difficult to restrain....add to that 17.2 hands and 1400 lbs, and this can be a bit of a challenge. Suki had been quite fit prior to the fire, so 4 weeks in a stall was not easy for her! The nurses managed to get Suki to xray, but ultimately were unable to get a very good film. Then she coughed when they tried to retrieve some nasal fluid, contaminating the sample. Two days later, the fever was gone. We will never know the cause.
Although there was a large amount of charred skin that needed to come off, Suki's doctors felt that it would be better for this to happen naturally, reducing the chance of infection. Little, by little the burned skin fell away, and pink sensitive skin developed in its place. The nurses, vet students and doctors were amazing in their dedication to protect this skin, and save my beautiful girl.
Another concern that developed, was that Suki seemed tired. She would not lie down in her stall. When the IV lines were removed, and the mare and foal stall became vacant, Suki was moved into it, with the hope that the larger stall would entice her to lie down. Suki has always been a sleeper. She likes to lie flat out at night in her stall and take a good snooze. The standing cat naps were not enough for her.
Even with the move, Suki still did not lie down. She tried once, but stood up again immediately. Then one day I noticed her trying to scratch her side with her nose... she lost her balance and stopped, so I took over the scratching. Suki has also always been extremely flexible, but the charred skin on her sides wrinkled when she tried to bend, and that seemed to unnerve her. I realized then, that was why she would not lie down to sleep.
November 13, 2011
At 3 AM I heard sirens...a lot of them... They were in a distance, but it woke me. It felt like my heart stopped...I just lay there waiting for the phone call....thankfully it never came. When will I get over this? I honestly don't think I ever will!
About 4 weeks in, Suki developed a fever of unknown origin. She appeared normal, but during the routine vital signs check had indicated an elevated temperature. Concerns of respiratory infection surfaced, so the doctors decided to take Suki for a chest xray. ICU does not have its own radiology department, so it was necessary to walk Suki outside and across campus. With her cloth halter, Suki was difficult to restrain....add to that 17.2 hands and 1400 lbs, and this can be a bit of a challenge. Suki had been quite fit prior to the fire, so 4 weeks in a stall was not easy for her! The nurses managed to get Suki to xray, but ultimately were unable to get a very good film. Then she coughed when they tried to retrieve some nasal fluid, contaminating the sample. Two days later, the fever was gone. We will never know the cause.
Although there was a large amount of charred skin that needed to come off, Suki's doctors felt that it would be better for this to happen naturally, reducing the chance of infection. Little, by little the burned skin fell away, and pink sensitive skin developed in its place. The nurses, vet students and doctors were amazing in their dedication to protect this skin, and save my beautiful girl.
Another concern that developed, was that Suki seemed tired. She would not lie down in her stall. When the IV lines were removed, and the mare and foal stall became vacant, Suki was moved into it, with the hope that the larger stall would entice her to lie down. Suki has always been a sleeper. She likes to lie flat out at night in her stall and take a good snooze. The standing cat naps were not enough for her.
Even with the move, Suki still did not lie down. She tried once, but stood up again immediately. Then one day I noticed her trying to scratch her side with her nose... she lost her balance and stopped, so I took over the scratching. Suki has also always been extremely flexible, but the charred skin on her sides wrinkled when she tried to bend, and that seemed to unnerve her. I realized then, that was why she would not lie down to sleep.
November 13, 2011
At 3 AM I heard sirens...a lot of them... They were in a distance, but it woke me. It felt like my heart stopped...I just lay there waiting for the phone call....thankfully it never came. When will I get over this? I honestly don't think I ever will!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Continued improvement
Two weeks after fire
As the days turned to weeks, Suki continued to improve. Some areas of burned skin were even beginning to heal, with early signs of "peach fuzz"! We were always so excited by these new developments. One day we noticed that her whiskers were growing in, and the day we saw eyelashes everyone squealed with delight!
Suki's mane and tail were also burned, having an almost "melted" appearance. Her entire body smelled like smoke as I hugged her. What was interesting though, was how the area just beneath her mane was completely normal because it had been covered by the longer hair. This only goes down about an inch along the crest of her neck, but it is soft and shiny.
Suki's vision appeared to be normal, but there was some concern regarding her eyelids as the healing progressed. Burned skin contracts as it heals, so the doctors worried that if too much contraction occurred the lids would lose their ability to close completely, requiring reconstructive surgery. Daily eye drops to keep her eyes moist was clearly not an option!
A mare and foal moved into the stall next to Suki in ICU. She became COMPLETELY obsessed with the foal! Every time someone would open her door, Suki would try to stick her head out to get a better look! If the baby talked, Suki responded. It was very sweet!
Cheryl, one of my instructors (and friend) was going to take her take her horse to New Bolton for some diagnostic work so she went over to ICU to see Suki. I will always remember the text that she sent that day: "Oh, Fran". In my mind I could hear the sadness in her voice as she wrote it. Her husband was originally going to go in with her, be he decided against it as they dressed in gowns. He later told me that all of a sudden he realized that he just could not go in there. I completely understood. Seeing a horse in that condition is just so difficult. Two weeks after the fire Michael went in to see Suki. I tried to prepare him for what he would see, and warned the nurses that he might pass out! He had expected much worse, and thought Suki looked pretty good for only two weeks out!
Life fell into a routine of taking Isaiah to preschool, work, and making the 1 1/4 hour drive to New Bolton 4-5 days a week. The human entrance to ICU runs along the back side of the stall area. I noticed when I exited that it was necessary to pass Suki's stall. Because Suki is so tall, she was able to almost see out of the high, frosted window in her stall. I was able to see her head turn in an attempt to see me every time I left ICU.
The nurses told me that Suki would go right to the front of her stall and look in the direction of the door as soon as she heard my voice. Then, of course she would start kicking the stall door until I went in by her. What can I say? The girl knows what she wants! Must be that diva personality!
November 11, 2011
Suki has a new FB friend...she is a special needs girl who participates in therapeutic riding, and has won medals in the special Olympics. During her conversation with Suki, X explained that she had some medical conditions that require a variety of testing, and this is sometimes scary. Here is a piece of the "conversation"
"You are so very brave X! I know that all of this is very scary to you, but it is important that the doctors figure things out to make you feel better. When the doctors were taking care of me I was afraid too. But they made me feel better. When you are afraid, think of me and know that I am thinking about you and giving you BIG horsie hugs!"
"Hi Suki thank you so VERY much :) you made me feel better already i will think about you when i am afraid that will make me smile ♥ You are a VERY smart Horsey I Love you so much ♥ How are you feeling today? i hope good :)"
It always makes my heart smile when I see the joy and hope that Suki can bring to others!
As the days turned to weeks, Suki continued to improve. Some areas of burned skin were even beginning to heal, with early signs of "peach fuzz"! We were always so excited by these new developments. One day we noticed that her whiskers were growing in, and the day we saw eyelashes everyone squealed with delight!
Suki's mane and tail were also burned, having an almost "melted" appearance. Her entire body smelled like smoke as I hugged her. What was interesting though, was how the area just beneath her mane was completely normal because it had been covered by the longer hair. This only goes down about an inch along the crest of her neck, but it is soft and shiny.
Suki's vision appeared to be normal, but there was some concern regarding her eyelids as the healing progressed. Burned skin contracts as it heals, so the doctors worried that if too much contraction occurred the lids would lose their ability to close completely, requiring reconstructive surgery. Daily eye drops to keep her eyes moist was clearly not an option!
A mare and foal moved into the stall next to Suki in ICU. She became COMPLETELY obsessed with the foal! Every time someone would open her door, Suki would try to stick her head out to get a better look! If the baby talked, Suki responded. It was very sweet!
Cheryl, one of my instructors (and friend) was going to take her take her horse to New Bolton for some diagnostic work so she went over to ICU to see Suki. I will always remember the text that she sent that day: "Oh, Fran". In my mind I could hear the sadness in her voice as she wrote it. Her husband was originally going to go in with her, be he decided against it as they dressed in gowns. He later told me that all of a sudden he realized that he just could not go in there. I completely understood. Seeing a horse in that condition is just so difficult. Two weeks after the fire Michael went in to see Suki. I tried to prepare him for what he would see, and warned the nurses that he might pass out! He had expected much worse, and thought Suki looked pretty good for only two weeks out!
Life fell into a routine of taking Isaiah to preschool, work, and making the 1 1/4 hour drive to New Bolton 4-5 days a week. The human entrance to ICU runs along the back side of the stall area. I noticed when I exited that it was necessary to pass Suki's stall. Because Suki is so tall, she was able to almost see out of the high, frosted window in her stall. I was able to see her head turn in an attempt to see me every time I left ICU.
The nurses told me that Suki would go right to the front of her stall and look in the direction of the door as soon as she heard my voice. Then, of course she would start kicking the stall door until I went in by her. What can I say? The girl knows what she wants! Must be that diva personality!
November 11, 2011
Suki has a new FB friend...she is a special needs girl who participates in therapeutic riding, and has won medals in the special Olympics. During her conversation with Suki, X explained that she had some medical conditions that require a variety of testing, and this is sometimes scary. Here is a piece of the "conversation"
"You are so very brave X! I know that all of this is very scary to you, but it is important that the doctors figure things out to make you feel better. When the doctors were taking care of me I was afraid too. But they made me feel better. When you are afraid, think of me and know that I am thinking about you and giving you BIG horsie hugs!"
"Hi Suki thank you so VERY much :) you made me feel better already i will think about you when i am afraid that will make me smile ♥ You are a VERY smart Horsey I Love you so much ♥ How are you feeling today? i hope good :)"
It always makes my heart smile when I see the joy and hope that Suki can bring to others!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The early days of recovery
The Sunday after the fire Bobbi told me that several people were going to meet at the site of the fire. Because the indoor arena was still intact, temporary stalls were fabricated enabling the horses to come in from the heat of the July sun. I honestly don't know why I even agreed to go over that soon after the fire. Following my morning visit with Suki I drove to the barn.
The one thing that I clearly remember as I got closer was that I began to tremble, then shake uncontrollably. How was I going to get out of the car. When I opened my door, the smell of fire and burned rubble overwhelmed me and my legs actually buckled. Usually I do not react in this way to tragedy, but it struck me so hard. Several people came over and helped me to the barn, where I collapsed into tears (I am not really someone who typically shows that much emotion in public). We spoke for awhile, then Bobbi and I walked to the area where the barn once stood. I remember standing there just staring at the rubble. All that remained of the building was some melted equipment; the barn had burned to the ground. My heart ached as I thought about the fear and pain that Suki had endured. Not a religious person, I still found myself thanking God for the quick thinking firefighter that rescued my horse.
Often when we hear of tragedies and only one or two animals are injured or have died, we are relieved to hear that the number of casualties was not higher. My view has changed since that night, because my horse was the ONE that was critically injured. Now my thoughts go immediately to those associated with the one or two that were injured. While I have never been bitter that Suki was the only horse with such extensive injuries, I do occasionally look at her and ask "why did this happen to you?" As time marches on I realize that Suki has a new purpose and a new mission to help heal and inspire the people around her.
I spoke to many people during those first days and weeks of Suki's stay at New Bolton. Friends and strangers offered support. Dr. Mike Fugaro from Centenary College knew Suki from when she was at Heather Mason's for training at various times and had some experience with burned horses. We spoke about her current condition, the changes that would occur in her skin, and our hope for the future. He was an invaluable source of knowledge and support.
Suki's attitude and appetite remained intact. That is one tough girl! This is most certainly due to the phenomenal pain-management regimen that was used. When a horse is in pain of any kind they typically stop eating. Suki would walk around her stall with all of her IV tubing, and kick at the door for treats! Watching her behave like the diva that she is always gave me confidence that I had made the right decision!
The burned areas of skin began to slough off and her skin was cleaned followed by the application of a thick layer of SSD. We needed to keep the skin from drying, and prevent infection. But some areas of her skin were quite sensitive to the touch, so when extensive wound cleaning needed to be performed, Suki was sedated.
November 8, 2011
The bruising has pretty much resolved, so I am pleased. Suki received her full spa treatment, which she seemed to really enjoy. She had some pretty itchy spots, which she points to with her nose so that I can get them.
I also had a lovely ride on Nikki.
The book will contain more detail, as I continue to interview people and read through Suki's medical records.
The one thing that I clearly remember as I got closer was that I began to tremble, then shake uncontrollably. How was I going to get out of the car. When I opened my door, the smell of fire and burned rubble overwhelmed me and my legs actually buckled. Usually I do not react in this way to tragedy, but it struck me so hard. Several people came over and helped me to the barn, where I collapsed into tears (I am not really someone who typically shows that much emotion in public). We spoke for awhile, then Bobbi and I walked to the area where the barn once stood. I remember standing there just staring at the rubble. All that remained of the building was some melted equipment; the barn had burned to the ground. My heart ached as I thought about the fear and pain that Suki had endured. Not a religious person, I still found myself thanking God for the quick thinking firefighter that rescued my horse.
Often when we hear of tragedies and only one or two animals are injured or have died, we are relieved to hear that the number of casualties was not higher. My view has changed since that night, because my horse was the ONE that was critically injured. Now my thoughts go immediately to those associated with the one or two that were injured. While I have never been bitter that Suki was the only horse with such extensive injuries, I do occasionally look at her and ask "why did this happen to you?" As time marches on I realize that Suki has a new purpose and a new mission to help heal and inspire the people around her.
I spoke to many people during those first days and weeks of Suki's stay at New Bolton. Friends and strangers offered support. Dr. Mike Fugaro from Centenary College knew Suki from when she was at Heather Mason's for training at various times and had some experience with burned horses. We spoke about her current condition, the changes that would occur in her skin, and our hope for the future. He was an invaluable source of knowledge and support.
Suki's attitude and appetite remained intact. That is one tough girl! This is most certainly due to the phenomenal pain-management regimen that was used. When a horse is in pain of any kind they typically stop eating. Suki would walk around her stall with all of her IV tubing, and kick at the door for treats! Watching her behave like the diva that she is always gave me confidence that I had made the right decision!
The burned areas of skin began to slough off and her skin was cleaned followed by the application of a thick layer of SSD. We needed to keep the skin from drying, and prevent infection. But some areas of her skin were quite sensitive to the touch, so when extensive wound cleaning needed to be performed, Suki was sedated.
November 8, 2011
The bruising has pretty much resolved, so I am pleased. Suki received her full spa treatment, which she seemed to really enjoy. She had some pretty itchy spots, which she points to with her nose so that I can get them.
I also had a lovely ride on Nikki.
The book will contain more detail, as I continue to interview people and read through Suki's medical records.
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