Now that we have a plan for Ambrosia it’s time for us to share it. I spent a good part of yesterday at the hospital again. They did not have to drain anymore fluids yesterday or today. A few more tests were done and we reviewed her case to determine where to go from here. We’ve given her time to see how (if) she improves and she amazes us – each day she is stronger. She is eating, drinking, and has even started whinnying when she wants something – different hay, mash, etc. She gets hand walked – she loves to graze. Yesterday we gave her a bath which she adored. Her care team says that she is a very strong mare and is ready to move forward in her treatment.
The issue is two abscesses, one on each side, that need to be surgically removed. Since she has been at the hospital, her heart rate, which was in the 70’s, has gone down and maintained into the 40’s. Her temperature has been normal. She is eating and drinking. She maintains a positive attitude. Her care team has commented more than once about what a strong willed and sweet mare she is. She has a lot of determination. Her eyes are brighter–she’s a fighter.
While Ambrosia has come a long ways in her recovery she has a ways to go. Antibiotics are not enough at this stage due to the accumulation of fibrin (an insoluble protein that’s the result of the inflammation process) and abscesses (as the body walls off the bacteria). While both the fibrin and abscesses are good things in the short run, in the long run they lead to the accumulation of fluid around the lungs and cannot be treated successfully by IV antibiotics—there are simply too much and too isolated from the blood stream. Her body has worked to her advantage and walled off the abscesses.
Ambrosia needs two surgeries – one for each side. Each surgery basically includes removing a few inches of a rib to allow the surgeon to reach into the pleural space (area between lungs and ribs) and manually clean the fibrin and abscesses out and flush out the remaining material. Cleaning these areas out is something we will have to continue to do here, along with the flushes, daily for about 30 days. The commitment it is going to take from us with her aftercare is a big one. But it is what it is. We hope to get some UF students that want to get into the vet school involved to help out. We have students that do volunteer and this will be a good learning experience for them. This is our first case like this and we want to share it in hopes that others that may be put into a position such as this will have something to refer to.
The surgery is fairly straightforward but she will need treatments daily – we will continue to have to clean out the two cavities until they heal over. It could take up to a month. She will be on antibiotics. She should be able to come home a few days after surgery. Dr. Stieler, Dr. MacKay, and her care team are doing a great job and they say Ambrosia is ready. This is the only way she will have a chance to recover and live a comfortable life. Her attitude is great and we all agree that Ambrosia truly is quite the mare. She deserves a life if we can provide what she needs. She didn’t ask to be dumped and neglected. No horse deserves to be neglected as she was. God put her in our path for a reason and I have to have faith that the means will come to provide for her and her surgery. It’s a miracle that she survived until she could get help. And so we move forward…
Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org
Ambrosia Wednesday Update
Ambrosia Today
They had flushed the cavity out and are redressing the surgical area in this picture.
Ambrodia is eating and drinking. They had to remove the catheter and have switched her to oral antibiotics. I’m amazed with her positive attitude! She has a long, long way to go and there can be complications at any time but we are only thinking positive.
Little Billy sings to Ambrosia. He’s quite entertaining!
Quite the mare…
Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org
Ambrosia 09/05/12 am update
Heading out to the hospital now. A thrombosis had developed in the vein where her catheter is so they have to move it. The other vein already has a thrombosis. I’m not sure where the catheter is going to be placed now but I’ll find out soon.
There is still concern about air leaking and the potential of lung collapse. The doctor said Ambrosia is eating and drinking. They are keeping her comfortable.
Still a roller coaster ride but keeping the faith. Ambrosia has the will, now we can just pray it is in God’s plan that she gets through all of this and recovers to live a happy life. Please keep Ambrosia in your prayers.
Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org
Ambrosia update
Ambrosia is out of surgery. The doctors say it was quite extensive. They ended up taking most of her rib – there was a huge amount of fibren and pus. There was a scare where there was some air leaking but they managed to seal it off. Ambrosia just lost about 10 lbs but we won’t hold that against her progress of weight gain. J
They may not do the other side this week – they had planned on likely doing it on Friday but they want to wait and see how she does for a few days and they may hold off until next week. We won’t take any chances – if she needs time to recover from today and grow stronger before the next surgery then so be it.
So, she is stable and munching on her hay. They say she is quite the mare! She’s amazing. Just amazing.
Thank God. Thank all of the wonderful people at UF. And thank all of you!
Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org
In Surgery
Ambrosia was just taken in for surgery to remove an abscess on one side.
They will remove the one on the other side either Thursday or Friday.
Please pray for her.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org
Ambrosia – Horse and Man!
Please check out Dawn’s “Horse and Man” blog today – Ambrosia is the bucket fund recipient! Horse and Man is an awesome blog – very informative.
You can sign up to receive it automatically. Dawn does a wonderful job! Thank you Dawn!
Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org
horseandman.com
Ambrosia, Baby Girl, and Aaleyah Belle
I was surprised one day this week when I opened a Fall 2012 UF Veterinary magazine that I picked up – one of its articles hit home! Click here http://www.vetmed.ufl.edu/files/2011/08/REV-VetMedNewsletter3-27.pdf and go to page 9. It was a year ago this month – September (28th) 2011 that Dr. Porter, owner of PHD Veterinary Services, came out to x-ray Baby Girl’s head injury. He identified bone fragments and sent us to UF for a CT scan. I’ll never forget Dr. Morton sitting down with me to review the scan – it was grim. The odds for Baby Girl were poor. But her positive and can-do attitude which helped her to survive for 2+ months, before coming to us, with a horribly infected injury proved to all of us what a fighter she was. You could just feel a positive energy around her. And here is a link to the newspaper article – Baby Girl made front page! http://www.gainesville.com/article/20111218/ARTICLES/111219630
Baby Girl was our 2011 miracle. The first picture was taken the day after she arrived in August 2011. This 2nd picture was taken in July 2012 with Dr. Porter.
I won’t get into Baby Girl’s story in detail here but if you go to our Daily Blog from last year you can follow her story from the beginning – it’s a really good story of perseverance and love. Like Aaleyah Belle, a miracle baby that came to us in 2008 while only a few hours old with a severely wry nose (surgically repaired at UF in 2008), Baby Girl never gave up and she became another miracle story. These are just two examples of horses, with a huge love for life, that have taught or reminded us to never give up! Ambrosia has the same drive and will to survive – when I think about what she has endured, how neglected her needs went, I just can’t imagine not giving her an opportunity to overcome. While there is no guarantee that the treatment she needs will be a success, I have faith in her and her care team. She has the will to live and we want to give her that chance.
We truly appreciate the help that has come in for Ambrosia’s needs but we need to raise more funds. Melissa will be putting a jewelry auction on FB tomorrow and we have some other things in mind. Donations are still needed – no amount is too small and any amount is appreciated. Can you help? If you can’t donate funds, please share Ambrosia’s story with family and friends, perhaps they may be able to help. Again, no amount is too small and donations are tax deductible. Please help us to make this mare’s future possible.
I truly believe that Ambrosia survived and found her way to us for a reason and just in time – I don’t think she would have survived much longer. And, I believe in miracles. Thank you all – God bless and have a wonderful night!
Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org
Ambrosia – a prayer and plan
Now that we have a plan for Ambrosia it’s time for us to share it. I spent a good part of yesterday at the hospital again. They did not have to drain anymore fluids yesterday or today. A few more tests were done and we reviewed her case to determine where to go from here. We’ve given her time to see how (if) she improves and she amazes us – each day she is stronger. She is eating, drinking, and has even started whinnying when she wants something – different hay, mash, etc. She gets hand walked – she loves to graze. Yesterday we gave her a bath which she adored. Her care team says that she is a very strong mare and is ready to move forward in her treatment.
The issue is two abscesses, one on each side, that need to be surgically removed. Since she has been at the hospital, her heart rate, which was in the 70’s, has gone down and maintained into the 40’s. Her temperature has been normal. She is eating and drinking. She maintains a positive attitude. Her care team has commented more than once about what a strong willed and sweet mare she is. She has a lot of determination. Her eyes are brighter–she’s a fighter.
While Ambrosia has come a long ways in her recovery she has a ways to go. Antibiotics are not enough at this stage due to the accumulation of fibrin (an insoluble protein that’s the result of the inflammation process) and abscesses (as the body walls off the bacteria). While both the fibrin and abscesses are good things in the short run, in the long run they lead to the accumulation of fluid around the lungs and cannot be treated successfully by IV antibiotics—there are simply too much and too isolated from the blood stream. Her body has worked to her advantage and walled off the abscesses.
Ambrosia needs two surgeries – one for each side. Each surgery basically includes removing a few inches of a rib to allow the surgeon to reach into the pleural space (area between lungs and ribs) and manually clean the fibrin and abscesses out and flush out the remaining material. Cleaning these areas out is something we will have to continue to do here, along with the flushes, daily for about 30 days. The commitment it is going to take from us with her aftercare is a big one. But it is what it is. We hope to get some UF students that want to get into the vet school involved to help out. We have students that do volunteer and this will be a good learning experience for them. This is our first case like this and we want to share it in hopes that others that may be put into a position such as this will have something to refer to.
The surgery is fairly straightforward but she will need treatments daily – we will continue to have to clean out the two cavities until they heal over. It could take up to a month. She will be on antibiotics. She should be able to come home a few days after surgery. Dr. Stieler, Dr. MacKay, and her care team are doing a great job and they say Ambrosia is ready. This is the only way she will have a chance to recover and live a comfortable life. Her attitude is great and we all agree that Ambrosia truly is quite the mare. She deserves a life if we can provide what she needs. She didn’t ask to be dumped and neglected. No horse deserves to be neglected as she was. God put her in our path for a reason and I have to have faith that the means will come to provide for her and her surgery. It’s a miracle that she survived until she could get help. And so we move forward…
Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org
Sunday Night Ambrosia Update 09/02/12
BRIEF UPDATE
Theresa is having issues with her eyesight so she has asked that I post a brief update.
I am happy to report that Ambrosia is much better today.
The vet stated that Ambrosia is much brighter and whinny’s whenever she wants something.
She is walked four times per day. Theresa gave Ambrosia a bath while at UF today which she truly enjoyed.
The vet drew fluid from Ambrosia’s chest today to determine
if anything new had developed and thankfully the test was negative.
It was merely a neighboring pocket of fluid.
Ambrosia has gained nearly sixty pounds thus far between her time spent at Beauty’s Haven and UF.
Theresa hopes to post a more detailed update tomorrow.
Please keep Ambrosia in your Prayers.
Wishing everyone a wonderful Labor Day!
jeanne
More cuteness… Domino
Domino is doing great! Her friend, Tony, is teaching her to be a donkey while Pam is teaching her how to respect humans. Domino loved to help us with the stalls here and apparently she is still quite the helper!
She wanted to attend Brandon’s birthday party and she did! She’s growing up – it’s hard to believe how big she is compared to our little Penny – they are the same age!
Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org
Ambrosia, Penny, and Penelope!
Click here to see the video on FB: https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=4454917692171&saved#!/bhfer.tb
Sincerely,
Theresa
Beauty’s Haven Farm & Equine Rescue, Inc.
A 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization
www.bhfer.org