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Here We Go! Hope is Moving On!



Hi Everybody!

Guess what? Yesterday was a really big day for me! I stood up for at least 15 minutes and walked at least 12 baby steps all by myself! I think I overdid it though, as I was a very tired little girl last night!

But guess what else? My DynaSplints arrived yesterday! We tried them on, and, this morning, we had to make some little adjustments. I’m going to get back into Betsy Rose’s sling now, to have my splints put on and then I’m going to try them out – so please stay tuned.

Love,
Hope

“Okay, everybody, it’s time! I’m just hanging around while they put my splints on me.  Then I’m going outside!  Please wish us luck, okay?”


Our Fundraiser and Match Game are both now complete! I’m thankful to all my Aunties and Uncles who have helped me so that I might be able to run and play like other baby calves!

Wishing everyone a wonderful day!

Love,
Hope

When the world says, “Give up,” Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”

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Hope’s Visit With Dr. Mangan

Dr. Mangan arrived at the rescue not long after Hope and I returned from Ocala Equine Hospital on Friday. He helped us settle Hope back into her “suite.”  Dr. Mangan had his absolutely wonderful children with him and we all learned quite a bit!  The findings could have been better, but they could have also, been much worse. We knew Hope has dwarfism characteristics and suspected neurological issues as well.  We also thought her to possibly be blind. So, here’s what we learned.

Hope has cataracts in both eyes but she can see some shadows from her left eye and a little bit more from her right eye.

She has iris hypoplasia which is the term for any condition that causes an intact iris to erode, or prevents an iris from developing properly. However, a mild improvement in visual function can occur as the result of maturation processes of the brain.  This may be what causes Hope to squint and lower their head.

Dr. Mangan arrived at the rescue to assess Hope’s eyes not long after Hope and I returned from Ocala Equine Hospital yesterday.

The cataract is pretty visible.

Hope has symptoms of hydrocephalus (excess amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain).  It can cause an up-gaze paresis with the eyes appearing to be driven downward.  The lower portion of the pupil is sometimes covered by the lower eyelid and the sclera may be seen between the upper eyelid and the iris.  Other symptoms of hydrocephalus can include abnormal curvature of the spine, difficulty walking, muscle fasciculations, proprioceptive deficits, blindness, diminished learning ability, skeletal abnormality, overreactive reflexes, and deformities of the limbs.

With these findings, and our team will regroup and determine a plan for Hope.  For now, we will continue to pursue the procurement of the Dynasplints and provide supportive care.  Only time will tell what the future holds for Hope.  Please keep her in your prayers.

The other cataract.


We have high hopes for Hope and we believe in her.  She’s got the right attitude and tons of determination!  She doesn’t know she’s “different” and we don’t need to tell her – we love her just the way she is.

Hi Everyone, it’s me, Hope!

Mommy Theresa asked me if I would like to share some news about the Match Game! We still have $669 to go to help with the cost of my DynaSplints and follow up care. I am so excited and thankful to all my Aunties and Uncles who are helping me so that I can soon, jump and play like other baby calves!

*Please CLICK HERE if you would like to play the Match Game.*

Wishing everyone a wonderful Sunday!

Love,
Hope

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A Big Day for Hope!

Wednesday was a big day for Hope! I took her to Ocala Equine Hospital for an evaluation and x-rays by Dr. Lugo to determine if she would be a candidate for DynaSplints which would hopefully, help her contracted tendons.

Dr. Lugo and his staff did a great job in successfully operating on little Harvey a few years ago to put his kneecap back where it belonged – he had been born with his kneecap out of place. More than a year ago, Emma had bullets and bullet fragments removed at Ocala Equine Hospital almost a month after she had been shot multiple times. They are truly amazing!  Please CLICK HERE to learn more about Dr. Lugo and Ocala Equine Hospital.

To learn more about DynaSplints, please CLICK HERE.


Hope is always great for road trips. Freckles travels with her.

Everyone at the hospital loved her!

Hope was great for the trip – she’s always a very good girl for road trips. Once we arrived at the hospital, she had a bit of a welcoming committee.  She unloaded onto a nice thick mat and got comfortable. She then basked in all the attention that was being showered upon her.

The evaluation, multiple x-rays, and measurements took a couple of hours, but Hope cooperated the entire time. It was determined that she is a candidate for DynaSplints! There is no guarantee they will work but there is a good possibility that they will. We discussed the possible outcomes and her quality of life and we all believe that she truly, deserves a chance.

Hope cooperated – totally. She seemed to know we are all trying to help her.

Dr. Lugo feels we should try the Dynasplints and that Hope has a chance to live a comfortable life.

In addition to the contracted tendons, there is some abnormality in one knee but Dr. Lugo said that we can address that later, if needed.  Before leaving the hospital, more people appeared to have a photo taken with Hope – she simply loved it!  However, she was totally exhausted by the time we departed for the rescue. She curled up with Freckles and rested on the way home as she had an appointment with Dr. Mangan that same afternoon.

Thank you all for having faith in our little Hope and for helping her. I will update tomorrow regarding Dr. Mangan’s assessment of Hope which, hopefully, will help explain her other issues.

Please keep Hope in your prayers – she’s such a precious little girl who really seems to understand, and appreciate, that we are trying to help her.

Hope seemed to pose for photos – she knows she is “all that!”

So many people came by to take photos with Hope. I’m sure she felt like a movie star!


I was so proud of this little girl.

Hope is quite the determined little calf.


A tired little girl on the way home. Hope curled up with Freckles and napped on the way back to the rescue.

Our precious little sleepy head.


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Hope Needs Dynasplints

The two photos above show the difference between a normal calf and Hope.

Hope is a calf that spent most of the first 4+ weeks of her life on the ground because she couldn’t walk – she was born with contracted tendons. She couldn’t stand for long periods of time but she must have stood long enough to drink mom’s milk.  Neighbors saw Hope laying down in almost the same spot of the property each day.

I can’t imagine how horrible it must have been for Hope during the severe thunder storms that we had – and to be alone!  And she had to have been miserable in the extremely high temperatures laying in full sun.  She was very lucky that lightening or the coyotes didn’t get her.

Hope’s mom left her alone for periods of time in order to graze and get water and, after the first few weeks, her mom began staying away for longer periods of time.  Hope and her mom should have been placed in a small paddock after she was born so mom wouldn’t wander far away and the baby could get limited exercise. Sometimes, with exercise, the issue of contracted tendons will correct itself.  Tetracycline antibiotics are sometimes given to help bind up the calcium, reducing the growth of the long bones and giving time for the tendons to catch up.  In some cases, with time and exercise, the tendons will straighten on their own.  Sometimes, manually stretching the leg(s) out a few times a day will help or splints may be used.  None of these things had been done for Hope.

We are stretching Hope’s legs out often. She will still only stand for short periods of time. Dr. Julia does acupuncture and Raindrop therapy on her and we are trying to get DynaSplints for her.  Hope is an absolute love and is fully cooperative.

We will be working on the contracted tendon issue and as well as other issues – there are some unknowns but time will tell.  It’s going to be an adventure, and a bit time consuming, but if she can have a good quality of life, it will be worth it. If, for some reason Hope becomes uncomfortable and there is nothing we can do, we will love her enough to let her go. But we’re going to stay positive and believe that that she will improve.

Thank you all for caring about her.

When the world says, “Give up,” Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”

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Such a Good Girl!

Hope was such a good girl on her way to the vet for her follow up on Saturday morning. I have been fighting the flu but promise to provide further details regarding Hope’s issues, as soon as I can. Thank you for your understanding.

I hope that each and every member of our incredible little village had a very Happy Easter or Passover.

Sincerely,

Theresa

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Hope’s Evening Update

Dr. Sonday and Dr. Simonson met with us yesterday to review Hope’s test results.  We will be scheduling Dr. Mangan, our veterinary ophthalmologist to do an eye exam on Hope and we will be consulting with a neurologist.

At this time, even though the odds are not in Hope’s favor, we all feel that she deserves a chance.  She’s alert and in good spirits, she’s comfortable, she’s eating and drinking, and she’s mobile (to an extent).

I’m so thankful that Hope is here and will at least, be given the opportunity to overcome her issues.  Thank you all for caring and for helping this precious little girl.  I wish you all could meet her.  Everyone who has met Hope, simply adores her.

When the world says “give up”, Hope whispers, “try it one more time.” Believe…

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Baby Hope Update

When I met Hope on Wednesday morning, the first thing I noticed besides the issue of her legs, were her eyes. They were odd – at times they would roll back under the socket and you could see much of the white of the eye. She didn’t seem to watch us move about, but she did seem attuned to noises. After she was carefully loaded into the SUV, I took her to the vet for tests. Once back at the farm, she settled into Betsy Rose’s stall.

Hope can get up on her own at times, with effort, but she doesn’t walk much and lays back down soon thereafter. She’s eating and drinking some, not enough in my opinion, but hopefully, that will improve. She seems most content when someone stays with her, and she simply loves to lay her head in my lap and have her face rubbed.

There appears to be neurological issues, so we will gather our team (optometrist, neurologist, traditional vet, and a holistic vet), to assess her overall health.  

Her crooked legs is one thing, but the apparent loss of vision and being wobbly in her backend and seemingly, being unaware as to where her legs are, is something else. Once we have reviewed all test results, we will plan a course of action.

It makes me sad that Hope was pretty much alone for almost four weeks – down on the ground lying in the scorching sun and even torrential rains. And during all these weeks, Hope didn’t wander from the spot where she was born which supports the thought that she may not be able to see – she had no clue as to where to go or what to do. And when her mom would go off to graze and get water, she was all alone.

She’s a very brave little girl. I’m very grateful to the humans who stepped up and contacted us and to the wonderful support from all of you.

I can’t tell you how sweet and trusting Hope is. She is simply precious. She needs prayers, lots of good energy, and likely, a miracle.

Thank you, all, so very much, for caring.

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Precious Angel Hope

We Named Her Hope!

The little one had a tough time getting up yesterday morning.

She’s just precious.

She was gently picked up and loaded into the back of the SUV.

When I first saw Hope, I felt she had more issues than just contracted tendons. I will update as soon as she is seen by our team of veterinarians.

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Please Pray for Baby Cow

Someone reached out to us about a baby calf with contracted tendons that lays, alone, in a paddock everyday because she can’t walk. Her legs/tendons need to be stretched out several times a day. She may need splints – we don’t know yet. The mother goes off to graze and get water, but returns to give her baby a chance to nurse but as of late, she has been wandering off more frequently and has been gone a bit longer each day. Mom and baby should have been placed in a small area where the mom would be unable to wander too far and the baby’s chance of being hurt by other members of the herd, or even coyotes, would be greatly lessened.

A couple of good samaritans have been stopping by to help the baby get up and give her water. Yesterday, we learned that the owner, not wanting to be bothered with this baby, was going to give her to a neighbor who would fatten her up and use her for meat and her hide.

I couldn’t help it – we had to offer to take this baby.

We want to get her here today and get her settled in. Perhaps the sling and hands on manipulation will help her. Once she is better, and doesn’t need hands on manipulation throughout the day, we think we have a foster home she can go to until a permanent home is found. The thought of her not being mobile and laying in the hot sun, and in the rain, is maddening. She’s going to need milk replacer and vetting.

Would anyone like to pledge to help this precious little girl?

MORNING UPDATE
We need prayers for baby cow – she’s weak this am and couldn’t get up. The owner has finally agreed to release her and we’re getting ready to go get her. I’ll update when I can.

Thank you all for your love and support.

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