Layla

[Lindsey]

I'm just worried about the fact that I can't ALWAYS be there. I don't know how long they will allow me to keep bringing her to work. Until she walks, she will not have bladder function back so I will have to express her at least once during the day, and since we moved it is not feasible at all for me to drive home to express her and drive all the way back to the city. I wouldn't make it in an hour. And keeping her boarded somewhere just can't be done financially. I know I'm probably looking too far into the future, and I should concentrate on her getting better NOW. But, I'm terrible at not having things planned out in the long run.

[Shada]

Lindsey, Layla is showing you that she is and will get better!!
Her reflexes are proof that her spinal cord is healing. If she had no reflexes at all... that would show a different story. Her brain is getting a signal.
Which she acts on. Good girl Layla!!!
Prayers sent for a full recovery. [HUGS]

[Gina]

Oh Lindsey thats encouraging news. Baby steps remember!! I have her and you in my prayers.. Continue loving her thats all you can do at the moment , she know your the best mommy .. She will get there.. Keep the faith...

[Janet]

Keep healing Layla!!! We're all praying for you!!

[judy]

Dogs live in the moment, and she may not even miss running around right now.
I think that you do mind more than she does. Not that I blame you Linds - I would be just as heartbroken, but it is too soon to give up hope. I really have to agree with Gayle that this doctor is a bit negative. Hope keeps us going.

She might be perfectly happy just as she is right now. She really is in no pain, is spending all of her time with you, and it sounds like her spirits are good. Of course, we will all be praying fiercely for a full recovery! I think she will be fine given time!

[Lindsey]

Thank you all so much. I took her to reiki alone today and I was amazed... instead of her usual squirmy, uneasy self in new surroundings, I put her on the couch between us and the woman started working on her, and she laid right down against my leg and barely moved. Every once in awhile she'd jump up and look at the woman's hands, and the woman just laughed! She said she probably feels the energy and thinks "What the heck is this person doing to me?" Anyways, I was so impressed with everything today. She said that Layla seems to trust her a lot more and just let the energy flow into her body. After about 25 minutes, she finished with Layla and asked me if I had ever felt Reiki energy before. I said no. She told me to stay where I was and she came around behind me. All I could feel was heat through my head and down my neck. It was weird!

Layla peed a bit on her leg when I expressed her last so I washed her off and decided it was probably time to change her blanket in her crate anyway, since it hadn't been changed since last weekend. So I got her a new fleece blanket and thought, I wonder if a pillow would fit in there? I grabbed an old pillow too, and it fits perfectly! So now she has a nice soft place to be laying. She seems to like it so far.

Yesterday I met some women from town at a clothing party the woman next door was hosting. That might be a topic for a new thread later! Anyways I tried to talk about Layla with some of them and I think they just considered me the crazy dog lady One woman said "Oh your dog is your baby until you have a real baby and then it's just a dog." and she was laughing about bringing her baby home and being so worried about the dog being okay with it, and now she just thinks it was hilarious to care that much When I told her about Layla being paralyzed and we're spending most of our time looking after her, she immediately looked for a way to get out of the conversation.

I'm so glad I have so many of you here who understand the love I have for Layla.

[gja1000]

Lindsay, I wish so much that all of us lived closer to each other. We indeed do understand how much Layla means to you and how much you love her. We all would do exactly the same thing for our dear furbabies. I wish we were closer to be able to help you with Layla. It is overwhelming to have her so dependent on you. I understand. But you are doing such a good job and I know Layla is very very happy. It is hard for you to never have a break and I wish I were closer to "babysit".

I'm really glad to hear the last reiki session went well. I know that it will help. I hope you have a good week.

[judy]

People can sometimes be intentionally cruel. Why would this woman tell you this when she knows that you are so concerned about Layla, love her as your baby, and give her healing all of your time. Most people do not stop loving their pets with all of their hearts once they have children.

I know a lot of my friends, who are mothers and grandmothers, who discuss their dogs with as much love and concern as you feel about Layla. Whoever I talk to asks about "the babies," meaning Max and Annie. I discuss my daughter and grandchildren, but my heart is big enough to love them all!

Next time, ask if her if her heart can only contain a certain amount of love, and could not expand to still love her pets?

[Lindsey]

Thank you Judy. I think when I have children I will love them a lot, but I can't say I would love Layla any less and think she's "just a dog". I have ALWAYS loved animals more than I love most people. I have always been able to bond with animals better than with people. I don't think I could ever look at her and say she's JUST an animal, and not as important as anyone else in my family.

I cried on the way to work today. I woke up being happy but Scott was in a terrible mood, and there was a lineup at the college for dropping off animals. We were supposed to stay there with Layla but it was already past 8 (we both start work at 8) so Scott asked if we could just leave her there in her crate in the waiting room. He ran out the door and I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to her, just left her there alone with tons of other people and dogs all over the place. I felt like I was walking on eggshells around Scott and couldn't say a thing because he'd snap. He said he didn't sleep well... well he was asleep at least 2 hours before I was, and in bed longer this morning too. Anyways, by the time we were a block away from work, tears just started pouring. My heart is so broken over Layla and it is so hard for me to push through every day.

[gja1000]

Always, we have good days and bad days. It's even more pronounced during times of stress. Sometimes we feel like we can conquer the world, other times, just a tiny misstep will through us off into fits of tears. That's normal. It doesn't make it any easier, but it is normal.

Take it one minute/hour at a time. You can do anything for one hour. Usually at the end of the hour or day, things look a little better - if not, then keep telling yourself, "I can do anything for the next hour" and keep moving forward!

It might be a tough day, but there will be better days, I promise!

[Lindsey]

Thanks Gayle. I told Layla today on the drive in to be positive even though her doctor might not be. I told her that we have to prove she's getting better because we know it and she just has to try really hard and show the doctor all she's got. Yep, I gave my dog a little pep talk. Maybe I am going crazy

I am hoping Scott will be in a better mood after work so that we go shopping and get an exercise ball before we pick Layla up. Her therapist showed us last week how to bounce her back legs on it to start getting hip flexes, but of course we don't have one at home. And then WHEN Layla is better, I can use it to work out too

The one she used with Layla is a long oval shaped one. I've never seen one like that before but she told us a store we might be able to find one in, so I guess we'll look. It's better shaped for a dog's body.

[judy]

You are such a loving Mama to Layla! I hope you got her exercise ball. Scott needs a smack on the back of his head.

[Lindsey]

Lol! I think Scott has cheered up a little now. I'm just having a terrible day at work so I think I deserve to be the grouchy one!

I think my little pep talk worked with Layla. Her therapist called and said she has even more extensor tone than she did on Friday and can now hold her own weight for 5 seconds!

There's still no deep pain, still no other feeling. But we're getting there. I think. I know I can't get my hopes up too high right now because as the swelling goes down in her spinal cord is when we'll see the most rapid improvement, and that's what's happening now. I can't expect her to keep recovering at this rate. So it's gonig to be tough when it slows down.

There's another yorkie on YT who is showing the SAME symptoms Layla was showing before she went down. This yorkie was actually paralyzed in all 4 legs, but got up the next day and is now walking around, etc. I am trying to convince them to take him to a neurologist ASAP, but I think they feel kind of like I did... I thought that she'll be better after a little rest, no need to rush anything. But nobody needs to go through this heartache I'd rather be safe than sorry. I hope they get help for their little guy soon.

[Marilyn]

Lindsey, so glad that Layla is showing some improvement. You're doing such a good job with her!!! Hang in there!!!

[MaddieBoo]

Still thinking of you Lindsey and Layla! Thanks for being so vigilant and updating us so often. I've been thinking so much about Layla so I hope you are getting all my good thoughts. You are such an amazing Yorkie Mommy, you deserve an award!