Layla

[Blueyes]

Oh baby, I'm so so sorry! At least Layla isn't in pain, and she's such a happy girl. I know seeing to her every need is hard on you, though. I'm sorry you're hurting

[Lindsey]

Thank you Betsi. You all know how special Layla is to me, and she'll continue to be my special little girl, but it's so hard to know she won't be the same again. We're measuring her for a cart tonight so she can follow us around the house and run around the yard again. I would do absolutely anything for her to recover, to feel when we give her tummy rubs or back scratches, to be able to scratch her own ears, to be able to do her business in private (because she hated doing it in front of anyone!). This is by far the hardest thing I've ever dealt with in my life.

[gja1000]

I know it is hard, but I wouldn't give up hope just yet! And I can still see her zooming around in the cart - she will be fine, you will be fine, even if she makes no more progress. I know it is so hard to hear news like this, and I'm so sorry, but I really think things will work out just fine!

[Lindsey]

Thank you Gayle. She is happy and that's all that matters I guess. She will be happier with a cart too.

[JJJ]

Oh Lindsey, Layla just looks so cute in that cart she is just adorable. I love the vids

I know you heard bad news but all Layla wants is to be part of your family.

XOXOXO

[Lindsey]

Originally Posted by JJJ

I know you heard bad news but all Layla wants is to be part of your family.

That is all I needed to hear, thank you. Scott was just as shocked as I was and he even felt better when I read this to him. We both know that this is all that matters. Layla is happy being with us.

I am so much better today. Nothing has changed. She's still our silly little girl, and she will be even more herself when she gets her cart. We sent off measurements last night but we're going to check again tonight to be sure. It will take 2 weeks for the cart to be custom built, and then it will be shipped here.

On the weekend she did something that she used to do every day when she was well and hasn't done since she went down. I was in another room and I heard her barking like CRAZY from her crate. I came running because I thought something was wrong. When I got there, she ate the kibble that was laying right in front of her! She ALWAYS used to bark at her kibble until we paid attention to her, and then she'd eat it. It made me feel so good that she got one of her little quirks back!

I still miss her "real" bark, because that was affected with her nerve damage. She can growl okay, but her barks are more like yelps with no force behind them anymore. She had such a deep bark before, and sounded like a much bigger dog than she is! But in personality and strength, she is a much bigger dog than her body lets you think.

[DianaB]

I'm sorry that the news isn't better for Layla. She seems really happy in the videos and I'm sure that just being with you is what she needs most!! I'm sure she'll love the cart from seeing how happy she was in the one in the video!! Life will return to normal with normal being just a little bit different from before but you'll still be a happy family!!!! At least you know that you've tried everything there is to try.

[Lindsey]

Thanks Diana. We will still all be happy together. And I knew this could happen and I'm prepared for it but I just didn't want someone to TELL me this is how it's going to be. I'm not ready to accept that yet and just give up on her.

I think I've mentioned this before but I have always had a feeling, ALWAYS, that I would have a child who would have some sort of disability. I never expected it to happen to my dog. I love her just the same though, and it is giving us more quality time together, and honestly if this is what God had in mind when I felt I would have a disabled child, I would take this in a heartbeat. I am strong enough to deal with it. Unfortunately, Layla won't be with me physically forever. I will not be taking care of her for the rest of my life as I may have if it were a human child.

I am not disabled and Scott is not disabled, and we can be thankful for that because we would have a much harder time if this had to befall anyone in our little family other than Layla. Layla is just as happy as can be, and she doesn't care. She is an inspiration, and I need to remind myself of that every day. She can't consistently wag her tail, but she is always smiling in her eyes.