Category: Hinckley

Monday, March 5, 2012.

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I visited Hinckley today. The Dr had taken out his chest tube and overall she felt he was doing well given how invasive the surgery last night had been.

He is obviously uncomfortable but they are doing their best to manage it with pain meds and keep him resting. 

He seemed glad to see me…he kept trying to get up and get closer and whining.  Unfortunately, his body doesn’t cooperate yet to make that happen.  Once I snuggled up to him he seemed to relax for a while. A few of the techs came by and commented they could tell he was more relaxed with me there.

The pain threshold test they did earlier in the day is still negative. This is where they pinch his back paws as hard as possible to check for a feeling response. The Dr said not to be discouraged…it is still early – not yet 24 hrs after they relieved the compression. Yet, we all hoped. 

I spent a couple hours with him and helped the student vet tech ice his incision, readjust him, etc…and just gave him lots of love. He was getting restless toward the end of my visit, so they gave him a stronger sedative to help him rest. Once I knew he was sound asleep, I snuck out for the evening.

This will be a slow recovery…I need to remind myself we are looking for baby steps rather than bounds forward.

Over the next few days I hope he will begin eating and drinking on his own, and god willing, begin to regain feeling. Again though, the Dr warned that may take time and to be patient.

We should also have the biopsy results on the tumor by the end of the week.

Alex and I will go hang out with the Hinck tomorrow and try to entice him with some super yummy treats to eat.

Rather than bombard your email accounts with numerous updates, I’ll save it for when there is big news. Thanks for all your love and support.

 

Love,

Laura and Alex

Sunday, March 4, 2012. 9 p.m.

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Hinckley has made it through step one. We just spoke to the vet and she was able to get the majority of the tumor. Most importantly she relieved the compression from the spinal cord and said she could tell a difference in it once the tumor was gone-which is an encouraging sign.  The remaining parts of the tumor will need to be treated with radiation (some was too close to arteries to tangle with).

He is coming out of anesthesia now and Alex and I will be able to give him a scratch and kisses briefly tonight. 

There is a long road ahead and many unknowns, but we’ve given ourselves a chance. Now we hope the feeling returns to his hind legs. She warns us that could take a bit of time though….

Thank you everyone. We can feel the love and licks from here and they are much needed and appreciated. 

 

March 3, 2012. 10 a.m.

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I am devastated to share that we learned the worst last night. Hinckley has a fast-growing tumor under his spinal cord, which has caused the paralysis. It is inoperable.

He has woken from the anesthesia this morning. They are keeping him comfortable on pain meds and monitoring him closely to make sure he is not in any pain and everything is still functioning.

Given the blizzard here in Traverse City, flights are cancelled. At this point the earliest I can depart is out of Grand Rapids tomorrow, and arrive in Orlando by Sunday evening.  The doctors are hopeful he will remain stable.

There is a very slight chance tomorrow that they will let Alex bring him home with pain medicine so he can be with us at home one last night. But that is an outside possibility. It will depend how he does today and if the mass continues to grow or affect any other functions.

Otherwise my plan is to land and go immediately to Gainesville to hold my best friend and thank him for being the most amazing gift in my life.

I am struggling to comprehend what has happened in the last 15 hours. It is the most horrific of nightmares, coupled with the fact Mother Nature has thrown us a blizzard, shutting down the airport and roads, cutting off power and causing intermittent cell phone service. All of it is preventing me from getting to my child when he needs me most.

How it all began, one week ago today (March 2, 2012).

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Hinckley needs all the love and positive vibes we can summon.

My baby is partially paralyzed. It was acute onset – happened today – went from run to walk to drag back feet and then lay down. Within an hour, late this afternoon.

Alex w him – took him to emergency vet and they sent them to Gainesville to neurology specialist immediately.

I’m stuck in blizzard at my moms and its unlikely i will even be able to leave On Saturday to be with him.

Getting MRI now to determine plan and next steps. Best case it’s acute herniated disc that is causing compression on his spine and they will be to operate. Chances of him walking and bathroom are unknown – which is what MRI will help to find out how big the lesion is.

I am so scared.  Send love to him please.