TeenasStory

Scroll down to read a chronological account of TEENA's story. Amazing what a month
can do!! THANKS to our wonderful foster parents, DAVE and BARB.
4-21-2004
Here's a message I received 4/21/2004 from one of our foster moms:
"My vet called today - a woman had just come in with her 4 month old puppy saying 'the
kids' damn dog got hurt.' The vet then asked me to come and take a look at the puppy.
When I saw that poor little girl I dropped my papers and started to cry."

This little girl is a four month old, SIX POUND, lhasa mix baby. She still has all of
her milk teeth!!!!!

This little girl was purchased from a back yard breeder for
the "lady's" kids. After they lost interest in her, she was
thrown out into the yard. The injury was caused by a
neighbor's large dog and happened at least several days before
they bothered to bring the little dog into the vet.

Yes, those little white specs are MAGGOTS. The side of
her face was almost ripped off - the gash runs the length of
her cheek. Her right eye is punctured, but the vet thinks he
might be able to save it - we're hoping.

We don't even know what the vet bill will be yet - since a lot
of this happened at the emergency clinic.

Update 4-22-2004

Teena had surgery today to clean up the wound and sew the right
eye shut.

After cleaning out the maggots and debriding all the dead tissue,
the vet found....drum roll please....bleeding tissue. Ok, that's good!
That means the rest of the tissue is ALIVE.

Teena is hospitalized at the vet's office in a very sterile
environment to keep the possibility of infection down. Hopefully,
after a few days, he'll be able to repair that huge rip in her face.

He sewed the right eye shut in an attempt to protect it and help it
heal itself. She has a bit of sight in the left eye, but is not 100%
yet.

Update 4-26-2004

From Teena's foster family:

I went and saw Teena today and I got the first hugs and kisses. Got
my uniform all messy but who cares, it was great to see that little
girl so happy and alive.

I got there today right in time for her daily cleaning and
medication. It was great to see how the Doctors work and to have
them explain what they where doing and why. The first few pictures
are just before cleaning time and the doctors are checking the eyes
and washing them out with a medicated solution. Teena has a little
Cherry in her left eye which the vet says is a very easy fix and has
about 50% of her vision back in that eye. ALthough her right eye is
still stitched closed the vet stated he is sure the eye will recover
nicely just because of the puppies continued improvements and how
well she is healing.

The last pictures might seem terrible to some but to the doctors it
was the best thing they had seen since Teena was brought into the
hospital. All the pink area you see is not blood but new fresh and
alive muscle tissue, which all on its own is coming back together, and
the part that is shining kind of white, sorry about the flash, that's
new skin that acting like stitches to hold it all together. Teena is
starting to heal very very well and they will not have to do any more
surgery on her face and even though it looked very painful Teena
never cried. They have also moved her now to a big kennel instead of
that little incubator she was in and the nurses have gotten her some
toys for her kennel so she has something to play with.

The next big hurdle well be on Thursday when the do their first
check on Teena's right eye since surgery. So we need to keep our
paws crossed that everything is okay. If things go well I might be
able to bring her Home Thursday night or Friday but she'll have to
go back to the hospital for her final check up on her eyes the
following Thursday.

Next update will be Thursday evening.

From Teena's foster parents.....Teena came through eye surgery with
flying colors and got a star on her kennel. Surgery on her right eye
went very well and it is now stitched closed until next Thursday. the
stitches in the left eye where removed and just after six days the eye
is almost completely healed. there is one spot about the size of a pin
head. So I have a bag full of creams and pills for Teena to get her
through the week. Barb and I got Puppy RN Training 101 today so we
decided to keep Teena until after her check up next week. In fact while
I took Teena over to the groomer to set up a nice bath and grooming
Monday. Barb ran into town and got Teena her own extra large
sleeping quarters. complete with toys, a new blanket leach and collar all
in a nice girly pink.

The side of her face continues to be the talk of the hospital now that
the only evidence is a small scare and a scab that's about the size of a
dime.

Hope you get these pictures okay because they are great. Had no
trouble getting to know the boys.

Dave and Barb

Teena's friends:
Gretchen Craver, Chihuahua Rescue
and Transport
Jodi Tucker, Texas Pekingese Rescue
Scott Passmore
Barbara Grabell
Rebecca Rockett
Josh and Lori Laddin
Patty Fulenwider
Cynthia Hinson
Shearon Law
Daphne McWhorter
Lynda Lotman
Michelle Bittel
Trina Taggart
Lori Carrel
Tina Hedrick
Craig Barnes
James Hatfield
John Leech
Chris and Jachye Crain
Nancy Croft
Odean Cusack (and THANKS for the
little blanket!)
Shannon Savage
Terri Jenkins

Mary Cummings at Cute-Clothes.com
Pamela Glass
Jana Hahn
Greg Dietrich
Peggy Shannon
Diane Anderson
Carrie Nemeroff
Christine Harris
Lee A. Archer
Susan Harrell
in memory of Brandie and Luckie
Melissa Lombard
Lugene Wyland
Good Luck to Teena!!
Thomas Ehnstrom
Patty Dadamo
Piper Bodkin and Tammy Owen of
Southern Furbaby Rescue
Lynn and Sassy McLaurin
Fern Schreiber
Janet Taylor
Jill Kirk
Patricia Drecola
Aggie and James Wood
Jodie Tefer
Kim Love
Annie Phillips