Lilly’s Fund Final Report
I’ve been meaning to do this Lily’s Fund Final Report FOREVER. Here is where the money we raised in Lilly’s memory went. Thank you, again, for your support of the fund during our time of grief.
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The State of My Heart
Thursday, December 17, 2015, marks two years since Lilly’s death. I remain devastated. It isn’t the all day, every day, kind of grief, but when it bubbles up, it feels just as fresh and raw and searing as ever. On this anniversary, I thought I would share some insights into what it’s really like to be this FAR into the grieving process. Don’t worry. Some of them are kind of funny. This post isn’t entirely sad. And, there are even photos of the puppies — Clover and Tori.
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Rant: 3 Reasons This Joke About Adverse Dog Vaccine Reactions Makes Me Livid
Imagine your Canine Soul Mate died from an adverse rabies vaccine reaction a bit more than 18 months ago. You fake it really, really well when you have to, but you’re still a grieving pile of goo on the inside. Now, imagine you’re scrolling through your social media newsfeed and come across a meme (photo with text overlay) that essentially makes fun of adverse dog vaccine reactions. It has been posted in a large community of veterinary emergency hospital professionals, and clearly, many of them find the joke hilarious. Stick with me, kids, I feel a rant coming on …
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1 Year Ago Today
Exactly one year ago today, we made the painful-but-necessary decision to let Lilly go after a 693-day fight for her life. Our grief is better and totally NOT at the same time. Adding a puppy to our family didn’t magically make the grief disappear, but the other night, I realized how much more desperate I would feel without a new little canine friend at my side.
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5 Biggest Lessons From a Canine Adverse Vaccine Reaction
Grieving continues. Amid walking that sad road, I’ve tried to distill the most important lessons – not just for me, but things most likely to transfer into your lives with your pets.
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Veterinary Cost Case Study – How I Afforded Staggering Bills for 23 Months
Once I got over the medical, emotional, and financial shock of Lilly’s vaccine-induced meningoencephalomyelitis, I created a spreadsheet to track every doggone dollar spent in the fight for Lilly’s life. I’m curious if the actual number is higher or lower than you thought.
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It’s Like Standing in a Batting Cage With Fastballs Flying at Your Head
Coming at us like fastballs aimed at our heads, Lilly’s medical problems continue to mount. On top of last week’s out-of-the-blue blood clot in her right rear leg, we’ve been dealing with more bleeding (due to blood thinners) and, believe it or not TWO not-good things brewing in her lower lip.
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Canine Blood Clots Ahoy
Another day. Another run to the veterinary ER. As one of three veterinary emergency and critical care specialists on Team Lilly likes to say, “Lilly doesn’t read textbooks.” The news we got yesterday (Tuesday, October 29) wasn’t good, but it also wasn’t the worst thing they could have told us. It all started Monday night, when Lilly somewhat suddenly lost the use of her right rear leg.
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Adverse Rabies Vaccine Reaction | Dog Brag | Dog Life | Dog Training | Dog Trick Video | Dog Video | Dog Video Gallery
Lilly Video Update – Feeling Better
We threw together a quick 90-second video, showing how Lilly is doing 2 weeks since her most recent setback and 5 days since the ER run to find out why she was feeling so lethargic. Not bad for a puppy-girl who could barely walk 2 weeks ago and who refused to get out of bed last weekend.
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5 Days of Lethargy, 5 Hours in the Veterinary ER
Thanks to some medicine heroics in response to Lilly’s neurological setback Saturday, October 12, 2013, Lilly did seem to stabilize and improve slightly. Starting Thursday, October 17, however, she seemed exhausted and as if she felt like crud — often hunkering down on her bed, not moving, even if cajoled. Tom decided that she looked like a barnacle on the hull of a ship.
