Darla
Sunny Saints rescued 9 month old Darla from a local shelter, where she had been picked up as an injured stray on a freeway by a good samaritan. The story that was told to the shelter was that she was jumped from the back of a moving pick up travel at full freeway speed. According to the shelter, her left rear leg was completely broken and was going to required extensive surgery to repair. She was held as a stray, hoping her owner would find her, but that didn't happen.
We jumped into action and go her to the vet as soon as we got her out of the shelter. She was soon transferred to Northern California to undergo surgery by a specialist (Dr. Martinez), and work on physical rehabilitation in a foster home in that area.
Update: July 23, 2012
When Sunny Saints supporters (and angels as far as we're concerned) Dale and Evelyn Utley stepped forward to donate the entire cost of Darla's surgery, they had no idea that she was being fostered very near to their home. They were thrilled to be able to meet this sweet girl whose future they so dramatically helped change.
Update: July 27, 2012
Life never moves forward in a straight line, but the twists and turns can reveal blessings and opportunities. Due to X-rays provided by the shelter, the account of events given by the good samaritan, and explanation from the shelter vet, we were under the impression that Darla’s leg had a new fracture that would need surgical intervention with possibly plates and or screws to close the gap between the bone fragments so it could be set and healed. Wrong. While in surgery, Dr. Martinez discovered that the fracture was older than we were led to believe, and was already healing, although not correctly aligned. There was callusing around the fracture, about the size of a tennis ball, and to align the bone again would have required the use of a bone saw which the good vet felt would just be cruel to do to Darla and would not increase her chances of a complete recovery.
Good news: despite the callusing, Dr. Martinez found no issues with her growth plate or her ability to use this leg in the future! At this point, she is able to put some weight on it, and he predicts the callusing will shrink in size and smooth out as time progresses, so he doesn’t feel that any additional surgeries will be needed.
Another twist: While Darla was in recovery after surgery, there was an emergency situation at the hospital. A family brought in their seven year-old Australian Shepard Buddy, who was in need of an immediate spleenectomy. With heavy internal bleeding, Buddy was in dire need of a blood donor. Darla, who was stable at this point and just waiting to be picked up, was the only dog large enough to donate. Without Darla's donation of blood, is very likely that Buddy would not have survived. Perhaps she should be renamed Karma.
So many people selflessly donated to Darla's cause and we were touched beyond words. In light of the reduction in medical costs, we offered refunds to everyone who donated on Darla's behalf. We were humbled yet again when everyone single donor declined a refund and asked that we put their donations toward the next Saint in need. Blessings to each and every one of you angels!
Update: September 3, 2012
After several weeks of rehabilitation, she was almost as good as new, and playing like a Saint Bernard puppy should. She loves other dogs and children, and is learning basic obedience, as all puppies should! She was given the all clear by Dr. Martinez and became available for adoption. She didn't have to wait long. The Hammack family, who adopted Juneau a few months prior, adopted her and have given her the perfect forever home. We couldn't be happier all of them, and wish them nothing love and happiness.
We jumped into action and go her to the vet as soon as we got her out of the shelter. She was soon transferred to Northern California to undergo surgery by a specialist (Dr. Martinez), and work on physical rehabilitation in a foster home in that area.
Update: July 23, 2012
When Sunny Saints supporters (and angels as far as we're concerned) Dale and Evelyn Utley stepped forward to donate the entire cost of Darla's surgery, they had no idea that she was being fostered very near to their home. They were thrilled to be able to meet this sweet girl whose future they so dramatically helped change.
Update: July 27, 2012
Life never moves forward in a straight line, but the twists and turns can reveal blessings and opportunities. Due to X-rays provided by the shelter, the account of events given by the good samaritan, and explanation from the shelter vet, we were under the impression that Darla’s leg had a new fracture that would need surgical intervention with possibly plates and or screws to close the gap between the bone fragments so it could be set and healed. Wrong. While in surgery, Dr. Martinez discovered that the fracture was older than we were led to believe, and was already healing, although not correctly aligned. There was callusing around the fracture, about the size of a tennis ball, and to align the bone again would have required the use of a bone saw which the good vet felt would just be cruel to do to Darla and would not increase her chances of a complete recovery.
Good news: despite the callusing, Dr. Martinez found no issues with her growth plate or her ability to use this leg in the future! At this point, she is able to put some weight on it, and he predicts the callusing will shrink in size and smooth out as time progresses, so he doesn’t feel that any additional surgeries will be needed.
Another twist: While Darla was in recovery after surgery, there was an emergency situation at the hospital. A family brought in their seven year-old Australian Shepard Buddy, who was in need of an immediate spleenectomy. With heavy internal bleeding, Buddy was in dire need of a blood donor. Darla, who was stable at this point and just waiting to be picked up, was the only dog large enough to donate. Without Darla's donation of blood, is very likely that Buddy would not have survived. Perhaps she should be renamed Karma.
So many people selflessly donated to Darla's cause and we were touched beyond words. In light of the reduction in medical costs, we offered refunds to everyone who donated on Darla's behalf. We were humbled yet again when everyone single donor declined a refund and asked that we put their donations toward the next Saint in need. Blessings to each and every one of you angels!
Update: September 3, 2012
After several weeks of rehabilitation, she was almost as good as new, and playing like a Saint Bernard puppy should. She loves other dogs and children, and is learning basic obedience, as all puppies should! She was given the all clear by Dr. Martinez and became available for adoption. She didn't have to wait long. The Hammack family, who adopted Juneau a few months prior, adopted her and have given her the perfect forever home. We couldn't be happier all of them, and wish them nothing love and happiness.