If there is a Will...

Hello,This is a wonderful story. It doesn't matter who you are or whether your human or Canine or Feline. We all should be accepted and be treated with respect and well no matter if we have a disability or not. Please read, think you will enjoy. And, below, tell me your reaction. Take care.You know the old adage. You'll find out today in Denise's storythat it took a lot of will to make things happen for Pawlee. But today she's thriving! Nice story!"WHERE THERE'S A WILL..."by Denise Koebel I'm a physical therapist assistant in an acute care hospital. Occasionally, you build up a very quick, but strong connectionwith a patient. I worked with the patient's daughter, a nurse, andhad met his wife of 60 years. During the final treatment, he threw apulmonary embolism and coded. He died within an hour. We were alldevastated. His name was Paul. A week later, my step-mother told me about a litter of Beaglepuppies that had been born next door. One was needing some help. So I came in to check them out, even though I already had threedogs at the time. She was very small, 2.6 pounds at 7-1/2 weeks, hada large domed head, like a Chihuahua, and was about 1/4 the size ofher litter mates. She was the runt of the litter, and when called,she ran smack into the side of the door frame of the doghouse. Shewas blind too. Of course, she came home with me. Her name is Pawlee. Yep,named in honor of Paul. She was taken to my vet in Etown, who diagnosed her withhydrocephaly (the large head) and blindness. The vet gave me plentyof hope, but also a reality check, suggesting the possibility ofseizures, major medical issues and possibly even death. All of which I refused to accept. She had made it this far and deserved every chance possible. At 5 months, she was strong enough and had gained enough weightto be scheduled for spaying, but it had to be postponed due to anewly discovered liver enzyme issue. She was put on Denosyl and milkthistle for almost a year (both help with building up the liver) andthe following July, at 1 year and 3 weeks old, she was finallyspayed. HALLELUJAH! Today she has the run of the house and is house trained to thepuppy pads, but will "go to the door" to go outside. She runs aroundthe fenced backyard with little problem, wrestles fiercely and oftenwith her "sisters," and she sits on command. She didn't make a soundfor the first 5 months, but now only bays when she is wrestling -- and VERY happy doing it! She does run into things occasionally, but her vision appears tobe greatly improved since her adoption. I also supplement her foodwith carrots, both raw and canned, so maybe that has helped. Pawleeis now 15 pounds and full of life. DEFINITELY A BEAGLE -- lots ofdigging, following a scent, baying. Being blind hasn't stopped her from being a dog. Pawlee deserved a chance at a normal life, and has proven she isa fighter. Just because a dog has a disability and is born with multiplechallenges, both medically and physically, doesn't mean they can'timprove and live a full life. And it doesn't mean they are stupidand can't learn. With love, patience, a great vet, special medications and food,and other family canine support, Pawlee is doing extremely well andis thriving. She will be 2 in June. I thank God daily for sending her into my life. She has provenwhere there is a will, there is a way. You just have to be willingto try and have faith. -- Denise Koebel Denise says, "I'm a physical therapist assistant in Elizabethtown,KY. I have three dogs, two guinea pigs, seven birds, an aquariumand feed outdoor cats. I'm also a HUGE promoter of Petfinder.com toall of my family, friends and co-workers. And I thank my vets, Dr.Will Flanagan and Dr. Jessica Ayers, for having faith and greatdetermination to help keep my little Squirt and the rest of myfamily, healthy and happy."