Gunshot Victim – Poor Doggy

This is Wesson. He is a SWEET young pitbull terrier found by animal care and control roaming the streets near downtown Indianapolis. One can only imagine what his life was like before, but at least we can be certain that is fate took a 180 degree turn for the best the moment the officers found him.

Wesson was transferred to the caring volunteers at Mended Hearts Rescue and taken to a local veterinarian for evaluation of an injury to his right front leg. The x-rays of his leg showed a severe fracture of the humerus (upper arm bone) and a bullet lodged within the surrounding muscle.

Disclaimer: this is the part of my blog where it will seem like I’m leaving you on a tangent – but I promise I have a point.

I love my friends, and I also love my new iphone. (See, I told you it’d seem random, just hang in there) Within moments I was able to text a picture of the x-rays to three of my orthopedic surgeon friends and, within moments, I got three definitive opinions in favor of limb amputation.  (Props to Dr. Amy Fauber, Dr. Todd Reicks, and Dr. Aaron Wehrenberg for their fast, free orthopedic consults!)

The location of the trauma meant permanent nerve damage for poor Wesson. This would mean chronic pain and lameness if left alone. Once the verdict was in, Wesson was immediately scheduled for surgery.

The two and a half hour procedure went extremely well with only two complications:

1. a severe foot cramp for the surgeon (special thanks to my technician who gave me a drink of water through a straw under my surgical mask)
2. an exciting line of storm cells that passed over the clinic

One of the technicians quietly informed me that we had no back up power should we lose electricity…………………no pressure!

I had flashbacks to the one and only time my clinic lost power while I was in the middle of a dog neuter. My fondness of scented candles paid off that day as I finished my surgery by the romantic flicker of a pumpkin scented Yankee candle.  Thankfully, no candles were required for this surgery.

Wesson woke up from anesthesia in a rough way. It was one of those moments where a doctor becomes acutely aware of their gratitude for a good support staff. Thanks to the loving care of all the employees, and a variety of pain medications, Wesson was kept comfortable……………..

I worried about him once the clinic closed since no one would be around to watch him, and that anxiety quickly turned into a night of insomnia. I REALLY wanted to go check on him. Unfortunately, my phobia of alarms kept me paralyzed and rooted to my couch.  By 4:30am, I had completed all my “Words with Friends” (thank you facebook), watched an entire season of “The Office” and read a chapter in my medical physiology book on heart disease. So you can imagine that when 6am rolled around, I was ready to risk the alarm.

I got to the clinic, opened the door, held my breath, and punched in the code. And then……….

No not really. Just kidding, I got in just fine.

I found Wesson sleeping comfortably wrapped in his blankie – awww. He heard me walk towards him and his eyes slowly opened, his tail started wagging, and then he was standing! YAY!!

It was very difficult to get a good picture of him because he really just wanted to snuggle:)

Wesson went home to his foster dad later that day and I went home to my bed.

Our three legged boy is doing extremely well and will soon be available for adoption (provided his foster papa will be able to give him up).

If you would like to make a donation in his honor: click on the bullet bellow:

 Your contribution is tax deductable through our non-profit organization: Cherished Life. Please indicate that the funds are to be put towards Wesson:) Many Thanks!!!