Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Subject: Re: GG Foals 2010
Thank you so
much for your email regarding our 2010 foals.
I have a little
bit of a story to tell you....grab a coffee, it's going to be a long
one.
After I sent you the pictures of our foals, Our youngest (born May
29th, who we will register as Grande Isle's "Super Charged".....had
a sever injury at 3 weeks of age. He severely lacerated his cornea
(and only god knows how). I found him for the a.m. feed looking
like shaving were all over his eye from bedding from his stall, but
upon further examination.....It was rejuvenating white cells, making
a "cottage cheese" like appearance from his eye.
Within an hour, we had the vet here, and she debrided his cornea
while under sedation. We kept in close contact throughout the day,
and in the afternoon, his eye was worse than it was in the morning.
I sent her some pretty graphic pictures (and I have attached one
here as well)....her recommendation was to get him into the surgical
facility here in Nanaimo A.S.A.P.
We
managed to get mom and babe to the clinic by about 5pm, where
"Charger" under went surgery to debrid the cornea more vigorously.
We also surgically implemented a "Lavage System", which is basically
a catheter system which runs up through a braided mane, over the
forehead and penetrates the skull over the eye, and has a foot plate
at the back of the eye for the administration of medication. At this
point, Charger is being medicated on an hourly basis through the
night. In the morning, the eye is showing signs of rupturing and
additional surgery by an Ophthalmologist Specialist is the only
chance of saving his eye.
Due
to having far to many horses here, I hire a transporter to pick up
mare and foal at the vet clinic here. Somehow "Miraculously", the
transporter pulled strings with our B.C. Ferry corporation (the only
way off of our island - 1hr.35 minute ferry transport). She managed
to be the 1st vehicle OFF of the ferries, and had a highway patrol
escort with flashing lights to the surgical facility through rush
hour traffic. (all due to him needing to be medicated every hour)
Once at the surgical facility, Charger underwent a conjunctival
graft operation. He spent 3 days there, and then was supposed to
come back to our surgical facility here on the island for 14 days of
post-op care, but my vet (bless her soul), was trying to save me
some money, and felt that I was qualified enough to administer the
post-op care myself......and so the journey begins.
It
took a team of 3 people (two to hold this exceptionally STRONG"
colt, and one person to administer the drugs....6 times daily around
the clock. (And believe me when I say, there were SEVERAL drugs that
needed to be administered via the Lavage system, and orally)
I
thank my lucky stars for wonderful friends and family who were able
to help me with this. After a couple of weeks, we were down to 4
times daily for the drugs and were able to do it with just one
person restraining the colt and one person administer the drugs.
This ordeal lasted for 3 1/2 months, and finally last weekend, we
flew in the Ophthalmologist Surgeon who did Chargers surgery, and
she could not have been more THRILLED with the outcome.
Charger is Completely VISUAL in his injured
eye.....He is a normal horse~!~!~!
Funny enough, but Ray and I were criticized by people, saying that
"Why would you spend that kind of money on a 3 week old foal......He
doesn't know any better, he will adjust just FINE seeing out of one
eye".....
As
people who love animals, and as a responsibility of one who
breeds.....How can you NOT give a 3 week old foal, the opportunity
to see a long healthy life from TWO EYES.........and
I'm so happy to say that that is now a reality....... The really
cool thing about all of this is that his cornea will always be
scarred, but it looks like Charger has a "permanent twinkle" in his
eye..... :) So the long and short of this is......I don't
know where summer has gone, because it's just been a summer of
"existence".......I haven't promoted the GG's, or updated my
website.....but I feel like I'm finally able to breathe again, and
will get all of that done in the near future.......
I thought I
would update you with a couple more pictures as well.
Obviously "Super
Charged a.k.a. Charger" is the colt I am referring to.... and
"Porsche" is black bay filly.........
I hope I haven't
overloaded you with pictures....
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