Another Update From One of Miracle's Doctors

We received this from Christopher yesterday: "Miracle continues to improve steadily. She is completely healed from her last 2 surgeries and had a bath for the first time! She continues to go on long walks and is really enjoying the emerging grass, as it is soft on her feet. She needs shoes on her back legs because she lost the footpads on one side and is wearing through shoes at an alarming rate! She loves to fetch tennis balls and is getting much better at letting them go. Unfortunately, she has also learned to bark excessively at people, moving leaves and even at houses that she has seen dogs free in their back yards weeks ago. Her behavior training is coming along slowly! She will have her (hopefully) last surgery in a few weeks, which will be an ovariohysterectomy (spay) and inguinal hernia repair. Dr. Konoski is keeping her fashionably dressed as she has outgrown another set of coats and sweaters." Thanks for all you are doing for Miracle!!!

An Update on Miracle's Condition... by her primary doctor, Dr. Saundra Hewitt

"Miracle is continuing to do very well. She is now 12 lbs! She is eating very well and loves to play with her toys. The scar tissue continues to hamper her walking in the hind end but the last surgery on her right hind limb has given her much more mobility and is almost healed. She will need reconstructive surgery on her left leg in the future. Overall, she is much more comfortable and usually sleeps on her back, all four legs in the air, snoring like a bear. She has learned to shake paws and to sit. She will come when called most of the time and really enjoys all the attention that she can get. She has lost most of her baby teeth. She continues to require intensive daily physical therapy but is showing consistent improvement."

Written by Dr. Saundra Hewitt, Miracle's primary doctor who is a orthopedic board certified surgeon. Dr. Hewitt takes Miracle home with her every night on a volunteer basis to make sure she is getting the proper continued recovery. Dr. Hewitt, you are Miracle's angel!

Dr. Elizabeth Konoski, One of Miracle's Doctors, Releases Statement for Miracle's Supporters

Christopher received this information from Dr. Elizabeth Konoski yesterday regarding Miracle's medical status. 12/28/07 Miracle continues to stay strong and battle through her recovery. Over the last few weeks we have been dealing with multiple complications as her burns begin to heal. One of the biggest complications is scar contracture as the skin tries to heal the defects left by the 3rd degree burns over her rear limbs. The contracture began pulling her limbs up towards her body, making it more difficult for her to walk. With the help of scar release incisions, physical therapy and splints she wears 23 hours a day we are getting some range of motion back in the rear limbs. She can again walk, although her rear limbs are not normal and so she still carries most of her weight on her front limbs. Miracle did have some small skin grafts performed to cover exposed boneover joints on her rear limbs. After a brief anesthetic procedure for a release incision 2 weeks ago, Miracle developed acute kidney failure. Using IV fluids we were able to reverse any injuries to her kidneys, and returned them to normal within 48 hours. We continue to monitor her bloodwork carefully. Another issue Miracle has had since the beginning is constipation. This has been further complicated lately as the skin beginning to contract over the base of her tail, pulling up on her rectum causing a partial obstruction. She is requiring stool softeners and sometimes daily enemas to make sure she is passing stool. On the positive side, her appetite seems better than ever lately and she did gain a little weight, now approximately 4 1/2 #. She has stolen the hearts of many of our staff, and we all hope she continues to gain strength and mobility in her back legs. The final outcome remains unknown, but our main goal is for her to have the best quality of life possible. The continued support from people across the world is appreciated and wonderful! Dr. Elizabeth Konoski, Emergency and Critical Care department at OVRS

Miracle's Holiday Update...

Thank you all for your emails inquiring about Miracle's status. While we can say that Miracle has made some progress again, it is important to know that with burn victim cases such as Miracle, there will be many "touch and go" days. While Miracle's latest turn for the worse looks as if it has subsided, we can not take this for granted as there will be many, many days ahead of her that she will need to continue to overcome obstacles as a little burn victim. While I know that this may not be the news most of Miracle's supporters would like to hear, it is important to understand that she is being given the best possible care by the talented & experienced veterinarians & licensed veterinary technicians & that the days ahead are uncertain & the promise of tomorrow is never a promise, not for any living creature. At this juncture in time, what I can promise is that Christopher will be getting an update from one of the OVRS veterinarians as soon as he can & we will publish that once it becomes available. What we can offer now is a recent news release from OVRS as published by the Oakland Press: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/stories/121807/loc_20071218206.shtml Once again, thank you all for your emails & best wishes for Miracle. Miracle's petition & blogspot have brought not only global attention from all angles of the earth but also generous contributions to the TEAR foundation for Miracle's care. Thank you & Happy Holidays!!!

Heart Wrenching News For Miracle

Miracle has taken a slight turn for the worse. A doctor at the Oakland Veterinary Referral Services (OVRS) will write an official statement for us about her medical status. She is loosing weight and the surgeries she is facing are taking a huge toll on her body. Please keep praying for a Miracle that Miracle will survive. As of today, the prognosis is dismal for the sweet little girl. Please stay tuned for an updated press release from OVRS.

Miracle Gets a Bath & is Receiving Hydrotherapy

Here she is!!! Little Miracle gets a bath. You can see in this photo where the fur is completely gone.

An anonymous donor has donated enough money to the veterinary hospital in order that Miracle get hydrotherapy. This is helping Miracle recover significantly.

The veterinary hospital still needs help as they would like to purchase a hyperbaric chamber. Please see the quoted press release below from the hospital.

" Miracle still has a long road to recovery and we are committed to providing her with the most loving and technologically advanced care possible. The Foundation hopes to raise enough contributions to purchase a piece of equipment called a Hyperbaric Chamber which would significantly improve her chance for survival and also dramatically accelerate her recovery. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy involves exposing patients to 100% pure oxygen at greater than atmospheric pressure. The patient is placed in a sealed chamber, and pure oxygen is delivered into the chamber at pressures above atmospheric pressure for a short period of time several times daily. This serves to super saturate the blood stream and tissues with oxygen. This process results in several advantages, including increased delivery of oxygen to injured tissues and regions of compromised perfusion, supra-physiologic oxygen levels to compensate for states where oxygen-carrying capacity or blood flow is decreased, and stimulation of bone marrow stem cells, which play a vital role in healing. Burn victims like Miracle benefit because of increased oxygen and mobilization of stem cells that provides optimal healing of severe burns. The TEAR Foundation needs approximately $50,000 to purchase the Hyperbaric Chamber that would benefit both Miracle as well as other pets that have a variety of medical conditions including some forms of cancer. "

If you would like to help Miracle by donating money towards the HBO, please click on the link to the left or call the TEAR Foundation directly.

Miracle's First Steps... The Heart & Soul of a Lion.

Miracle's First Steps... What can we say? This is a true miracle. After so many days of lying still & fighting her pain & potential infection, our hearts sing with happiness & our eyes flood with tears of joy that little Miracle has made it this far. This is a very promising sign for her. As she continues to heal & continues her surgeries for skin grafts & removing layers of dead skin to help fight infection, we know this... Miracle is a fighter & while she may be a tiny 4+ pounder, her heart is that of a lion... let us roar for her as her voice can not be heard around the world:

DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO ANOTHER INNOCENT PUPPY! FELONY PUNISHMENT FOR THOSE WHO COMMIT THESE CRIMES!!!