Bella-- Post operation

I am so relieved to say Bella's surgery is OVER!

Thursday was such an emotional day for me. I have never had to leave Bella with anyone before. I have done all of her surgical procedures and been there when she wakes up from anesthesia. We had to wake up around Five in the morning on Thursday to take Bella to the hospital. The doctor was so nice to let us take Bella home the night before. Dave and I got Bella to the hospital around seven. We had completed all paper work previous day so all there was to do was leave my little Bella with the staff. As attached as Bella is to Dave and I, she went with the tech very easily. I asked if they could please give her a pre- medication to help her stay relaxed. Bella was the first patient on the surgery table that morning. The  staff said they would call me when Bella was waking up.

I must admit I cried a little when we got back to the truck with out Bella. I was a little over whelmed. Dave decided it would be relaxing to take the morning to drive down to Annapolis, since we weren't that far. I have never been down and heard it is a fun place to visit. Dave and I drove all through the old towns, parked and walked around all the old shops. I had my phone close in reach if the doctor called.

When we got home a little after lunch, the house was extremely quiet and lonely. Dave and I did everything to try and keep our minds off Bella. Finally the tech called and said that Bella's surgery went well and she was waking up fine. That was a relief....

I had the phone practically glued to my hand the entire afternoon if hopes the doctor would call. I walked in the other room and left my phone on the charger. Naturally the phone rang while I was away and Dave answered it. I walked in towards the end of the conversation and all he keep saying was "OK... OK... OK... OK...." He didn't think to ask all the questions I would have or ask how Bella was doing. I was of course worried until we went to pick her up on Friday.

I did not get much sleep on Thursday night and was up at 5 a.m. eager to pick Bella up. Considering Bella's discharge wasn't until 10:30, I still had a bit of time to wait. I used  this time to prepare the house for her arrival. I made sure I had area rugs on all the hard wood floors, fresh water, beds and all her favorite toys sitting out. Dave and had bought some cute toys at the Pet Barn in Annapolis, so everything was waiting for her. We made a stop at Panera to pick up the doctor and staff some bagels. They had been so nice to us and did an incredible job with Bella we wouldn't to do a little something to say thanks! We paid our bill and got very detailed discharge paper work. Dave took Bella's favorite toy in to greet her with... her pumpkin! The tech brought Bella in the room, she looked up at us cried and grabbed her pumpkin. Everyone was laughing at her in the waiting area, as we walked through with her toy in her mouth. I could tell everyone really loved her at the hospital. All the staff members came up and said goodbye to her and said she was a really good patient. They did say they could tell she was really spoiled at home, she would cry a little in her cage and a staff member would come up and talk to her and she would be fine. I am clearly the one to blame for this.

The whole ride home Bella slept in my lap. I sat in the back seat with her while Dave drove us home. She didn't let go of her pumpkin until we stopped the truck in the drive way. She was very thankful to be home with her family. She had my mom, dad and grandmother visit her the day she got home from the hospital. She was still on a lot of drugs and was really out of it. Dave and I sat with her the entire afternoon... giving her lots of T.L.C.

It turns out Bella had a complete tear, a torn meniscus, and a lot of arthritis forming from the injury. The doctor fixed everything. When Bella is recovered her knee will be 100 percent. The T.P.L.O. surgery was the best fit for Bella. Dave and I are very happy with her progress this far. She is currently getting all medications, and supplements. She is getting ice and R.O.M. exercises daily. Whatever the best care we can give Bella, she will receive.

Bella has been keeping in good spirits, although it has been hard to keep her down and explain she can't run and play right now. The past 2 days Dave and I have taken her on some wagon rides. All the people who pass her think it is so cute and always stop to give her attention.

We have all gotten much support. I couldn't keep in such good spirits myself if it wasn't for all the supportive words from friends and family. It has been quite exhausting on Dave and I to try and keep up with all the proper care and dedication to making sure Bella is healthy and on the right road to recovery.

Bella will start swim therapy with an underwater treadmill in 3 weeks. We are all very excited to get started.