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Post by leahlady on May 22, 2008 23:03:34 GMT -5
I'm hoping, hard.
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Post by schwung on May 23, 2008 1:14:05 GMT -5
A little encouraging news. Because of Lily and the concern that her immune system issues were brought about from parasitic damage and the fact that her fecal was positive, we took blood and did fecal tests on the babies today. Sinatra and Kokomo's bloodwork was normal. Phoenix's fibrinogen was a little high indicating some chronic inflammation but was otherwise normal. We haven't gotten the fecals back yet, but we are still starting all the horses on Panacur again, and after the Powerpak they are going on daily Strongid.
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Post by Whitewolf821 on May 23, 2008 1:58:12 GMT -5
At least it would seem we don't need to worry about the other babies. Now if only Miss Lily would join them back at schwung's baby barn!
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Post by Sara on May 23, 2008 7:17:22 GMT -5
My heart is with all those who have been there step of the way. What a roller coaster all of this has been. All of my good energy is going towards better blood work for Lily today. But, most of all, I just wanted to express my personal gratitude that there are wonderful people like all of you in the world to provide a safety net for these guys. I can't imagine the heartbreak.
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Post by trillium on May 23, 2008 7:30:09 GMT -5
Would adding Red Cell to her diet help at all?
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Post by jodycat on May 23, 2008 8:31:23 GMT -5
I did not talk to the vets today directly, but heard that the bloodwork showed no change today.  Tomorrow will be a tough day. I don't believe there is anything else that can be done. I don't think more time will better the situation, or different drugs or treatments, or anything else. That is the impression I was given. Obviously, I will make sure that is the case - that there are no options for her. .... I am heartbroken and sad, and still hoping for a miracle. It's all we can do at this point. Thanks, Jaime. I was never completely clear whether it was the County that gave the deadline or the veterinarians - I guess I felt it was the County. And since she isn't getting plasma but is still getting perkier as well as eating, I have wondered if her immune system might just need a little extra time to come back to life. This is heartbreaking, especially for you and Bonnie and others who worked so hard for all these babies, I know they have become really dear to you all.  Still hoping for better news today. |
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Post by huskiesnhorses on May 23, 2008 9:04:19 GMT -5
Would adding Red Cell to her diet help at all? Here is my understanding of what is going on: The problem with Lily may be (and is looking like) that she has an auto immune disease that has her own body attacking her marrow. The steroids she is on is meant to stop that attack and let her marrow start doing it's job - producing red and white blood cells. The fact that her bloodwork is not improving suggests that her marrow has been so badly damaged - that it cannot produce these cells and therefore she becomes a high risk for infection and bleed outs. Almost anything can trigger an auto immune response in the body which makes it extremely frustrating for doctors as they may never be able to point out exactly what caused it - the best guess here is the extensive damage done by the parasite load - but anything could have triggered it - as in with people who are suddenly struck down with an auto-immune disease. If her bone marrow cannot do it's job, short of a bone marrow transplant - she cannot be saved. If her bone marrow did start to do it's job, she would need to be on some level of steroids the rest of her life more than likely to suppress her body from continuing to attack the marrow (again - if that is what the problem is) |
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Post by jaybird on May 23, 2008 10:32:03 GMT -5
and bone marrow transplants can't be done on horses
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Post by schwung on May 23, 2008 10:32:05 GMT -5
Well this morning I cannot bring myself to call Pilchuck for the update, so I am deferring to Dr. Hannah to make that call. I would expect to have news in the next hour or two.
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Post by jodycat on May 23, 2008 10:43:04 GMT -5
and bone marrow transplants can't be done on horses BMTs are rather hideous procedures, and make humans, at least, so ill that they are as close to death as possible without actually dying. I would not want that for Lily, even if it were available. |
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shekaberry
SAFE Volunteer 
SAFE Volunteer Coordinator
Posts: 1,521
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Post by shekaberry on May 23, 2008 10:44:02 GMT -5
I really loved little Lily-loo and will miss her, alongside all of you. Peaceful euthanasia is a far better fate than what she faced otherwise. Try to take comfort in that, I am trying too. It is just so unfair, she seemed so well and thriving.
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Post by akoehmstedt on May 23, 2008 13:59:22 GMT -5
I find myself hitting the refresh button hoping for good news.
I've been thinking about Lily and everyone involved all morning and just pray for a miracle for this wonderful little girl.
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Post by leahlady on May 23, 2008 14:57:01 GMT -5
me too, hoping for a miracle...
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Post by Sara on May 23, 2008 15:01:14 GMT -5
Yep, me too. But, I fear, that since we havent heard anything those close in are just too devastated to talk about it yet.
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Post by jaybird on May 23, 2008 17:07:46 GMT -5
Unfortunately, there has been no change in Lily's bloodwork.
Dr Bryant at Pilchuck has told us that in his personal experience, the longest that it takes for this particular drug treatment to work has been three days. Lily has been on it for 7 days with no sign of improvement. His conclusion is that too much damage has occurred, and if Lily's bone marrow has not started producing blood cells by now, there is no hope for a cure.
This is tremendously devastating news to all of us because Lily appears to have fought off the infection that made her so sick and sent her to the hospital to begin with. She is no longer running a fever, she is eating and drinking normally, and she is acting much more like her normal self. But it is a false hope, and if her body cannot produce platelets, she cannot survive. She is susceptible to any infection that she would be exposed to, and she is at risk of bleeding out from a simple injury or even an increase in blood pressure due to stress, fear, or excitement. The risk of a catastrophic episode is very very great, and none of us wish to see something like that happen to Lily.
So the decision has been made to let Lily go, tomorrow afternoon. Hannah and I will be in attendance. We still have one more day for a miracle to take place, and one more blood test will be done, but unless there is an improvement, we will be saying goodbye to our sweet little girl.
I'm so sorry to be the bearer of such bad news. Please keep Lily and Jaime in your thoughts during this sad time.
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