Thank You.

We received the following post yesterday from our veterinarian, Dr. Laurie, and wanted to pass it along to you. Thanks to everyone who have sent messages of comfort and sympathy. We are grateful.

Our Sympathies to Tom and Shelley

  

The best thing about being a ”small town” veterinarian is that we get to know our patients and their families so well.   The worst thing about about being a small town veterinarian is losing one of our young patients unexpectedly.

Bella was the beloved companion of Tom and Shelley, and she even had her own blog about Belize – (go to bellainbelize.blogspot.com).  A 6 lb, three year-old Maltese, we first met her when she came in one day for grooming.  When she left that day she looked so adorable with her new haircut and pink bow that she became famous.  Every owner that came in with a Maltese for grooming after her said, “Please groom her and make her look just like that other Maltese I see around town named Bella!”

When she came in with urinary problems it was discovered that her bladder was full of bladder stones.  In a female dog this is rarely a serious problem, but for Bella, likely due to her exceptionally small size, it became very serious as her urinary tract became obstructed and she was unable to urinate the day of her surgery.  Even now we do not know if her problem was a tiny stone lodged within her urethra or if it was scar tissue which had built up over time.  But whatever the cause Bella had to undergo two surgeries before we were able to clear the obstruction enough for her to urinate normally again.  Her urinary tract disease was so severe that I recommended that she go to the United States to a specialty hospital where her urinary tract could be properly evaluated using a scope, a procedure called cystoscopy.  As this was not a reasonable course of action for her owners we did our best for Bella, but she developed what appeared to be peritonitis, a severe inflammation of her abdominal cavity which eventually took her life.

From the very beginning Bella was such a tolerant patient.  Allowing us to draw blood without squirming and cooperating with all her procedures despite all of the discomfort she was in from her urinary obstruction.  She was a fighter and she did not succumb to her disease until five days after her second surgery.

Veterinarians lose patients often compared to our counterparts, doctors with human patients.  But ask any committed veterinarian and they will tell you that there are certain losses that haunt us.  Sometimes it may be because of an error in judgement that was made.  Sometimes there was no error, but we wonder had we done things differently would there have been a different outcome.  And sometimes, as with Bella, even though we did our very best it just wasn’t good enough.  I think that Bella is a patient I will remember for a very long time.

All of us at San Pedro Animal Hospital would like to send our heartfelt sympathies to Bella’s family and friends, and especially Tom and Shelley who have been devastated by her loss.  We know that she touched so many lives, and thanks to the internet and Tom’s blog, she reached people all around the world and taught them about our little country of Belize.

There are millions of us dog lovers out there who understand that your loss was much more than just a little white dog.

Bella Has Passed Away

Bella, our little Maltese dog, passed away Thursday, June 7, 2012, after two abdominal surgeries at the age of three years, nine months. The veterinarian removed 41 stones from a bladder about the size of a coin purse, but the rigors of the surgeries proved to be overwhelming.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the huge void this little dog has left in my life, and it comes down to this. Bella brought us joy. Whether she was sitting high up on the back of the couch, or perched on my shoulder, or lying at the side of the bed, she lived her life pretty much on her own terms. When it was time for her to play, she would bring her toys and drop them by us. (She knew each one by name.) When she was hungry, she ate. When she wanted to go out, she rang the bells hanging on the door knob. (Yes, really.) When she was ready to go to bed, she went to bed. This little six-pound dog was packed full of spirit, life, and overall feistiness. She grew up around big dogs and even bigger people and was never intimidated. Bella was always in charge of her domain. I have said on many occasions that only God could put so much personality and character into such a little frame.

Bella and I liked to take walks together. She would walk for about a block, then sit down and wait for me to pick her up and carry her. It was always quite matter-of-fact. “Carry me now. I’m tired.” And I carried her a lot of places. Everyone wanted to pet her, of course, but she was quite selective. And when she accepted you, you were her friend from that moment on.

Right now there are so many rough edges. We know, of course, that there are many negative situations in our community and world of great importance, and we don’t expect everyone to understand the grief we feel. But right now, there is an empty spot in our hearts that only a little Maltese can fill.

Some people have argued that there are no dogs in heaven.  They are wrong.  Scripture tells us that someday Jesus will return on a white horse.  And there just might be a little white Maltese at His side.  

Bella, we miss you.

P.S. from Shelley:  

Please send your email address to my husband if you’d like us to contact you in the future or if you’d like to leave any comments.  We’ve appreciated your input so much regarding “Bella in Belize,” and we’re astounded that within four to five months of originating a blog, the audience stretches around the world.  Thank you. Tom’s email follows.

tfay5000@gmail.com

Bella's Surgery Update

This is an update on Bella.  She had major surgery on Friday and 41 bladder stones were removed!  Three were quite large, the size of a small finger nail. Bella seemed to be fine, but the next day when she still couldn't urinate, Bella had to undergo a second operation.  Afterwards, the veterinarian said to get her to the USA.  Tomorrow!   Equipment for more sophisticated surgery is available in Houston.  But it's expensive and no guarantees.

Bella has had two serious bladder infections in the past, each requiring a one night hospital stay.  The stones were probably forming back then, but were too small to detect.  After a gut wrenching Saturday night thinking we'd have to her put to sleep, a spirit of prayer kicked in, faith began to rise, and we prayed for God to heal Bella.  When Dr. Laurie called Sunday morning from the San Pedro Animal Hospital, we were prepared to tell her we'd made a decision----not to take Bella to Houston.  But we were met with a good report:  Bella was making puddles on the floor!  The blockage was cleared, the prognosis was good.  

Bella is home now, lying beside me on the sofa.  She's panting.  But Tom just returned from the clinic where Bella had another injection and the medication makes her sleepy and causes some panting.  She has way too many stitches to count!  And to get everything in perspective, Bella weighs 6 lbs, 3 oz.  (She'll be four years old in September.)  But on this follow up visit Dr. Laurie said, "Bella looks a hundred times better! I'm amazed." 

We say, "Thank you Lord."  Our God hears and answers prayer. That in no way takes away from Dr. Laurie Droke and her staff at the San Pedro Animal Hospital (sanpedroanimalhospital.com).  They're skilled, committed, and compassionate, and we can't thank you enough.  

A special thanks, also, to an all night, every night, security guard named Neftali who in the middle of Saturday night prayed with Tom for Bella. Thanks, Neftali, for your faithfulness on the job and your heartfelt prayers.

Finally, a big thank you to our faithful readers, literally around the world.  We wish we knew all of you personally!  Thanks for encouraging my husband with Bella in Belize, his first ever attempt at blogging.  I appreciate it.  We're both astounded at the number of countries where Bella in Belize is being read!  Please check back soon, tell your friends, and remember to come visit. You're gonna love Belize!

                                             Shelley