BabyGirl Page 2
By mid November 1999 it had been nearly 3 months
for her on her side every day. The prednisone has given her a little
mobility as she now would paddle her feet and catch them on boxes, door way
or what ever she could to scoot herself from facing one way to facing
another.. or even move herself a tiny bit while still flat on her side..she
still could not lay upright on her chest without us doing it for her.. but
she was trying.. seemed like more with each day.. of course she got all the
verbal cheers for moving 6 inches from here to there.. and I firmly believe
that a goat feels encouragement from your attitude.. she was however trying
to get around more.. and cute as a button.. no longer hated me.. if I left
the room for any reason she would holler till I got back.
The beginning of December brought changes, she was chewing on her
feet a lot, leaving me to believe that they were tingly- somewhat like when
our foot goes to sleep and tingles.. so I asked the vet..He agreed and
decided that she should lay on something soft because the hard floor even
with the rug wasn’t allowing for blood circulation.. this is when I decided
to sleep her in the bed with me from now on.. all night in a water bed would
do her good.
It did and the foot chewing stopped within a few days.. Also,
she was more alert than she had been.. or rather more attentive. If I walked
from room to room, instead of being satisfied with her little spot on her
rug.. she wanted to be with me.. so she would almost throw a tantrum,
kicking her feet about and catching the doorway and turning herself around
quite a bit.. At first I would run to her and ‘fix’ it by putting her back
leaned against the wall, then I noticed she would do it again.. so I
waited.. and watched her.. and then purposely went into the other room out
of her sight yet still talking to her.. she was MAD! Flailing and
kicking..she scooted herself into the kitchen where I was.. then lay
exhausted and looked at me.. I gave her a cookie. She would be able to get
no traction even if she did try to stand on that wood floor.. so I got more
rugs.. Long runners for her to move from place to place in the house.. She
wasn’t trying to stand but she did use them to move around some..
..then one
day I was in the kitchen and she was in the doorway. She looked like she was
trying to get up on her front knees..
I waited and watched.. and thought.. hmmmm..
bribery now would be good.. I held a cookie and talked to her..she
wanted that cookie so bad.. and couldn’t reach it.. I teased her with it and
she almost got up on her knees to get it!
This was the first time in months she had
shown any signs of strength in her legs I was tickled to death! I sang
praises to her.. and gave her more cookies.. OK, now is the time I
thought… I stood her up and held her standing against the chair while on
the rug for traction.. her legs didn’t crumple under her like before.. tears
in my eyes I let go..for a few seconds she stood leaned against the chair
but without my holding her up. I sobbed and held her to my chest crying like
a baby. My prayers for her were being answered!!! …We took turns my son,
his girl and me holding her up on her rug so her feet could touch the floor
and letting some pressure be on her legs..helping her to take steps.. a
little each day. It wasn’t long before she wanted to test her new tricks
outside to show her mom..
Straddling her and holding her back-end up between my knees
and her front end under her chest with my hands we walked a few steps
outside with mom and sis watching in dis-belief.. By the end of that day she
was standing on her own for the very first time in months leaned up against
the fence for support.. then she did it.. she took her first un-assisted
steps with the fence holding her up.. 5 steps before she
fell..!!!!!!
I ran to help her up praising her the whole time.. “good
girl” I hollered.. “what a good job!” More steps, then she ventured away
from the fence.. took a few steps with no fence for support before she
fell.. we all cried for her in happiness.. she was SO proud of herself.. and
her mom and sis stood watching her and looking at us before mom came to me
to nuzzle my arm, as if she were thanking me for never giving up on her
daughter..
The days that followed she progressed each day.
She still came in at night, then back outside as soon
as it warmed up a bit..
December 24th 1999
I called the vet office
and asked the gal if Dr Main would be there in an hour still.. she promised
me he would be.. He had to see this !!.. and it was the best gift I could
give him.. We drove the 40 miles and while Trine stayed outside with
BabyGirl, I went inside to talk to Dr Main and told him I just wanted to
wish him a Merry Christmas..gave him a small gift and started to leave..
turned around to him and said.. “Oh., I almost forgot. There’s something I
wanted you to see” Opened the door to the office and there on the front lawn
was BabyGirl.. walking to the steps to the office.. ..and UP the
steps.. I turned to him and there he was.. tears welling up in his eyes.. “I
would have NEVER believed this if I hadn’t seen it myself!” He couldn’t
believe she was actually walking.. She really gave him a show.. He kept
shaking his head and saying I really can’t believe she is on her feet and
walking. She even squatted to piddle for him.. being very proud of her
regained ability.
He wanted to
start trying to reduce the meds soon for fear they side effects would do
more harm than good.. but we would wait until she go to the point that now
new improvements had been made and she had maintained for awhile.. What a
Christmas gift that was!!
