Meet our little man.  Lacey his mother is a bichon we rescued.  She was here a couple of days and had to have an emergency c-section as she was full of hook worms, anemic and has a heart murmur.  She had 7pups that were born premie - they were unable to breathe on their own.  This little one decided he wanted to stay in this world and has made it a week.  Jean from Animal Hospital of Univeristy Drive has been caring for him.  He has to have tube feedings every two hours.

Here is Lacey the day before surgery and when she first came.  She had been bathed and made comfortable but the stress of it all caused her to go into premature labor.  She was a week early and not strong enough to have the puppies on her own.  She was taken to Animal Hospital of University Drive where Dr. Eich examined her to find her full of hook and round worms, approximately 9 years old and having a heart murmur.  We decided to do the emergency c-section.  I told Dr. Eich that Lacey was the main concern that her health came first and if it came between her and the puppies to save her.  She has been a commercial breeding dog and she deserved the best of life.

Dr. Eich told me that he would call after surgery.  It was a long couple of hours waiting for the phone call but finally it came.  He told me that this little girl had seven pups but at that time felt none of them would survive.  The hookworms had traveled through her placenta into the pups, they were a week early and although large for being premi their respiratory systems could not take the challenge of breathing air on their own.  Lacey was doing ok, her cac was down to 13 and he wanted to keep her a few days to make sure she was ok and to try and raise her blood levels.  I agreed.  I got off the phone and said well we saved Lacey and was saddened by the loss of her puppies as well as the fact that she was so old and had been bred with a heart murmur.

Later that afternoon I called to see how she was doing.  I got the surprise of my life.  Stacey who works there informed me that Jean the office manager had managed to keep one of the puppies alive.  I was in shock.  Jean is an angel is all I can say.  I told them I would stop by that night and check on Lacey and the puppy. He was so tiny and hardly had any hair but Jean had managed to keep him alive for several hours.  I knew it would be a miracle if this baby would survive.  Jean offered to keep him to see if she could help him make it and I did not hesitate to say yes knowing what it would entail.  Jean has to tube feed him every two hours as he does not have the ability to nurse - he is not strong enough.  The next morning I called and he was still fighting for life although he had a rough night he was going strong.  There are really not enough words that can express how we feel about Jean or Dr. Eich.  Both are going out of their way to save both this pup and Lacey, both going way over the top in commitment and dedication to them.

Its been a week now.  I visited Dr.. Eich and Jean yesterday and took the videos above of the baby and received pictures of Lacey in her foster home.  Lisa her new mom has also gone above and beyond the norm running Lacey to and from vets, checking on her, buying her a whole new bed set and blankets and even going out at night to buy her some small tiny stuffed toys to help her with her depression.  Lisa is going to adopt Lacey and we know that she will be in the most perfect home.  Lacey is happy in her new home, eating well, running around like a new girl. Lisa is spoiling her rotten as she so well deserves and being the perfect mom to her.  Lacey has fit well into their family and is loved is a way she has never been loved in her life.  She is at peace and living the life of Riley.  Lisa continues to check on the puppy and to what we hope all of our new parents and fosters are - dedicated to the cause.  It is the dedication of many that truly saves the lives of one.  The unity of rescue that saves the lives of many, and the attention given by animal clinics such as Animal Clinic of University Drive that saves the ones no one things can be saved.

While at the vets I sat in awe of this little boy, his strength even though so tiny, after a week he finally had grown some hair, was moving about and making sounds.  Boy does he know Jean.  She put her hand down and he was right on it trying to nurse the skin and finally grabbing his paw as you can see in the video.

I marveled at how tiny he is, what a miracle he is and what a special angel Jean is.  She has given this baby a chance at life, she has given part of herself into the heart and soul of this little one to give him the strength and reason he needs to continue his battle to live.  He is by far not out of the woods, but he is making his way closer to the edge thanks to the care of Jean.  His survival is due only to the care and commitment of Dr. Eich and Jean.  When I was visiting Dr. Eich said are you taking him home?  I said oh heck no.  This little one scares me more than any of my large power dogs.  I am not stupid nor egotistical enough to believe I can do what Jean has - she is the angel here.

This little boy does not have a name yet.  We are having a contest for people to think of a name for him and Jean will choose it and we will announce the person who named him and the name in two weeks.  You can send in your name to pdorsey@sanctuaryanimalrefuge.org

We look forward to many more updates on this little one.  To show how miracles realy do happen, how faith and belief and a lot of love truly make a difference.

3/18/08
	Well I have a new name - My new name is Horton. My mom Jean teases me and says every once in awhile Horton hers a Who.  I have changed a lot and now I drink from a bottle and my lungs are better and I can make sounds and boy do I love nursing on Mommy Jeans fingers.  She is such a good mommy.  She takes really good care of me.  She says I am still behind other pups my age but I am going to catch up. I sleep all through the night now.  Ms. Palena told Mommy Jean that was a good thing because now she can get some sleep.  I can crawl around and Mommy was telling Palena that I have moved up from that little container I was in into a small crate and that I like to put my paw through it when I hear her coming.  Yep I do because I like all of the attention that she gives me.  I am still not very big but I am growing and getting fat.  I had my first worm test and it came out negative, but I am going to get to drink some medicine anyway as my mom had a lot of worms and sometimes it takes a while for us little ones to start passing them.
One day I am going to be a big boy. I try now and everyone says that I am a miracle.  I think my mommy Jean is an angel.  I hear them talking and  I know that it was not likely that I would live but Mama Jean she made sure that I did.  She is a very special person.  Dr. Eich checks in on me too and he thinks I am pretty special.   Well let me share some pictures of me that were taken today and a few videos.  I am kind of cute aren't I?  Do you see my picture of me being the boogeyman.  Don't I look like I could scare someone? I am practicing for next Halloween
	Last week I did not have the strength to take a bottle but now I tell you I am really good at it and I love mommie Jeans fingers.  She says its nurturing for me.  I say its just plain fun.