S.P.A.

November 7th - Saturday Night

SATURDAY UPDATE

Giving Thanks

I went to a petsitting job last night, exhausted from helping my husband insulate all day and filled with worry about Peach. But it wasn't only Peach that I was worried about, it was Alma, too. Losing Peach would be really upsetting to this interesting, spiritual woman whom I had just met.

I fell asleep while petsitting and woke up sometime in the middle of the night. It took me a second to figure out where I was, you know how that feels when you fall asleep somewhere different. It was very dark and two of the dogs were curled up on the sofa, sleeping beside me. I began to think about things... I kind of daydreamed as I mulled things over and over in my mind.

Yesterday when I walked away from Alma kneeling down on the floor at the vet's office, hugging Peach, I felt it again... Alma has a way of making me feel warm inside.

She moved here from Mississippi and raised five kids on her own. Her husband left them when the kids were little. This woman has very little materially and she suffers from a serious heart condition. I wish I had recorded our initial conversation in which she explained, in her intriguing Mississippi accent, just how blessed she is. She said, "sometimes I wonder why I don't have more but then I remember just how blessed I really am, praise God."

Alma has faith, hope and love.

Many of you were a part of this genuine, real-life story of Thanksgiving.

S.P.A.'s bill at the vet's office was already $3,300, so when Fremont Animal Hospital called to see if SPA was interested in trying to raise funds for Alma's dog Peach I was hesitant, not because I didn't want to help but because I didn't know how we (SPA) would be able to pay for yet more vet bills.

The next morning Alma called. I knew nothing about her but soon that all changed. There was something in her voice... something pure, something inexplicable... the sound of love.

We talked for a long time and I told her to send a digital photo of her dog via email and to take Peach to the vet's office as soon as possible. The vet's office made it clear that this would be a life-saving surgery. I called the vet's office and said, "Put Alma's dog on SPA'S bill."

Peach had a severe case of pyometra (infected uterus) and she needed surgery right away.

Peach is home in guarded condition. She is to be kept quiet, although she can get up to go potty outside. Her gums are pinker than they were yesterday from the much needed transfusion, thanks to the very handsome yellow lab who donated his blood to her. She is not out of the woods yet. Alma knows if there are setbacks of any kind she is suppose to call Dr. Alexander immediately. It is touch and go. She is not all healed, but at least she is home in Alma's arms.

Thanks to everyone who helped Peach. I've met quite a few amazing and wonderful people because of Alma and her beloved dog Peach. I needed a good dose of that. And I have a feeling that I've made a new friend here in Fremont. Make that two new friends, hopefully.

Following are photos that I took at her house this afternoon. Peach's original story is below the photos. Please keep hoping and praying Peach pulls through this.

ORIGINAL STORY

Thursday Morning

We received a call from the veterinarian's office late yesterday afternoon asking if SPA could pay to help save a local woman's dog's life.

Peach is in advance stages of pyometra (horribly infected uterus) and needs surgery ASAP to save her life, the vet said.

THIS IS PEACH...

Alma, the dog's owner, is on disability with congestive heart failure and is truly in a bad way financially. I spoke with her at length on the phone. She is an amazing woman filled with spiritual love and faith.

She explained to me that her girl Peach has helped to pull her through some mighty hard time.

At first, I was upset... "Great," I thought, "another animal's life is in SPA's hands." What friendly, animals' lives AREN'T worth saving?

I called Alma last night at about 9 pm. She was crying hard and was praying out loud that the Good Lord help her find a way to save her best friend's life.

She spoke at length with me about how she doesn't have much in the way of material things, but that the Good Lord has blessed her and provides what she needs.

I'll confess I don't go to church as often as maybe I should, but I can recognize that this woman is a saint. She is indeed a very special woman.

Alma is on disability with congestive heart failure. She is not married, and has a son who is in worse shape than she.

She kept praying out loud through her tears, and I must admit that I, too, began to cry.

PEACH IS INDEED HER FRIEND.

She kept saying, "It's just me and my girl."

This call means that if we (S.P.A.) can't raise $500 - $800 (at a time when our donations are way down) that this much loved female boxer will die.

I explained that we just paid over $1,000 on a rescued cat named Solomon, and another $500 + on See-a-Tee, who is on the road to recovery after having been given a 5% chance of survival.

It means that we need to come up with $500 NOW! for this sweet boxer girl named Peach.

S.P.A. is a small group of eight volunteers and donations are down. Surgery is estimated at $500 - $800.

Please help us to help this woman save her dog's life. You can phone in credit card donations to:

~PEACH FUND~

Fremont Animal Hospital

2357 Sean Drive

Fremont, Ohio 43420

Credit Card Donations can be made

directly to Fremont Animal Hospital's Peaches Fund at:

419-332-2659

PEACHES FUND

I will then add your email to Peaches file and PROMISE to give you updates as I receive them.

Peach has not obtained surgery yet.

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Friday Morning

~PEACH UPDATE~

Peach is still hooked up to IV as she is refusing to eat. I am personally going to visit with her at Fremont Animals Hospital and try to encourage her to eat something. I am usually pretty good at that sort of thing. We'll see. I'll take a variety of temptations along with me.

Debbie from Fremont Animal Hospital (419-332-2659) said that Peach's Fund has received $230 as of last night at closing.

Peach took a bit of a turn for the worse yesterday and had to be hooked back up to IV's. She was slightly anemic and wasn't eating.

Alma, Peach's mama, went to visit her today and brought her a few "Vienna Sausages" Debbie said. Peach isn't out of the woods yet and I am not in a hurry for them to send her home. Yes, the bill is mounting but with Miss Alma's heart condition I don't think she is capable of providing 24 hour care.

Thanks for your prayers and donations. I am learning that prayer can be powerful stuff, or at least it seems to work for Alma.

We are so low on donations right now and owe almost $4,000 at present in vet bills. So many have called to ask for our help and I have a difficult time saying no. The economy isn't the animals' fault, and these owners love their animals, they just can't afford the high cost of surgery, etc. I just have to win the lotto, darn it.

Special Blessings your way,

Barb

PS... Yes, of course it would have been better if Miss Alma would have had Peach spayed. Some people are still learning about the importance of spay and neuter. Alma had a rough go of it, but don't think she's unknowing. Talking with her for over an hour the day before yesterday was enlightening to me. She made the hair on my arms stand on end as she talked about "The Good Lord" and all he has given her, that sometimes she wishes she had more than she does but then when she thinks about having a warm house and food on her table she feels badly for even thinking about the things she doesn't have. This woman has congestive heart failure. She had five kids and raised them on her own, because he husband took off. She quotes the Bible as if she were some sort of minister, and even though I am not a church-goer and not a follower of one particular religion, listening to this woman did something to me. Can't say I will be joining a particular church soon, but I do think her faith is really something special.

A few people have written angry letters that seemed to be shouting, "WHY DIDN'T SHE GET HER DOG FIXED?!!!" Well yes, of course she should have, and she knows that now. She learned something, but you know what? So did I. I learned that if someone in her shoes can be so filled with faith and hope and most of all SO MUCH LOVE, then I better reevaluate my own inner being.

We all can learn more than we know in one area or another. What I learned from Alma is that no amount of money can buy faith, hope and love. And that these three things are more powerful than all the money in the world.

I will send updates as I receive them.

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Friday Evening

~PEACH UPDATE~

I called this early this morning to check on Peach and was told by a vet tech that she still wasn't eating. About noon I decided to stop helping my husband insulate a house and go buy a double cheeseburger from Burger King to try to encourage Peach to eat.

When I got there they said she had become very anemic and had crashed, all of a sudden, so Doctor Alexander (bless his heart) brought in his yellow lab who gave his blood for dear little Peach. He was lying in the cage next to her when I got there with his tail wagging. What a doll he is.

They said I could only try to give Peach a few bites of just the meat, so I knelt down and offered her three bites, tiny pieces, one at a time. She took them eagerly. Doc Alexander said no more because she might throw up. But I begged him to give her just a tad bit more. He said okay, but that was it. Then, I offered her just a bit of water.

They said her gums were white and were now getting some color back into them. They are doing everything they can to keep her alive.

Alma called the hospital while I was there and said she was finally able to find someone to bring her in to see her baby. It was the first time I had met Alma, and when we looked at each other I felt a warm wave of love flow through me.

It was hard for her to get down on the floor, but she did, and immediately hugged her baby girl. I took a photo of her just at that moment. She was hugging her so hard I was worried about her knocking out Peach's IV, but she didn't. Alma had tears in her eyes and said, "Dear Lord please let my baby live."

Peach stood right up, butt wagging way too hard, as she tried to walk out of her cage to go to Alma. I told Alma that she had to talk softly and get Peach to calm down. Peach loves her mommy, that's for sure.

They said they are worried about toxemia and are doing everything they can to save Peach's life. We can't lose her now... we just can't!

Yes, all this will cost more money but at this point saving her life is what matters most.

Words can not express the appreciation we have in our hearts for your donations no matter how big or small. Every little bit helps. And for those of you who can't give, that's fine. Your positive thoughts of love and prayer are free and coupled with the top notch medical care she is receiving... I believe she is going to pull through, don't you?

Alma said she has never had a computer, but asked me to be sure to tell everyone that she feels so blessed knowing that so many of you care about her and her baby. I am telling you, this is one extraordinary woman. And Peach is a real pumpkin girl. She kissed me on my face several times.

I'll send another update first thing in the morning after I call the vet's office. I am exhausted after helping my husband insulate all day. What a job that is. Then to come home and take care of all of the animals here.

Oh, and a bit more good news. A cat we have named CAT (pronounced see-a-tee) was given a 5% chance of survival from a liver disorder. A clear diagnosis was not able to be deciphered from various test results. Her skin was yellow and her liver was in terrible shape. That was a week ago. I have force fed her and my husband has given her sub-ques for the past week. He has also slept on the floor with her each night in the spare bedroom all week. I get up off and on every night and frankly get very little sleep so I usually camp out on the sofa. Well, tonight, for the first time, CAT has eaten a full meal on her own and did so as soon as I walked into the spare bedroom. I think she is sick and tired of me cramming a syringe down her throat. I'd say her chances now are way above 5%.

Thanks again for your heartfelt thoughts of love and for your help in paying this large vet bill. The only frustrating part is that someone gave an anonymous donation, and that bothers me. I would like to be able to add their name to this list to thank them, too, as well as keep them updated. Hopefully, word will reach them through the grapevine. It bothers me not being able to thank someone.

Big Bear Hugs to all of you,

Barb

www.spaohio.org