Monday, September 24, 2012

Dandi times pt 2

Now these times I tell you of below, are the " NOT-so-dandy" times as shared previously. Though the worst is over, and all involved can look up, and move forward.
                                               ***

 When things go south, I take cues in stress management  from our 2 lovely rescue kitties. They also shared some neat confidence booster tips, seen below, while taking in the summer's finest times~

Martina McBride, aka "Mari", shares her favorite secret and remedy to a stressful day (or week) by example.
 It works too, I have personally tried the beauty sleep/stress management method... outside, during the day!


Wild tiger cat, GloryB, has an altogether different example to share. 


 While the climbing of the tree comes naturally, and is surely fun,
her tip encourages "Personal Growth". Growth comes challenging yourself to reach NEW HEIGHTS ~ 
They afford one a certain self confidence and a whole new perspective. There usually is risk involved, but having someone around you trust, solves that.


These methods, shared by our kitties came in handy ....

_______________________________________________________________________

The  beginning few weeks of August were horrendous for shocking accidents, people at their worst, and horse health problems. Having made it a month away from it all...I am breathing/sleeping better and calming down. 
Thanks Mari, for this "how to handle the HEAT" tip! 


Yea...we joined most of the country in heat, during the trying times I will share now.
***

Standing at work and finishing up a client I got a cell call, from one of Pantz's caregivers. Pantz apparently was not able to breath well. We had been noticing a cough of sorts, after the winter being in a stall at her last boarding place. Though the stall door was never shut, and she had a large pea gravel paddock to roll and walk in, she stayed in her stall. 

We were not at all happy with the last barn's moldy and dusty atmosphere from the start. But choices to board Pantz have been limited by time restraints and availability. Every time we went to the last barn, we  cleaned the dusty fines out of her hay feeder, off the floors, and also swept out the stall.  DUST, DIRT  were everywhere. Leaving it, caused it to become moldy, during the wintertime.
It makes me love my stable all the more...my PBO's make sure it is SUPER CLEAN!

Now that we had to move Pantz again, unfortunately, the changes did not change the conditions she lived in. In fact, she has less space to be out than before. Her cough came back and with the onset of  HIGH HEAT- it tipped her off the edge of allergies. 
Before my sissy and I moved her into this familiar setting. We cleaned and cleaned. I was sick for a week after, and my sister was really sick, with respiratory ailments, for 2 weeks after. ( that was our warning signs)
Standing in the stall, though the door was open, gave her relief from flies, but she was inhaling molds, saw dust and Ammonia.


   Pantz with flaring nostrils, gathering vital air, though standing still.



She basically has the horsey version of C.O.P.D. Formerly called "heaves" and now I am told, by our vet, is called" R.A.O." Recurrent Airway Obstruction. She was feeling terrible and it stressed both my sissy and me out, till we could take her to the vets office. 
They gave her almost instant relief, once they found out she was not having any kind of infection. She gets what people get,  steroids and antihistamines.
24 hours was amazing relief for her. No longer did she have to breath through a straw. That sound was terrible!!
The vet told us, that is what she was having to do, since horses do not use their mouth, like we can, to receive air.

So the next day my sister and I stripped the mats from the stall to find concrete. There were cement like sawdust ridges under the mats. They become wet with urine and never dried out or got cleaned. Since the stall is not level, it pooled. 
We power washed it all out, Vinegar sprayed the mats  off and allowed them to dry in the sun. We decided never to use the stall pellets again. They are treated wood and become like dust. I always stuff up when I clean the stall, and that was what Pantz was laying her head down on, when she rested.
She now has no bedding,  just mats. She has begun to "P" outside and that is what we wanted. Whew! Now, I had to help sissy medicate the mare, twice a day, for 3 weeks. * sigh*


That crisis was afoot while another, unknowingly brewed. The day after I got the call about Pantz, I again was standing at work with clients, when my cell phone rang. I had no clue to who it was, it was an "unknown"  number. So, I opted to wait till my current client was done before I retrieved the V.M. 
When I did.....
   I listened to a horrific message, It was from someone I did not know personally, but someone I did know well, had them call me. 

There had apparently been a terrible horse accident involving a personal friend, and my former boarding PBO. The person that called me was told " I was probably the only one who KNEW EXACTLY where they were"- in the high mountain woods of Colton , Oregon. 
This gal calling me did not know where she was, and couldn't even find her way back to the road, to help paramedics get to my  badly hurt girlfriend.  

NOW*** this may offend some, but I must say*** I am NOT  personalty a fan of the new fangled " Paso Fino's". They are so  narrow in the chest , seemingly are unable to navigate themselves, with uneven terrains.  I have met several, and all have fallen with rider- on the high country trails we ride. 
This was the case here as well. This pony, praise God it was that, all of 700 lbs, would not cross a creek and backed up a steep, uneven trail. It lost it's balance and fell backwards. 

I was so shocked, while I stood at work, knowing my girlfriend was seriously hurt and no one knew where she was..I called my 5 remaining clients to cancel. 
I knew I had to go help her!
 I also called her husband before leaving the salon. He did not know anything was up yet. I told him where to go looking for them and also, I told him I'd come along soon, to help.

I called en route, while I drove the 25 miles to the accident location. This drive was familiar, as I used to board with these friends 2 years ago. I was told that it probably was not necessary  for me to come out, since there were some 20 odd emergency response personal,  on scene .
BUT, I just had that strong feeling, I should follow through. God had me go, I know now.

My girlfriend ( you see her  leg), tree gravity I.V. liquids above her. Colton, Molalla, Life flight  professionals, along with local volunteer teams with her.



The scene above is after I ran -as hard as I could -for a half mile to take Paramedics to my girlfriend. No one knew how to get to her. The woman that was with her got lost coming out of the woods, and then proceeded to get the emergency help lost on the way back as well. Bless her heart, she was just lost and in shock. 

Once I arrived and saw all the emergency people, I tried to tell them I knew where she was and they couldn't grasp that. I had my hand up in the air, as a grade school-er- that knows the answer. But they did not heed me.... So I just set out for my girlfriend.

I made sure to set my GPS "Cardiotrainer" phone app. , as I left the road to the high trail where I knew my friend was. The "Lifeflight" Helicopter was circling above as I ran. I got there finally, very much out of breath. The first responders had just gotten there, as well. It had taken them an hour to find her, with "the- long-way- there-trail", the lost gal had taken them on.  They were shocked at seeing me and said, "WHERE DID YOU COME FROM AND HOW LONG IS THE TRAIL?"
 I simply handed them my phone....

They were able to "Ping" from it, the location. Then,  they decided to NOT use the Army National Guard Helicopter-

to lift my friend out of the woods. They thought it was going to be 2 miles up or the 2 miles it had taken them to get to her. 
They opted for the "Life Flight" Helicopter, just feet away from the Army National Guard Copter.



I am so glad I went!! 
It was a 1/2 mile out to the road, the way I came!

My friend sustained 
* 9 broken ribs
* a punctured lung
* a crushed # 2 lumbar vertebrae
Her  Lf Femur had apparently come out of the socket as well...but was not broken as they thought!
She was able to come home last week finally, after successful back surgery and general stabaization.



Now taking cues from my mare and Kitty...
I am going to be like calm, cool and blend in with the scenery.



Washashe keeps and eye out always, then chills during the breaks of our rides, for a nice munch and rest before we ride on homeward again.



There have been so many wonderful events in our lives  more recently, that the shocking and difficult, ere now, are all but faded...onto the next I say!! 

Lord knows that He has all my times in His hands, and I do rest in Him, knowing everything is useful for my personal growth and also, for my worth/use in society. Nothing is by chance ( I believe) if you look inward firstly, then outwardly. I only can do either -by God's certain to highlight the truth- filter. 

17 comments:

  1. It's a good thing you were able to help out the paramedics. What a horrible accident, glad she's on the mend.

    Love your pictures of the cats and especially the one sitting in front of the tree (blending in). And of your beautiful smart mare too. Glad you're back.

    I couldn't open your other post, the page said it wasn't there. Don't know if you could fix it or repost maybe?

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  2. p.s. I forgot to say poor Pantz. I hope all you and your sis have done will help her breath better. Our Nate has allergies and asthma and keeping everything as clean and dust free as possible does help. He also benefits from staying out some nights.

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  3. Oh Kacy thank heavens you were able to help your friend! So many injuries... did her horse fall over backwards on her? Though we are not mountainous, our trail to the beach has a segment that is only accessible on foot - I always pray that our temporary boarders have safe rides. A serious injury in there would have to be carried out. It's one of those phone calls I never want to get. Bless you for being there!

    Reading about Pantz makes me so thankful that I have my own barn. I hope with you and your sis' stall renovations + vet help will do the trick for her.

    Your kitty photos are magical. (and the cattitude suggestions are well taken!!) Good to hear from you here, and your kind comments on my blog. Take care and happy trails... :D

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  4. Kacy girl - You sure have been through it but there for your sister and your friends! Good for you for having the tenacity to stick with Pantz and make sure her stall is free of urine an old, dusty mold. Happy kitties to get you through the worry and stress and happy Wa. Thank goodness your friend is ok. Thankfully, you were able to get there in time and help! Oh, what a worry! Much love and good Dandi thoughts for the coming season.

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  5. What a terrible accident. Between that and Pantz, you must be feeling shell-shocked.

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  6. No wonder we have not heard from you. I hope your friend is improving quickly...what an accident. Sweet Pantz. You have worked hard to figure out what is best for her.

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  7. I was sitting on the edge of my seat reading this...what a month. So glad to hear that Pantz and your friend are on the mend.

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    1. Hi there you!!
      Good to see your Promise's icon photo about the blogs again.
      Thanks for stoppin' by here and wishing us well. Things are so much better...!!

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  8. Oh your story gave me chills! So horrible! Praise God she was found, had the appropriate help, and is now healing. What tragedy. Thank you for sharing your two stories... I sponsor a 9 year old Compassion International child in Colombia and she sent me Joshua 1:9 for encouragement, thought it seemed fitting for what you are going through too!

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    1. Corinna, thank you for the nice Scripture Vs.
      "Be strong and of good courage: be mot afraid, neither be dismayed: for the LORD your God is with you, where ever you go"...

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  9. Thank God you were there to get that call, and followed through to help your friend!! Wow Kacy...wondered what was going on with you, for it's not like you to be absent for so long. Will keep your friend in my prayers for a quick and complete recovery from so, so many serious injuries. How terrified she must have been lying there alone, just waiting...I can only imagine. So thankful for good people/friends like you! :) Sorry to hear about Pantz too. But there are good meds these days that will enable her to live a long and comfortable life. Breathing is definitely not underrated! Poor baby. So glad you got her the help she desperately needed. Wow...girlfriend - you need to take some time to relax. Wonderful news about your sister's new home...very cool! Blessings, Lorie

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    1. Lorie,
      Hi there sweets. yea...it is ALL BEHIND me(us) now! Breathing better and with this GORGEOUS AUTUMN we are having....it's just plain wonderful!
      Thanks for your encouraging words and freindship

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  10. Yikes--what trying times. Glad you were able to help Pantz and your friend. Hope life settles down for you and everyone is on the mend.

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  11. First, I'm glad everyone has survived this traumatic ordeal. YOU are some friend!! I'm wishing your friend a quick recovery. This was frightening to read, not knowing how it was going to end (and how it could end). Sigh ....

    I'm hoping Pantz is improving. Your cats have a N.Y.Times bestseller on stress management.

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    Replies
    1. HAHA!! Our cats do have good suggestions by example!

      IT IS SO GOOD TO SEE YOU!!! It has been years and I know most things have changed for you. Hope to see you around more. You writing on a blog??
      KK

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  12. How scary! Praise God she is recovering. Just when I am thinking I will scrap the dressage and start trail riding more, I read stories like these. Maybe not.
    Poor Pantz, I understand the terrible breathing conditions. We have that in one of the barns at our place and two if the horses have these issues. I feel so bad for them we then have to stay in. Hope your days get less "exciting."
    Sasha

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