October 20, 2010
One year ago today, we made the decision to give Maggie a second chance on life. I thought I was prepared for her surgery, having really known that she probably had soft tissue sarcoma on her left rear leg, diagnosed by my sister, Gina, (a LVT) and then confirmed by Maggie’s surgeon, Dr. Chris Miles of Lucerne Vet Clinic. She was in so much pain prior to the surgery, the week between the biopsy and the actual surgery date, was agonizing…very long minutes, hours, days to finally getting her some pain relief. After surgery, when I saw Mags the first time, I was so upset…what did we do to her…no turning back now..but wow, did we do the right thing? Thank goodness my sister, Gina, was there to keep things in perspective for me & help me get through that first day at the clinic with Maggie.
When driving home, the closer we got home on October 22, 2010, there was fresh snow on the ground. Oh yeah, just to make the struggles of getting around for a newly amputated dog all that more difficult…for both she and us. Then on October 25th she wouldn’t eat. Running a low grade fever for two weeks and struggling to get her to eat in that time frame. Thankfully, she was drinking – and drinking A LOT. Several trips back and forth to the surgeon and local vet to find out what we could do to help – what was wrong? Those two weeks were pure HELL. Totally. I got through it mentally with the help of my sister, husband and friends. I still wasn’t sure we’d done the right thing. But no turning back now…keep on struggling until finally her fever broke and she started eating on her own again! Party! The little things like eating that were such a triumph!
Then comes the day she can be FREE off a leash, after having been on one for a very long time prior to surgery, as she was misdiagnosed as having an ACL injury. After she got her stitches out and we came home, I let her loose. I will never forget the emotions that ran through me for those first few minutes of watching her. Her learning to meander around the yard on three legs. Her happily grabbing a stick to chew on! Another small triumph!
As the days, weeks and months have gone by, there have been many triumphs for Maggie. She has gained in strength very slowly but with the help of physical therapy that I do with her and being able to go for short walks, she’s gained her life back mostly…only on three legs – three healthy legs 🙂 She earned her Rally Level 1 title in APDT Rally Obedience in May. She competed at another Rally trial in July earning more legs in Level 1 and Halloween weekend she is entered in another Rally trial, this time in Veterans class. In November, she is entered in the new Wag It Games where she will be in the special “Heart Dog Program” for disabled dogs having special rules apply for her disability! She plays a bit of down scaled agility in the back yard but doesn’t compete in it anymore…but she’s OK with that..she has just as much fun in the back yard 🙂 We go for walks and she is up to a half hour walk now on some pretty hilly ground. There was a day when she couldn’t handle two days in a row of walking but now she can!
I am so proud of Maggie. The courage she has had to endure at times for just the little things that she used to be able to do so easily – like walking across a hardwood floor – and trying her best not to slip and not be scared. Don’t worry Mags, I’ll help you when you need it. You are a very special girl that was given a second chance and we are VERY glad you were given that second chance!
I’m happy to report we made the right decision!
Happy One Year Ampuversary to my AgileCowDog Maggie!!
We started the Ampuversary party early on Sunday! Here she is at one of my favorite places – Deboullie Pond. It is State of Maine owned land with many surrounding ponds and walking trails. From our house, it is 25 miles on dirt roads to get there. While Mags can’t walk far on the trail anymore, she did venture on a bit of it.
In the past couple of months, Maggie has really shown me how much stronger she is on our walks. And with the now changing weather to crisp, cool air, she is showing me even more how strong she is. She is letting me forget on our walks that she is a Tripawd, she is so strong lately! She really amazes me…even to this day, a year later, in her accomplishments of living on three legs.
Here she is with her tendon chew as a gift for her Ampuversary. I’m sure she’ll be getting lots of goodies as the day goes on today! 🙂 So proud of you, Maggie! Keep on being my AgileCowDog! You ROCK!
Dear Maggie
Happy Happy Hoppy Ampuversary. You truly are an inspiration, as is your mom’s strength and absolute devotion to you.
Love the videos and the captured sounds of your paws scrunching through the autumn leaves.
Have a lovely, lovely day and many, many more.
Hugs and best wishes from
Carmen, Catie and Riley
I love the video of your Rally work. Maggie is amazing. (Wish I could go to a training building like that!!!)
Hooray for Maggie! Hooray for you! What a gorgeous walk in the woods.
Nancy and James the poodle
You rock indeed Maggie! It’s hard to believe a year has passed already. Time really does fly when you’re loving life on three legs. 🙂
@Admin: I was just thinking the same thing….it’s really hard to believe a year has passed! Sometimes it seems like just yesterday but REALLY, I like these days far better than “those” days 😉
Yup, I ordered a bumper sticker that says YOU ROCK on it too! hehe!
@Carmen & Nancy: Thank you for your kind words! These Tripawd dogs sure are special! Nancy, that training building is pawesome, unfortunately, I’m 4 hours North of it…but going there next weekend and looking forward to a fun time with Maggie! Having a Halloween costume party too Saturday night there! 🙂
Tracy
Tracy
Oh, Maggie….I’m so glad we are celebrating another year all together! You have done a great job healing and your Mom has done a great job helping you with that!
Cheers to One Year and Many Many More! 😀
Hugs and kisses on that big clown nose!
Aunt Gina
Congrats Maggie!!!! Gotta love those older, rear amp Maggie dogs!
Tracy- I remember some of your early posts, about missing what Maggie couldn’t do, wondering what she could do….
And look at you guys now, an awesome example of how good life is on three.
And- you guys STILL tire me out!
Rock on Maggie-moo.
Karen and the pugapalooza
I posted on the forum and now I have come to your blog to be treated to some wonderful videos. I watched them all and I must admit watching the video of Maggie of leash for the first time and learning to again navigate the back yard was very emotional for me. I can only imagine how you must of felt back then. What a trooper Maggie is!
I love the video of you two working together. You should have seen Fortis do a side, sit, down, stand, wait and heal. It was hilarious! His big body would almost knock me over at times he would get so excited. He loved to work and it’s obvious Maggie still does and even on three legs. It was just wonderful to watch and I’m so happy for you guys. It brought tears to my eyes and I’m not joking around.
I love your accent Tracy. It reminds me of my times spent back home in Derry, NH with my family.
Happy one year Ampuversary Maggie! Rock on girl. Your fabulous and your folks are as well. It’s time for a celebration.
Fortis and Brett
@Auntie Gina – I know you love my ‘clown’ nose…I don’t take offense to your comments 😉 XOXO Maggie
@Karen – it almost seems silly of me now to be worried so much back then now, huh, after how well Maggie is doing now?! The “good days’ now are clouding over those not so good days!
@Brett – I messed up my post in the forums, if you click on the pictures(that are really video links) it would have brought you to YouTube…I messed it up somehow?? Anyways, that first video of Mags of the first time off leash was VERY VERY VERY emotional for me, hence the reason I put music on it – to drown out my emotional babbling.. By that time, I was an emotional WRECK…and that was a moment of wow, things just MIGHT get better?!
Do you have any old videos of Fortis working? I’d love to see them 🙂
Accent? Huh? I don’t think I have an accent! 😉 Weird someone telling me that…now YOU, I bet has a Texas accent! 🙂
Tracy
You know Tracy, I don’t think I have a video of Fortis and I working together. Although it started with obedience and entry level agility it expanded into schutzhund training which Fortis really loved. I didn’t have a video camera or anyone for that matter to take videos back then and as you know you must remain focused on your dog. Maybe I can get Fortis to do something simple on video now if he is capable and willing 🙂 but I can assure you it won’t look graceful and pretty like you and Maggie do 🙂 It might be fun for Fortis…..I should try.
Not a strong accent, just one that reminds me of my family in NH. Me on the other hand………you betcha I have a Texas accent. Probably worse actually!
Happy celebrating you two
Brett and Fortis
tracy, congrats on a year of amazing moments with maggie. here’s to many, many more!!!
charon & gayle
Sweet Maggie, you are very inspawrational!!! I can’t believe you still have so much energy. That is just fantastic. I bet you don’t even miss that old leg. Keep on keepin’ on with your rally trials and those walks. And please keep posting those videos. They make us happy 😉
Ginger and her pack
Oh Tracy – when I saw that Maggie is celebrating her 1 year ampuversary I had to come over here right away! Your post brings lots of tears to my eyes. We will be celebrating Mackenzie’s 1 year in 2 weeks and it’s just incredibly emotional. What we have gone through, how our lives have been turned upside down only to have our girls still with us makes my heart sing. I know that sounds so corney but I just can’t tell you how monumental this milestone is. And I’m so happy and grateful that we are able to celebrate with you on this wonderful day. It’s a true blessing through and through.
Happy 1 Year Ampuversary Maggie!!! Whoo hoooooooooo!!!!
P.S. I know a Maine accent when I hear one – naahh you don’t have one at all 🙂
@Brett – Schutzhund!?! How cool is that! And NO videos! Boohoo! Dogs that are trained in that totally impress the heck out of me!
@Charon & Ginger’s Pack – Thank you so much! Maggie likes to “lounge” around alot too 🙂 It’s in her nature to do so…really! But she does rouse up some energy from time to time! 😉
@Kami – Thank you as well! Our girls are ampuversary ‘sisters’ I guess huh?! 🙂 As I said earlier, that’s why there is music in that first video of her unleashed for the first time after a LONG time due to being misdiagnosed. Emotions were pretty high at that moment! I was tearing up just writing that blog! I’m pretty much a gush…yup, I am…I’ll admit it. That’s what Maggie does to me though! She can make me cry sooooooooo easy…for both good and bad! She’s my first dog…she’s a pretty good girlie 😉
Tracy
Oh Maggie, what a wonderful place to celebrate!
Runing free through the fall leaves-you go girl.
Very Very Happy and Hoppy Ampuversary to you!!!!
Spirit JD’s mom
Hoppy Ampuversary Maggie! You are an inspawration to many of us! Keep it up and keep enjoying life.
XOXO
Dillon and Rhys
P.S. Mom finally ordered her custom Tripawd charm in honor/memory of Peyton.
Maggie, you are such an inspiration–congratulations on your ampuversary.
Mary and Cemil