8 weeks old

Eve was admitted to Texas A&M's Small Animal Clinic ICU on February 19, 1999 barely clinging to life. On March 6, she was released to her "half-way" house, and on March 12, she went home to continue her recovery. This is her story . . .

EVE  CAME FOR A VISIT IN FEB. 2000 AND BROUGHT HER SISTER, SCARLET ALONG. SISTER MADI ALSO CAME FOR THE DAY. ALTHOUGH EVE AND SCARLET PLAYED TOGETHER, THEY WEREN'T TOO FOND OF MADI. THEY WERE BEING TYPICAL GIRLS: TWO PLAY TOGETHER VERY WELL, BUT ADD A THIRD AND THERE ARE PROBLEMS. CHECK OUT THE PICTURES FOR A RECENT SNAP OF EVE. (April 2000)

EVE IS VACATIONING IN NORTH CAROLINE WITH HER FAMILY FOR THE SUMMER. SHE IS PROGRESSING NICELY AND IS SLOWLY GROWING HER HAIR AND FURNISHINGS BACK. SHE CAN'T COME HOME TO TEXAS TOO SOON TO PLEASE ME! ~Donna (6-5-99)

The first 7 days in ICU  (Feb. 19 - 25, 1999)

The next 4 days in ICU  (Feb. 26 - March 1, 1999)

The last 4 days  in IMC (March 2 - 5, 1999 )

The 7 days at Springbok (March 6 - 12, 1999 )

EVE WENT HOME with Hester and Luke on March 12, 1999.

She slept many hours away on my chest with me singing "You Are My Sunshine" to her. I know she couldn't hear me those first two weeks, but it made me feel good knowing that she was thriving under my constant care. How was I to know that this song could or would be her only link to the world that she used to know?

I kept Eve until she was 10 months old because I have developed a very emotional bond to this puppy. She has a zest for living and a joy in the living that is rarely seen in a puppy, or adult for that matter. But, when I finally broke down and admitted to myself that she wouldn't ever be more than a tiny tike, I forced myself to accept the fact that she really needed a home where she didn't have to share her people with so many of the clansmen. And this is the rest of her story . . .
 

Eve is now 13 months  old (Feb. 99) and living with friends, Hester and Luke Able.  She was scheduled for a routine spay to take place on Tuesday, Feb. 16th. Because Luke is a retired pediatric surgeon, they elected to take her home late that afternoon  so that she would have close monitoring  throughout  the night. Her vet didn't seem to object, although she was still groggy.  The Ables were not given any reason to be concerned for her  health or life when they picked her up. She still seemed to be having some problems the following day, Feb.17th. By the morning of the 18th, they were getting really concerned because she was beginning to walk in circles and bump into furniture and walls. They took her back to the vet who evaluated her, could find nothing wrong, put her on antibiotics, gave her a steroid injection and sent her home to be watched.

That afternoon, Thursday, Feb. 18th, at 4:45 Hester called me and I became immediately alarmed! I contacted a veterinarian that I trusted and got the name of an emergency clinic close to the Able's and had them take her there. As she was being admitted, she had a seizure (around 6:00 p.m.) and then another at 7:45p.m. She was put on life support and monitored through the night. The clinic closes around 8 a.m. and so Eve was discharged and the Ables transported her to A&M's Small Animal Clinic as fast as they could get her here. (The trip was about 1 1/2 hours)

The admitting veterinarian at Texas A&M University's Small Animal Clinic  happened to be a  friend of mine and breeder of Pembroke Welsh Corgis: Kathalyn (Lyn) Johnson, DVM. She has given her all for Eve and is dedicated to helping her recover. She will never fully realize how very much this has meant to me.

The remainder of Eve's story is accessed through the  links listed above. They cover everything that has happened to Eve since she was admitted to A&M's ICU on Friday, Feb. 19th around 10:30 a.m. I have tried, I hope successfully, to remain unemotional so as to give the facts that surround this drama. It is my hope that everyone who reads it will evaluate their own veterinarian more closely and choose him or her on their knowledge, ability, and even continuing education of veterinarian care,  and not because you like him or her.

Let me stress that Eve's fight for her life IS NOT a result of the spay itself, but from the surgical protocol that was used and the lack of careful supervision during that spay. And too, the neglect in giving her owners the information that they needed to be every watchful for signs of trouble!