Dylan is Home!

Yesterday evening we received a call from Dr. Kegge, the Chief Neurologist at the AMC, who had been updating me on Dylan throughout the day. As I mentioned yesterday, at 10 am Dr. Keege and her staff ruled out any neurological concerns. When she called me yesterday evening, she had followed Dylan around all day. She delivered him to the Orthopedic Surgeon and monitored him all day. She called me around 4 pm and told me that he would be able to come home soon. Ahhh, I was just so happy. To bring him back home late last night, was such a joyous experience...because in all honesty, Wednesday night we didn't know that we would be able to do this ever again.

To update you all on Dylan his spirits are GREAT...he's doing very very well. When the discharge attendant gave us his meds and instructions, he followed his last instruction with "Alright, I'll go get you guys your little Dylan." I started tearing up out of excitement to just see him. About a minute later, there he came, being carried by the attending veterinarian with a little green leash around his waist and a bandage on his front arm from where they had pulled out the catheter. I had assumed that Dylan would probably be very groggy and still sedated when we picked him up...so I shouldn't expect his Dilly spirit to be back in full effect. I prepared for a very groggy puppy. But then, here came Dylan, with that little green leash and when he saw us...well, so much for being groggy. The little guy acted like he hadn't seen us in YEARS...he started crying, screaming out of excitement, and wiggling out of control for his Mommy. The vet said I could put him on the floor...and he was able to put weight on all four legs...he was smiling, panting and licking us as if we were the most delicious dog food there is. He was so happy...so so so happy. He was very hyper and seemed to be fine, but I'm sure the pain medication was helping him walk. We walked out of that AMC carrying him, he was just too excited to go into that Sherpa bag. We got a cab and headed home. Dylan was like a crazy little man in that cab...he's always been a licker, but he was doing whatever it took to lick my face. He was truly embracing us, and it really seemed like he hadn't seen us in years.

I got home and I made up the kitchen for the little guy. His leg got a little worse as we got home, as I'm assuming the pain medication was wearing off...but his spirits were strong...very strong. I put him in the kitchen and let him have a reunion with his brother...quite amazing to see! Then he walked around the kitchen, looked up at me and just started peeing...all over the kitchen floor. Poor little guy, it was like he hadn't gone at all over the past day. But, I told him it was okay...I could tell he felt so guilty as he looked up at me while letting it all out. I ended up making a bed in there so I could lay with him. My little family is back together again!

Last night I took apart my bed, because for the next 3 weeks Dylan cannot walk up a stair, jump, play with his brother, or run. I had stairs that Dilly used to use to jump up our bed, but the bed had to go. I threw out my box spring, frame, headboard and just put the mattress on the floor as it will stay. I surrounded my mattress with extra quilts...because even though it's only a foot off the bed, I don't want Dylan to have to jump up at all...the blankets provide a little ramp so he can just walk up on the bed.

Now, the not so great news...but not horrible news. Dylan has always had a problem with his back right leg...ever since he was a puppy. I had it looked at numerous times and his vet never found anything and said that it might just be a bit weaker for various reasons but that we should not worry about it, as long as it didn't get worse and he wasn't ever in pain by it. Well, a week or so ago, he slipped on the wood floor and hurt it...although he didn't look in pain...he just walked with a few hops and was then back to normal. On Wednesday, he apparently jumped off the bed, hopped a little, but then just walked over to the couch without showing any sign of pain. Little Dilly is a trooper and must have been in a lot more pain than he was showing that day. When I got home, I'm sure it was at the point where the pain had escalated so much he couldn't even move. He had lost spatial recognition and as Dr. Kegge said, all these things were occurring because of his amount of pain. Yesterday nothing was determined but two diagnoses have been given. Dylan's x-ray shows signs associated with Aseptic Femoral Head Necrosis (AFHN). AFHN is a progressive deterioration and collapse of the femoral head, although the cause is unknown. AFHN causes the bone to die overtime, and the continued use and weight of the pet on the joint causes the area to deteriorate and eventually the femoral head collapses and osteoarthritis ensues. So, that's what it might be...although he doesn't show many of the signs. It also might be just an old fracture that healed incorrectly. Dr.Kegge and the orthopedic surgeons at the AMC think that bedrest will help heal our Dylan, but if it gets worse overtime, he will require surgery. But, you know what...I have time to research this and I still have my Dilly, and that...now that is all that matters. We can get insurance, save for the surgery and make sure we can get him to the best orthopedic surgeon there is in this city. But, he may not even need that and only time will tell. Dylan is on strict bedrest for the next 2 weeks...and then still no jumping on furniture, walking up stairs on anything for the next 2 months. He is also on Rimadyl right now for the pain. After 5 days he will go off of the pain medication and will hopefully have no pain. Everything will be just fine, and I am eternally thankful for our little Dylan and his health. I can't describe what it's like to love someone so much, but the love I have for my dogs is just ridiculous. My family means the world to me, and to have Dylan still here makes me feel like the luckiest person in the world. I went to hell and back over the past two days. The doctor Wednesday night provided me with LITTLE hope...and alluded numerous times that he might not make it, over and over again. I am just so so so thankful.

To everyone that helped us pay for these bills, I can't even explain how thankful I am. We will be paying off all of the x-rays, bloodwork, ICU care, MRIs and monitoring for a long time, but you have all helped. All of the people who have emailed me, sent kind and inspiring words, left comments on the previous entry and have called or text...you really made this so much easier. I don't know what I would have done without this blog as an outlet. When I felt completely hopeless and helpless Wednesday night, I found help by writing in my pug blog...the blog I've post all of the pictures of Riley and Dylan...the blog where I've communicated with so many other caring pug and dog owners over the past year and a half. Also, Dr. Kegge at the AMC was just wonderful and if you are ever in our situation in NYC, I strongly recommend her. She even wrote a note on the discharge instructions saying "Thank you for trusting us to take care of Dylan! He is a very sweet boy and I wish him a speedy and complete recovery!"

If anyone has any names of great orthopedic surgeons in the NYC or greater NY area...we will greatly accept them. We will be looking into getting a second opinion after Dylan starts feeling better at which point we will decide if he needs the surgery or not. Also, we will be looking into seeing another neurologist, just to confirm that neurologically, he is perfect.

I can't thank you all enough...for everything. My friends who reposted this story, the pug bloggers and dog bloggers who contributed their inspiring stories and love, the friends of friends, everyone. Especially my mom. Wednesday night was probably really tough for her...but she was strong and just kept on telling me to remain positive and not think about it being PDE...because we just didn't know yet. She stayed on the phone with me throughout the night, even jumping out of the shower to just calm me down after one of the many sporadic breakdowns I had that night. It really touched me how many people helped out. I hope that I can all help you when you need it. So thank you SO MUCH for everything...I got so emotional with every single note we received wishing us good luck. I will never forget the kindness that everyone provided us with.

And now, I'm ending this really long (sorry) update with a picture of me and my little man, taken very late last night...you can clearly see how exhausted we both are.



Oh wait, someone's not too exhausted...