*Photos not to be copied without permission.

03/16/07:  This is Classy.  She's a sweet, sweet little pony mare that is about 9 years old.
She has a condition that is only allowing a very small amount of air to get into her lungs. 

 

This is what a normal trach looks like.
 

03/28/07:  Here you can see how swollen the areas
and the little area where air passes through.

We need your support to help Classy.  She's young, sweet, and needs the surgery very badly.
We were told that she's been ridden by many kids and always took care of them.  It's time to take care of her.

She will, after recovery and rehab, make some little girl or boy an awesome little pony.
Or she may be perfect for an equi-therapy program and be an extraordinary asset for them to have if
they should wind up with a client who has to have, or who has had, a tracheotomy themselves - it
would be a great reassurance/bonding experience for the client to meet and love on and be loved by Classy.

Please help - donations are tax deductible.  Receipts will be mailed within 30 days.     

Surgery cost: $1581  Enough donations were received to cover the surgery.  Thank you everyone that
has lit a candle and/or sent good thoughts, prayers, donations, and emails to help Classy,
Light a candle for Classy at:  http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=class

As of 04/18/07 $304 is still needed for the follow-up and stitches removed on 04/10/07
and for the mobile unit that came to Classy on 04/19/07 to do an EKG and ultrasound on her
heart.  We tried to take her to her appointment on 04/18/07 for her testing but she had a
panic attack, her blood pressure and heart rate went way up, and she passed out for a few seconds. 
We discussed it with the doctor and he feels it is best for their mobile lab to come to her.

  Donations received to date:    $30 Grandma Memorial Fund         
                                               $50 New Life Equine Rescue (thanks Cathy!)
                                               $25 Marty R.
                                               $25 Susan S.
                                             $615 Maureen G.
                                             $230 Jen S. (in PA)
                                               $25 Stephanie T.
                                               $25 Donna D.
                                             $100 Carolyn
                                               $25 Kelly
                                               $50 Lisa L.
                                             $100 Gillian A. 
                                               $50 Sandra I.
                                               $50 Kimm S.
                                               $25 Lorraine W.
                                               $75 Susan R.
                                               $50 Jan M. (Tailwinds Farm)
                                               $20 P. Bowlin
                                               $25 Linda M.
                                             $250 Cheryl K.
                                             $125 Susan H.
                                               $15 Linda M.
                                                                                
Thank you everyone for your thoughts, prayers, donations, emails, and phone calls.  As of 9 pm tonight I think enough funds have been donated to pay for the current known costs.  There will be more - throat medicine that we'll have to apply via a tube up her nose after she gets back to the rescue and antibiotics.  There will be post-op charges for a follow-up but we don't know those yet either.  We feel very blessed that in only 48 hours so much support has come through for this deserving little mare.  I truly don't know how to thank everyone.  It was a VERY long day here and I am exhausted and need to call it a day.  I will update again tomorrow after I receive a call from the hospital.  Again - thank you!

We didn't post it because it came up at the last minute, but Peaches, another pony mare that has been having neurological problems for over a year was admitted with Classy today.  Here is Peaches being led to the trailer by a volunteer, Jim, after Classy was loaded.  It was Jim's last day - we're going to miss him - he's a snowbird and has returned to Maine.

UPDATE 03/29/07:  I finally received a call from the vet!  Classy is doing good!  She came out of anesthesia and realized she could breathe without obstruction a very calming look came over her.  She is now eating peacefully in her stall.  We will pick her up tomorrow and she will need to stay on stall rest for 2 weeks, then a small turnout area for 2 weeks, and then normal turn-out!  We do have to have our vet come out in 2 weeks and remove the stitches and just check it out. 

Regarding Peaches, they didn't get to finish her testing today, too many colic's came up and they plan on starting on her again first thing in the morning.  Peaches is a pony that could really use good thoughts and prayers.  She endured a lot before she came to us a couple of years ago.  We truly hope they can figure out what is wrong with her so we can start getting her the proper treatment.
 

UPDATE 03/30/07:

Classy - She has a mass between her heart and the pericardium membrane in her left ventricle.  She will get Gentomyacin once a day and Penicillin twice a day for the next week and then SMZ's for 2 additional weeks.  She will go back to the hospital for another EKG and ultrasound in 3 weeks and between now and then we will say prayers that the mass decreases in size.  It could be an infection, a blood clot, a tumor, or maybe it is genetic. 

The doctors agree Classy has a very strong will to live.  The way she somehow learned to survive on such little air was amazing.  She will be on stall rest for 2 weeks and then she'll be able to go into a small paddock.  Her medicines for the next week are $45 per day ($315 for 7 days) plus SMZ's for the following 2 weeks ($80).  Donations are still be accepted to help with her post-op meds and follow-up (EKG and ultrasound) in 3 weeks.  In summary, donations to date have covered all expenses except $345 for meds and a TBD cost for the next EKG and ultrasound. 

Peaches - some good news - DSLD has been ruled out.  Unfortunately, they did not get to finish testing and she is coming home for the weekend but the concern about her having DSLD is now put to rest.  We still need to know what wrong with her and we had hoped to have that answered this week but too many unexpected colic's took time away from her testing.  We couldn't see leaving her there over the weekend - they wouldn't be doing anything to her again before Monday.

Update 7:00 pm:  The girls are home.  Classy is settled in her stall and Peaches is in a small turn-out area behind the barn.  Here is a picture of Classy just off the trailer and another of her in her stall.  You can see the trach just below her jaw.  She looks likes she has lost a little weight but her appetite is great.  The hole is larger than I expected but it will decrease in size as it heals.  Classy gets seen again by our vet in 2 weeks and by the vet at UF on the 18th of April.  Classy's wound has to be kept clean.  We have to do a pharyngeal flush through a nasal tube every 12 hours, then there is bute twice a day, Penicillin (via IM) twice a day, Gentamicin (via IM) once a day, hand walking for 15 minutes twice a day.  And Peaches, she has to have Triotic P ointment put in her right eye 3 times a day.  I'm tired already!  Anyone want to put in some volunteer time?  I'll try to get a better picture of Classy's trach tomorrow.   

And below is Peaches - just off the trailer and anxious to get back to grazing.  Peaches' exam indicated she is lame in all 4 limbs but at this time we do not know what the cause is, except that it is not degenerative degenerative suspensory ligament disease (DSLD).  Peaches has many problems and we hope further testing will identify the reasons for the problems and that they can be treated.  I have to wonder if her issues were caused by being hit in her head hard and repeatedly between the ears, which is what happened to her before she came to us.  Her activity is restricted to stall rest and light turnout.  She has a corneal ulcer in her right eye.  Our vet has to exam her eye and re-stain it in 5 days.  She is to return to the hospital next week for more testing. 

The FOB have lit a candle for both Classy and Peaches.  Thank you FOB!
 http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=class
 

Classy still seems a bit tired but she was more alert today.  She's a real trooper at getting her 2 shots twice a day and at having the wound area cleaned.  But she really does not like the throat wash via nasal tube and we have to do it twice a day - for 19 more days!  Her appetite is good and her breathing seemed better.  It seems to be faster and louder when nobody is at the barn (human that is - Granny is just outside of her window or stall door most of the day and night).  But when humans are at the barn it seems to slow down and you can barely hear her breathe.  She got a good grooming today - a couple of times - and loved it.  Kept turning her body to position it where she wanted brushed.  She enjoys the hand walks she gets at least 3 times a day.  The wound really does a good job of keeping itself clean.  Every time she exhales it blows everything away from it - just like a dolphin when they exhale. 

Peaches is feeling better.  She managed to open the gate to the main paddock gate this morning and let her self in and then proceeded to the lower paddocks and let the others out!  I heard a lot of commotion and looked out and most of the horses were running around like they were playing tag!  They were having a ball while Peaches was eating their hay!  She's a smart one, for sure.  It didn't take too long to round everyone up and put them back where they belonged.  We added a latch to each of the chains on the gates to keep Peaches in, or out, as appropriate.  Her eye was better today.  She's very good about having the ointment put in it.
 

Classy is doing good.  She looks a bit more bright eyed and alert.  Her appetite is great.  We received the bill from the hospital and costs were much greater than expected due to the additional testing on her heart. 

We truly appreciate all the support we've received - even much support out of the FOB group - thank you everyone!  And thank you J. Stein for keeping people updated on the FOB group. 

If you look under her chin in the picture below you can see the trach site.

Classy is coming along on her road to recovery.  The trach area is healing.  Her breathing can be loud at times.  At other times it is quiet and calm.  We did turn her out for just a few minutes today with Granny and she LOVED it!  What she does NOT like is getting the throat wash via nasal tube.  She is very good about getting her 2 shots twice a day and about getting the wound area cleaned.

Classy:  It got very cold last night (30's) and we were worried about Classy staying warm.  We put Beauty's stable blanket on her and put her in a stall with a heat lamp.  We checked on her around midnight and she was fine.  This morning she was ready for breakfast and her morning walk.  It was a cool and damp day so she didn't get out much.  We cut away some of the dead skin around her trach site - there was an area about the size of a dime that we were concerned about just above the hole that was loose - we were afraid it would become unattached and she'd suck it in.  She still has times of fast breathing but most of the time you really can't even hear her unless you really listen closely. 

I have to say that support for Classy has been wonderful.  It truly helps to know we're not alone in this effort to help this little mare.  It's not just the financial support that is much appreciated and needed, but the emails, prayers, calls, and even cards we have received in the mail - it all means so very much to us.  We have been very blessed in helping Classy - and for that we thank you all.  And I have to send a big "Thank You" to Jen S. for keeping an update of Classy on the FOB group - there are some awesome people there and I hope to be able to participate in that group soon. 

We had 2 new arrivals come in yesterday that are taking up more of my time and I am behind on many things.  But please know that if I haven't returned your email or phone call I'm not ignoring you - things are just a bit overwhelming right now but we truly do appreciate all of you!

Peaches:  Her eye has healed for now - this was the 3rd ulceration in less than 8 months.  We are contemplating doing more diagnostic tests on her for her other issues (stumbling, toe dragging in all 4 legs, asymmetric stride length, muscles twitching and soreness at times, doesn't sweat, frequently won't come in at feeding time, stays off by herself, lays down for extended periods of time, appears to "zone out" at times, etc).  In the last 2 years, counting the recent diagnostic tests at UF, it has cost over $3000 to try to figure out what is wrong with her and we still don't know.  The recent testing done at UF did rule out DSLD which was very important.  Perhaps it is neurological and is something we can't fix but we'd like to figure out what is wrong so we can at least make her  comfortable.  We'd like to run additional blood tests (iron overload, low selenium, and maybe Jessamine Poisoning) on Peaches.  Iron overload can mimic DSLD.  For more information on this you can go to http://www.DSLDequine.info.  If it is iron overload we may be able to help her with a carefully controlled diet.  We will talk to the vet this week to find out how much these tests would cost.

If Peaches were to find an angel to help with a supplement we would like to put her on XanGo ASAP.  The cost would be about $75 for the first month and about $50 each month after.  If anyone would like to angel Peaches please email me directly.  She is a pony that definitely needs prayers for improvement and angel or two.  She used to be the pony we could put kids on that would visit and she loved it.  We can't do that any longer and we're not sure we can allow her to be ridden again - we can't take a chance that she could accidentally injure anyone.
 

Today's bill was $524 but with a discount it came to $423.  The doctor said if we can get Classy to the vet school in 2 weeks for another (and hopefully the last) EKG he will try to waive some of the fee.  However, if they have to come here again the cost will likely be around $300.  We could try to take Granny but she may be uncomfortable going - she's foundered in her front feet.  We can't trailer them together because our mini-van can't pull the weight.  We'll figure something out. 

We have been questioned about the additional test being worth the money.  What I'd have to ask is - what happens if we continue the antibiotics and the mass goes away (which is highly possible)?  The tests would prove we have a healthy and happy mare that has many years of a good, quality life ahead of her that could make someone a very nice horse and friend.  If we don't do the tests what do we know?  We don't know if she is better or worse - we would not know if she needs to continue on antibiotics.  If, in fact, the antibiotics are shrinking the mass and we stop giving them - doesn't that make us guilty of neglect?  And then, the infection could grow and spread.  What do we gain by not running the tests?  Yes, we would save about $300 at this point in time.  But when you are so close to having a healthy, happy horse that could live a normal life - why take a risk when she's come so far?  I invite people to take the time to email me with their thoughts on this.  This isn't an elderly mare with many health issues.  This is a young mare with a lot of life left in her eyes and heart that would love a human of her own to love, and to be loved in return.  What makes Classy any less important than any other horse that needs medical care?  I agree that often, in rescue, there are some that are warrant humane euthanasia.  But to just put them out to pasture to live out their life if they are in pain or discomfort - I can't do that.

I want to thank everyone for your continued support.  Personally, I find great relief and satisfaction in seeing Classy grow stronger and healthy.  She has a great will to live and I refuse to rob her of that or to turn my head on a horse that has a great future ahead of her.  We're very proud of her and the strength and determination she has demonstrated.  Her condition went neglected for almost 3 years.  She came to this rescue for a reason - with the mass that was growing at her heart (which had been working overtime for a long time), she likely would not have made it much longer.  We feel very blessed to have been able to help her, which we couldn't have done, without the support of so many kind and loving people.  God bless you all!

UPDATE 04/21/07: 

This was taken of Classy and Granny yesterday, Sunday. 

UPDATE 05/31/07: 

Classy is doing very good.  We recently turned her out into the big paddock with Chloe and Casper.  The first few minutes out there she did a little sprint.  She stopped and figured out she could run and breathe - and then she took off running and hopping around!  She's eating great - she's acting like a real horse should.  The trach site has healed nicely.  The only thing we do for her daily is clean it with a warm cloth and put SWAT around it.  She actually blows any debris from it herself.  She's been off antibiotics now for a few weeks - her heart rate is normal.  Unless she displays any problems, we don't plan on subjecting her to anymore tests.  Even if there is still a small mass at her heart there is nothing that can be done.  She is looking great - her lameness has subsided.  She is ready for a new forever home!

06/16/07:  We'd like to share an awesome picture of Classy visiting with her angels, Kimm and Jeff.  Classy really liked them - and they doted on her all day.  She got a good bath and lots of treats and hugs.