26.9.13

Heartbreaking News About Baby Harper

Just when we thought things were looking up for Harper, we were hit with devastating news.

Harper on the way to the vet

Harper went for a CT scan today and the results were heartbreaking. The bone specialist told us that Harper was born with many deformities: The left side of her chest is larger than the right. Her left hind leg is shorter than the right hind, which makes her balancing harder than it already is. All of this, we knew.
 
What we didn’t know was how bad her spine was. Her spine is curved so badly you would think it might just snap! The doctor can only guess that when Harper was in her mommy’s womb, her mommy had either been exposed to toxins or had been hit hard enough to hurt the fetus in her.
 
Top view of Harper's spine, which should actually be straight!
 
We had sent Harper for a CT scan in the hope that we could find out if a spinal surgery would benefit Harper, and perhaps, help her walk. . . . but the news pierced into our hearts like daggers - a surgery would be very high risk and she may end up paralyzed.

Damage to the spinal cord can cause loss of voluntary muscle movement, muscle tone, muscle shrinkage, and loss of touch and pain sensations. This damage may be irreparable.

Harper has very little sensation on the lower part of her body. I watch how she tries to stand, loses her balance and knocks full force into furniture, she doesn’t feel the pain at all. Her spinal problem cannot be fixed, neither will the cells regenerate itself. This is devastating, especially when we thought she was on the road to recovery.
 
Still groggy from the GA
 

 
We were told, not only would she be unlikely to ever walk, she might one day just wake up paralyzed. In fact, the doctor predicted that within the next 4 to 6 mths, she would be hit with paralysis.
 

Shaved for her scan today


 

We have done so much for baby Harper and she has come a long way. Much as we find it extremely difficult to fathom what has been said, we knew from the start that she would always be a special puppy.
 
Having her first meal of the day after she got home. She needs her back harness to stand and eat.
(The harness is a normal front harness which we use for the rear)
 
We are all feeling down with this piece of sad news but we know we have to stay strong for baby Harper and the rest of our rescue dogs, who continue to hold faith and wait for the right families to come along for them.

As for baby Harper, all of 6 months, life has been a daily struggle. We will continue to give all our love, the best care we can provide and pray that a miracle will happen.
 
Sweet dreams Baby Harper
Harper continues to undergo twice weekly hydrotherapy sessions, while different volunteers take turns to walk her for half an hour every day after work, to continue to try building her muscles.But what Harper really needs right now is for a family to adopt her, someone with a garden as that is the only surface she is able to balance relatively well on. With a bigger space to move around in, we can then look into getting her a wheelchair of her own.
 
 

Have you bought a limited edition Harper – The Little Fighter tee? http://teefaction.com/hopeforharper We have 19 more shirts to go. Monies raised will be used to pay for her CT scan and her daily living.

Harper is also the cover girl of our HOPE 2014 calendar. If you have not placed your orders, please email hopedogrescue@singnet.com.sg