Two Lives Lost - Large Vet Bills To Cover

 

Once our vet arrived Eire was given some pain medication and we tried once again to get her up. All attempts at getting Eire to her feet failed and our vet decided to do a evaluation with Eire laying down. Upon examination we discovered that her cervix was still closed and that she was not in labour. It was determined Eire was colicing and that she needed to get to the clinic and into surgery as soon as possible if she had any chance of recovering from this.  

 

With Eire unable to stand the only option was to drag her onto the trailer, and through the help of so many incredible people, we managed to do it. We started her on IV fluids for the trip so that we could keep her hydrated. Our farrier’s assistant - Taylor - who was kind enough to leave his work day to come and help us rode up in the trailer with Eire, keeping her calm and making sure she wasn't uncomfortable. 

 

Throughout the trailer ride Eire seemed to have improved slightly and she was able to get up and walk off the trailer herself. The second she walked into the stall at Moore's she was surrounded by vets and techs all evaluating her. 

 

With Eire now standing it was very apparent that she had a large amount of edema under her belly and a ultrasound of her entire stomach was done. The ultrasound revealed that Eire’s abdominal wall muscles had completely torn, and created a hernia. Her intestines were now only being held in by a thin layer of skin.

 

Katie was presented with two options. 

 

They could take Eire in for surgery, do a c-section to deliver the foal and then repair the hernia. This was not a option that favoured the foal with it being only 302 days gestation and needing a minimal of 315 for survival. 

 

Or 

 

They monitor Eire and the hernia allowing for the foal to have more time to develop and have a greater chance at survival. This option didn't favour Eire, as if any minimal movement or impact of the herniated area could cause the already difficult repair to become unrepairable. 

 

Katie requested a different option. She wanted them to do everything they could for both Eire and her foal. They monitored Eire for an hour and in that time Eire showed more signs of being uncomfortable and it was determined the surgery could not wait any longer. 

 

At 7:00pm Eire went in for surgery. 

 

The c-section was completed first and a entire team went to work on the little beautiful colt - Euro - as soon as he was out of Mom. Upon first glance he seemed strong, breathing comfortably, had a good heart rate and was just beyond stunning. X-rays of his legs were done immediately and unfortunately it was not good news for Euro. His bones had not ossified yet which would mean if at any given point he tried to stand up he would crush his own legs. It was determined at this time that it was best if we said goodbye to him instead of allowing a life full of pain and uncertainty for Euro. Katie, myself, and the entire team at Moore's showed him nothing but love for his short time outside of his mom.  

 

Once the c-section was completed Eire’s vitals started to get stronger, this showed us that we made the correct decision to go with the surgery as the pregnancy and Euro were just putting too much stress on her already weak body. 

 

At this time the surgeon was finally able to get a good hands on feel of the hernia as the ultrasound could only show us so much. It wasn't a clean tear, but the muscle itself was also not completely distroyed. She worked tirelessly and was able to get as many stitches in to hold the muscle as she could. 

 

12:00am Eire was taken into the recovery room showing no major concerns after being under for so long. They informed Katie and myself that it would be a couple hours before she was awake enough to try and stand and that we should get some sleep and that they would call us when she stood. 

 

Katie and myself waited until 2:30am. With no news, and no sleep in sight without a answer, we called the clinic. They informed us that Eire had indeed gotten up by herself and was awake and alert. For the first time that day we felt like we could finally breathe. 

 

4:00am Katie received a call from Moore's. Eire had stumpled and falled and was not showing signs of wanting to get up at this time. They decided to treat it as sheer exhaustion as the little mare had been through so much in the last 24 hours. They would attempt to get her up at 7:00am. 

 

8:00am Katie received a call from Moore's with the heartbreaking news that throughout all their best efforts they were not able to get Eire back to her feet. They said that she needed to come and discuss her options as soon as possible. 

 

We got to the clinic and there she was half asleep showing no signs of wanting to get up. The second Eire heard Katie's voice her eyes opened and sparkled and she let out a whinney, she started showing signs of trying to get up. They observed her for a while and decided that it may be possible for her to get up if she was on her other side. We would flip her once more as a last ditch effort to get her back on her feet and save this fiesty mare’s life. 

 

Tyson, Darlene, Blayke, Katie and myself spent the next half an hour loving on Eire, getting some family photos, and just enjoying her company. The way Eire lit up with her family around was just a blessing after the last 24 hours. 

 

The team gave Eire another injection of pain medication and set up to flip her. 

 

Katie, Darlene and myself stood back as we watched the team go to work, there was a moment of hope when it looked like she was finding her feet but then sheer panic crossed the faces of everyone working around her. A tech ran and came back administering something to Eire. The look of heart break rushed over the vets face as she informed Katie that Eire had fractured her leg and that it was time to say our final goodbye. 

 

The quick response of the entire team at Moore's insured that Eire felt no pain throughout the whole ordeal. 

 

Katie, Darlene and myself gathered around Eire as we said our final goodbye and comforted her as she made her way to the other side. 

 

I'm doing this fundraiser for Katie as she took every extraordinary measure to save both Eire and Euro and despite all of our best efforts, we were unsuccessful to save either them. 

 

No amount of money will ever be able to come close to fixing the amount of hurt and impact this has left on everyone, but if we're able to help the financial strain of the cost of everything I'm hoping to take the sting away.