Miracle Molly Needs Your Help

***CHECK BELOW FOR UPDATES!**** Okay... so if you know me at all... you probably are aware that I Never... EVER ask for help. It's always been a "thing".  But I've had so many friends ask me how they can help, and "where is your "GoFundMe" page so I can donate?"... that I decided to swallow my pride and set this up. 

I was given Molly February of 2012 by a family friend. Our bond was quickly cemented and I knew shew as special. I made the hard decision last December of 2017 to sell Molly to what I thought would be a "forever home" for her, she had her own "kid" that would love and cherish her and Molly would teach her the ropes of eventing. She did just that, however, the family was moving to Arizona and it was decided that Molly would not go with them and I had the opportunity to purchase Molly back from the family. That was just two months ago. Getting insurance back on her was "on the list of things to do", that didn't get done.  I just got off the phone with the doctor (Wed. Nov. 14th ) and she said she forsee's Molly having to stay in the sling for atleast another 5 days, and they may need to put drip drains into her eyelids to administer the eye ulcer medications as she is apparently now VERY opinionated about NOT liking the eye meds being administered... our original "estimate" if "all went well was $4-6k, and she just said we are currently at $9,200 but when it's all said and done, the bill will sit somewhere around the $12,000 mark.

As most of you know 8 days ago my heart horse Molly was admitted to the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital due to a traumatic neurological episode on Monday November 5th. The team quickly got Molly hooked up to an IV and they already bragged on how well mannered she was. Tuesday morning she was scoped and Molly was diagnosed with THO and the surgeon wanted to remove the inflamed jaw bone that was putting pressure on her cranial nerves. Molly could only stand with the help of a giant sling  as her sense of balance was completely off, vertigo through the roof and drastic eye nystagmus and  she did not have control over her tongue so she could not eat. 

The staff asked me what her "job" was... and I said, "Being perfect is her job. That is what she does. She totes two year olds safely on her back, she is my "husband horse" for Daniel, and she is my soul mate. She makes it so I can escape the human world and have wings on her back. Her job is just being Molly"

Wednesday morning Molly had surgery around 7:00am. The surgery it self was successful, yet Molly had trouble coming out of anesthesia. The doctors kept me updated that she would try and stand, she just coulnd't. Horses are only made to lay down for a couple hours a day, and any extended time laying down puts pressure on their muscles and causes issues. Molly had been down for 12 hours. the 1:00am phone call was quite dim as the doctors shared she had gotten worse and was deteriorating. The 5:00am update was a little more positive as Molly had tried once to get up, to no avail. They were going to sedate her for the 4th time to see if she would rest enough to gain strength enough to stand. They would try again at 7:00am. 

I arrived at the hospital at 8:20am Thursday morning. Just before nine three doctors came to get me, Molly's surgeon, the internist and the senior vet student. They brought me to the side conference rooms... you know, the once where they take you to tell you bad news so that you can cry in private. I was told they felt she had given up and that it was time to euthanize. At this point she had been down for 24-hours and they thought she was just too exhausted, too weak, and just couldn't get up. All the doctors were in tears telling me this sharing how they had all become so very attached to Molly. That she was such a fighter, and they could tell was just a special horse. They said she was so smart and had used the body sling like a champ (before surgery) and even in her flailing episodes they could tell Molly was trying to steer clear of the humans even in her moments of balance panic. They said I could go see her but that she was tough to look at and I should prepare myself. They said that possibly my presence would encourage her enough to try again, but they did not think she had anything left in her tank to try. 

We walked back to the padded and dark room. She was sprawled completely flat out and I could tell wasn't "all there". But I walked in and called to her laying my hands on her sweet big head. She lifted her head when she heard my voice as my tears streamed onto her head. 

At this point she had atleast gotten motor function back in her tongue and she was able to swallow. She got quite persistent when she heard the peppermint wrapper. She ate those voraciously. I asked the vet if we could see if she would get up... I stepped back, and low and behold, she tried to get up. She couldn't, but it was then that Dr. Hart mentioned another doctor had a "last ditch effort" idea to take Molly out to the paddocks, and see if she would stand out there on natural ground. She said that there was less than a 1% chance that she would be successful, that out in the field, Molly would have zero assistance and would truly have to stand all by herself. She said that if I had not come, and she had not seen Molly's reaction to me... she would not have suggested it. But seeing Molly's encouraged response to me, she was willing to give it a shot.    

They got her out there. And as soon as the sedation started to wear off, Molly got to eating the grass, she was QUITE hungry. And apparently, as soon as she was fully awake and they were going to come get me to help encourage her to get up... SHE GOT UP.... ALL ON HER OWN!!! Senior Vet Student came in the to waiting room with open arms and tears in my eyes and said... "SHE GOT UP!!!" She said all 7 people out there helping, were all crying happy tears that Molly got up!!!

Here pictured is Molly's surgeon with her back to me, and the resident Dr. Morino with the thumbs up. :-) 
The doctors at this point did not want me to go see Molly yet, as they thought I would excite her and that she would try and walk to fast before she had time to settle back onto her legs. So I stayed in the waiting room while they made the 45 minute trek back to the ICU room so they could get her back in the sling. It took literally 1 step at a time, and 7 staff members helping to hold her up as they walked back across the paddock, and the drive way, into the ICU stall. Molly collapsed once on the walk back, but thank goodness in the grass, and she immediately popped back up. 
They got her back in the ICU stall, had to clean up her surgical area again and redo the catheter, but she was SOOOO happy to be standing, she drank almost 3 buckets of water and threw her head immediately into the hay container. 
And I could finally go see my girl. <3 <3 <3 <3 
Each day the staff continues to update me as she gets stronger and stronger. 
Each day she fights HARD for her life, and is headed back in the right direction. She is here to stay. <3 
As the swelling is going down from all the thrashing and body slamming she had to endure, she feels better and better. 
She is a huge fan of the "Game Ready" leg therapy that delivers cold compression to help with stability and swelling and the acupuncture. 
and Yesterday (Tuesday Nov. 13th) ... the docs were able to take her butt-sling portion off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She's walking around more in her stall and is able to finally use the restroom with more dignity. 

While my bestie Jennifer Butler and I were there on Sunday to visit, Jen asked Caitlin, the senior vet tech what the most miraculous case she had witnessed in her years there... and she immediately said "Molly! Absolutely Molly. Molly is a miracle that we will be talking about for a while". 

Today is my 32nd birthday. Nov. 14th. And all I am excited about doing today is seeing my girl. :-) 

My pride runs quite deep when it comes to money. I understand that Molly is my responsibility and regardless of the response from this GoFundMe, she will be taken care of and I will pay off the costs for as long as it takes... because she is SO worth it. However, people want to give to her. You, my friends have asked what else you can do other than pray or how you can "give".... help Molly continue to heal. Money is also energy, and it's how some can and like to give; and I appreciate from the bottom of my heart any and all giving sentiments. 

Molly would not be alive if it were not for all you prayer warriors out there. You helped Molly live. Thank You... Thank You. Thank You. 

11-14-18 Happy birthday to me ❤️❤️❤️❤️ Molly was so happy to see me and Daniel Peabody  she's become a brat apparently  at getting her eye meds, which means she doesn't like the staff coming any where near her head... they were going to Ace her later to get the head bandages off, but I was able to do it  sometimes you just need a "mothers touch". She was so alert, and loved her brush down. Any and all help is so huge and we are so very appreciative. ❤️❤️


Molly Update 11-16-18: HOLY COW PEOPLE THE SLING CAME OFF TODAY!!!!  they are going to try to see how she does today and probably put her back in it at night or if she has trouble- but so far- she doesn't know what all the fuss is about and only cares about her food. 
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH to those that have donated to her vet bills, every single dollar bill  helps
Update: 11-20-18
I had the chance to spend time with TWO of my favorite girls yesterday, my niece Cora and Molly. We took a trip down to Athens to see Molly outside of her sling.... AND Molly got to go outside yesterday for a walk!! They are taking her outside 2x/day now to help get her acclimated to outside again. As the ulcers heal in her eyes, we are hoping that she will do better outside. She is still a little wobbly with a "drunk walk" but she was SO happy to be eating some grass. If she is deliberate about moving she's fairly stable, but if something surprises her or she's trying to fight the eye meds, she can still lose her ground. Molly was so very happy to see us. <3 <3 I cannot Thank you all enough for all your kind words of encouragement, and prayers. <3 They are still having trouble getting the eye meds in Molly's eyes as she has become extremely opinionated about them, and we still may have to put a catheter in her eye to help administer them. She's eating great, drinking. 
She knew there were more granola bars and apples in that basket. :-P 
My niece Cora got to feed her granola and pet on her. They were both so very happy about that!
And she got her FIRST TRIP OUTSIDE on her "two week anniversary"  on Monday of being at UGA. She's still a bit wobbly and "drunk like" when she walks. I'll post the walking videos on my FB page... so check in there. :-) 

UPDATE: 11-21-18
I just got off the phone with Dr. Morino - she is happy with how her stability is improving and thinks the more walks she does the stronger she will get. There has been some muscle atrophy over the past 2 weeks (to be expected) and Molly is using her head to help her balance. If she turns on her own she seems to do alright, if she is physically turned then she gets a little more wobbly. 

The right eye ulcer is not healed yet, but it's not getting any worse and Molly does not seem to have any discomfort with it... and due to the fact Molly is SO very emphatic about them doing ANYTHING with her eyes now, they've suggested the best route at this point (instead of putting in an eye catheter or contact lens), the best option will be to let it be and monitor it closely and see if it heals on it's own. She also said that as long as Molly continues her progress she believes she can go home beginning of next week!!!!!! (fingers crossed and lots of prayers)

This is GREAT news. :-) :-) 

UPDATE: Sunday 11-25-18 -- GUESS WHO GETS TO COME HOME THIS WEEK?!?!?!?!?!?!? ❤️❤️❤️❤️Vet just called and said we are still on track for Molly to come home! On the exact 3-week mark tomorrow! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ they said she's doing well enough with turnout and that they think she is stable enough to withstand the trailer ride home. 

UPDATE: Tuesday 11-27-18

After 3 whole weeks, the Miracle Moo is home. Still a LONG road to recovery, but the worst is over, she is alive and well and I think happy to be home. ❤️❤️ Thank you again - all of you- for your continued donations, prayers, texts, comments, support, etc.  I have a pretty amazing tribe around me and I am so very thankful for you.