Saving Norma-An Affair of the Heart

Norma’s story started long before she came to a small shelter in Louisiana. Severe neglect seeps from every part of her emaciated body. This dog has suffered in unimaginable ways.  Critter Crusaders of Cedar Rapids agreed to take her medical case when Cedar Valley Pit Bull Rescue brought her to Iowa.  This is no ordinary circumstance. We are stepping off of a cliff into unknown territory with this girl.  Norma went directly to our veterinary specialist partners at IVRC in Des Moines when she arrived in Iowa Sunday.  The doctors and staff have never seen a fistula the size of Norma’s. It is an open highway for food, water and infection to circulate around the sinus passages, eventually making their way to her lungs.  Aspiration could quickly kill her.  We are at the beginning of Norma’s medical journey.  Emaciation, dehydration, an enormous hole in her upper palate, an abscess in her cheek, eyes that are infected and sunken and she is a strong heartworm positive. So many issues to address but the rewards will be immeasurable.    Two of our board members are helping to donate to her medical bills right now as CC is low on funds after so many surgeries this summer, but this dog and her plight speaks to us.    She is a haunting reminder of why we do this work and we sometimes step into the unknown as we tackle these medical issues.  This is a face we can’t just erase and our hearts feel the need to do whatever we can.  We have spent significant time consulting with the doctors and we are in the process of formulating a treatment plan.  She will have an echocardiogram Wed. 8/15 to see if her heart can withstand anesthesia due to the worm infestation.  If the doctors feel that she can, she will also undergo a CT scan.  That will determine if this enormous fistula is from dental disease, a neoplastic disease or injury.  This would entail multiple surgeries to attempt to close and the failure rate can be daunting....our hope is we can start the surgical process quickly and then begin to treat the heart worms.  No guarantees that is how we will proceed however.  Her own body will dictate that.  

It is important for everyone to understand that these challenged animals have a very profound and intact will to survive.  If you ask them if they prefer euthanasia to having the chance to return to a better, healthier life, we know exactly what they would say.  CC has hundreds of happy, healthy alumni!  So, we choose to travel down this long and bumpy road with Norma who is an estimated 6 years old.  Her body condition is so poor, you would never know her age.  The staff at IVRC talks about how incredibly sweet and grateful she is.  Her tail wags constantly and she is more comfortable now than she has been in a very long time.  She deserves her life back.  We ask for your help in giving that to her.  Please share her story and donate if you are fortunate enough to do so.  We look forward to the difference we can make in her life

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