My Belle
The main reason I wanted to write this web site is Belle
My special angel, and a lot of people will say she is a miracle girl. At 7 months old Belle was diagnosed with liver shunt, she went for the operation to have the shunt closed but unfortunately when the specialist opened her, he was I believe shocked as was I, Belle was suffering not from 1 or even 2 shunts but 12 shunts and cirrhosis of the liver, and yes I cried and cried, my baby girl it was not fair, what had she done to deserve this, but I had to stop crying and work at making her life the best possible, the prognosis was that she probably had a few months at best.
For the next couple of months Belle was on and off different medication until we found something that suited her, but time seemed to be running out she became worse with each passing day, Now before she was diagnosed she had started agility and the support we got from the people there was great, then she got worse and could not go and she seemed to pick up for a while ad had one night, which she tried her best, the guts my girl has got are unbelievable but then she took a turn for the worse, I won't describe that time in detail as it is still too painful but needless to say a couple of times I went to call my vet to perform the dreadful deed, even thought I would have to call him on Christmas day, I was pushing for every hour to keep her with me, she wouldn't eat the special food from the vets so I cooked for her, chicken stew was one of her favourites and another was pork sausages from the local butcher, made her fat in the end but very happy, but the main thing was NO additives or preservatives, filtered water, you name it I did it to give her just a wholesome diet. Sometimes no matter how much you try you feel like you are losing the battle and that's how I felt Christmas morning 2002, I took myself and Belle over to my parents, unsure of how that day was going to end, it only had 2 choices and the one which looked the most likely was me going home alone. Belle just did not want to move, she did not want to eat or drink and I was believing we had lost our battle, I discussed it with my parents and the consensus was that if she was no better that afternoon we would call the vet.
Well you can imagine I did not really feel like eating but trying to be Christmassy I decided to have dinner and arranged for a plate for Belle, with the same as ourselves, Turkey, gravy, potatoes, brussel sprouts, carrots etc cut them up into small portions and put the plate down for her think she would just ignore it but No, she licked at it and just started to eat it as fast as she could, I don't know what happened that day but I do know my Christmas wish was granted and my baby had turned a corner.
For two years since then we have had a lot of ups and downs, this Christmas was a repeat of our bad Christmas but again Belle has pulled up and already started back to agility where she can see all her friends, including her special friends like Delph and Trooper.
My vet is now looking into other medication for her to help as much as possible, I can not thank him enough, the care and thought he has put into making Belle's life better is more than any words can describe.
May 2005
Things have been pretty tough for Belle this last few months, she has a micrococcus infection which none of the antibiotics seem to be having any effect on it, her heart is enlarged and she has fluid on her lungs but if you met her you would say she looks really well, this little girl is going through hell and she still puts a smile on her face. She has not been training for some months now as she has not got the energy nor can she breathe correctly but she does still come to agility training and watches Jade train.
Every morning and evening I just say "Belle tablet time" and she comes to me and jumps on the sofa ready to be given her tablets, after 3 years of daily tablets she still comes to me to be given them.
Nearly every 2 weeks we go to the vets for blood tests and she lets me hold her whilst the Vet, (nicknamed Vampire Vet now) takes the blood samples to see how her white blood cell count is, at the moment it is still high due to the infection, but she keeps on smiling and keeps visiting her friends at the agility school.
Well Belle is still amazing everyone, she still suffers with her liver and heart conditions, she still has a high white blood cell count and she still enjoys life, yes things are taken at a slow walk instead of a head long dash but she is in no pain, loving her food, even playing with her toys again and she is coming away with us for the weekend to Jade's first competition.
June 2005
Belle's bile acids and her white blood cell count are excessively high, She enjoyed herself at Jade's first competition at EMDAC and we all had a brill time, but she is slowing down now hopefully its just a phase and she will perk up
July 2005
Belle is such an Angel, and one hell of a fighter, but I think time is running out, is appears that her enlarged heart is now pressing againt her left lung making it difficult for her to be comfortable and affecting her breathing, I am not sure how much longer we have together but I am going to make the most of every second, she is thinking its great in one sense as because she is not interested in her normal food she is now enjoying sausages, lamb steaks and rump steak for her meals with her favourite carrots. Every day it gets more difficult but I am being lead by Belle, she still enjoys a cuddle and is happy lying on the sofa by my feet giving them the occassional kiss. I am praying for another miracle, but we have been given so many just for her to get this far, but I love this little girl so much I don't want to lose her.
July 26th 2005
Belle lost her battle and passed away this morning my heart and love will always be with her.
