You’ve Just Got to Meet Chelsea!

Posted by Barbara Techel

chelsea

Chelsea is only two years old. This is the first time since being born that she is standing upright.

While her mom was pregnant with her she had parvovirus which caused Chelsea to be born with Cerebellar Hypoplasia (CH)- a condition in which parts of the cerebellum have not completely developed. The cerebellum makes up a large part of the brain, lying under the cerebrum and toward the back, above and behind the brainstem.)

Because of CH she is not able to stand upright to get around. But now she can because of being granted a wheelchair through The Frankie Wheelchair Fund.

Andrea, her angel here on earth, adopted her about a month ago from the humane society, where Andrea is a volunteer. Chelsea was found with over 60 other dogs and likely inbreeding of many of the dogs with Chelsea having had several litters of pups herself already.

Andrea told me that every day she is practicing with Chelsea to help her to learn to roll in her wheels. She said that she can tell that Chelsea is so curious and happy to be up and exploring.

It will take time as Chelsea has to build up her muscles which never had a chance to do so before this.  But now she has someone in her life who is relishing in caring for her and helping her be the best dog she can possibly be.

Chelsea is  taking little steps at a time and Andrea said she seems to be enjoying all the new smells that come from being able to explore higher up.

I don’t know about you, but I really do think Chelsea is smiling and thanking her lucky stars for finding her way to Andrea!

chelsea 2

Chelsea’s wheelchair custom made by Eddie’s Wheels.

Stay tuned to meet BlueBell, the dachshund, who is the 42nd recipient of a wheelchair from The Frankie Wheelchair Fund!

If you’d like to help more dogs like Chelsea with the gift of mobility please consider a donation via the website or our ongoing Go Fund Me campaign. I continue to be so grateful for the help so that more dogs can live full, long, quality, happy lives. Thank you! Thank you!

…On Appreciating Normal

Posted by Barbara Techel

sun g e

It was a quiet day for the most part yesterday. We had brunch at my sister’s house for Easter which was nice. My nieces were there and their significant others, my brother, my mom, and a friend of my nieces who has two little boys. It was fun to watch them look for their eggs hidden throughout the living room.

When we got home Gidget was “off.” She was more hyper than usual and wouldn’t sit still so I could express her bladder. I noticed when I picked her up that her fur felt funny – almost waxy.

I looked for evidence to confirm my suspision. I found a section of the hardwood floor in the kitchen wet with urine and bits of white foam. My suspicion confirmed. She had another seizure.

She had one in mid January and February. I thought perhaps she may not have another since she made it through March. Not the case. I’ve never had to deal with seizure’s in a dog before, but once again, like I did with IVDD, I’m learning and understanding what they are about.

My heart hurt thinking of her being all alone when this happened. Though dogs don’t know they are seizing, I felt bad for the extra confusion she likely felt as she came out of it.

While her seizures have been short, I was concerned if she had had another longer seizure and I wouldn’t have been there.

I calmed her down and then got her into the sink for a nice warm bath. As I ran my hands down her little, soft body, soaping her up, I decided to let go of the fear. The fear of the what if’s. The fear of what next? The fear of hoping this does not turn into anything more serious.

The thing is, if we live in fear, we don’t really live. I’ve done my research and have talked with my vet. While seizures are scary, they are common, and oftentimes dog’s live long lives even with them.

I snuggled her in a big blanket and loved her as hard as I could. This is all we have right here, right now, I thought. Gidget knows I love her. I made sure to tell her that. I made sure to feel it deep in my heart so it embeds in her heart and helps her feel save and loved.

I talked with God and asked him to take care of her for me—it is in His hands. I prayed that He help guide me if, and when, I need to do more.

And then I appreciated normal. Well, what normal is for me. Normal is different for everyone. But the quiet of our house as John took a nap and I held Gidget in my arms  made me feel normal again. To be in solitude with Gidget, talking to the spirit in which I believe in. Connecting in a way that is always there for me when I trust and open to it.

Appreciating deeply that I have a heart to love my Gidget on such a profound and deep level– even when it is scary to think of loss that will come again someday.

But for now normal is what we have. So I soak it in and I give thanks that Gidget is herself again today. And normal is giving her at least one hundred kisses on the side of her snout this morning after seeing her sweet face peeking at me through her kennel as I got out of bed.

And appreciating normal makes each day grand with the hope of a new day.

The Lost Art of a Thank You

Posted by Barbara Techel

the lost art of a thank you

Sometimes I wonder if it has something to do with me that I think that for the most part, we’ve gotten lazy about sending thank you cards.

Maybe it is my expectation and the way I was brought up that sending a card when someone does something nice for you is what you are supposed to do.

But I’ve thought about this a lot. I enjoy sending thank you cards. I like the slowing down of taking a few moments to write out a note of gratitude. A thank you to someone, I feel, is a gift in itself.

While I try not to expect them, I do have to say when I receive one it really does warm my heart.

It is a form of acknowledgement to someone that their thoughtfulness made your day and in sending a card it becomes a full circle moment of being the giver and the receiver.

Am I perfect in always sending a thank you – no, I’m not. But I do try to send them often. I love to look for fun cards and stationery.

When I did the many presentations I did with Frankie visiting schools, I got many sweet and lovely cards thanking me for sharing Frankie’s story. I never expected them really, but I can’t tell you how often I’d curl up on the sofa, Frankie beside me, and I’d read those cards and notes.

On days I was tired and thought perhaps I didn’t do as good of a job as I wanted, the notes were my assurance that I was making a difference. No matter who we are, I believe, we all need to know now and then that who we are or what we are doing matters.

My heart would explode with love for the kind and sometimes funny notes from children. And such a beautiful lesson we teach our kids too when we teach them this art of thank you notes.

Maybe I’m old fashioned and this shows my age – but I’m going to stand in how I feel about thank you notes.

To me, they really are a lovely way in which to pause for a moment in your life, not only when you write one, but when you receive one.

Perhaps I’ll make it even more fun next time I write out a thank you and put on a floppy hat like Gidget, find a spot in the sun, sip some tea, and take pleasure in this simple act of savoring the sweet joys of life.