We are doing a happy dance here at Joyful Paws headquarters!
Why?
Because Alex is the 50th dog the Frankie Wheelchair Fund has granted a wheelchair to!
Alex is currently with foster, Sandi, with Dachshund Rescue of South Florida. She sent me ths picture of Alex and said, “Here’s a pic of sweet n snugly Alex in his Eddie’s Wheels. He took to his wheels like a duck to water!”
Does not surprise me one bit. I’ve seen time and time again how these dogs get on with the joy of living life — now rolling through the grass, down the street, and over their human’s feet. Nothing stops them!
A very special thanks to Sarah of The Smoothe Store as the money she raised selling dog banandas last fall helped pay for Alex’s wheelchair which she donated to the Frankie Wheelchair Fund.
Since writing a post last week about Gidget having seizures, I’ve heard from so many who understand what it is like to have a dog with epilepsy.
I try to remind myself of all the lessons I’m learning, though challenging at times. And I also want to celebrate in the goodness that comes from this too.
I shared on my Facebook page yesterday that Saturday was 30 days since Gidget had her last seizure. I’m optimistically hopeful we are on the right path with the combination of the Chinese herbs and Potassium Bromide drug that is helping her stay seizure free so far.
I understand this can change at any time — there are no guarantees. Epilepsy is a tricky one to figure out and deal with. But I have hope and that goes a long way.
We did have to adjust Gidget’s meds as she was pretty out of it and it was bothersome to see some of the side effects.
But almost a week later, most of them have for the most part, have gone away. The only challenge right now is the ataxia (weakening of the hind legs). She still can’t walk.
And this is when you count your blessings. And I’m thankful to still have Frankie’s wheelchair from Eddie’s Wheels that I bought in 2006, which became Joie’s for a short time, and is now perfect for Gidget.
In the mornings I buckle her in and she works on navigating from the living room to the kitchen to get to her breakfast. We hear lots of clanks and thumps as she learns to navigate around the furniture and get past walls. But when there is food involved, well, she’d fly in that wheelchair just to get to it!
So she is trying hard and I smile with a grateful heart that she has that perseverance that only a dog can have! Doxie power! Full speed ahead!
If it ends up that her being able to walk on her own again does not return, and I’ve heard from others that this can be the case, I’ll take that. I can work with that, and Gidget is showing me that she can too.
And the biggest reminder of all is that each day is precious. To be grateful for all of it and to remember to celebrate the good days.
Lipton receives new wheelchair thanks to the Frankie Wheelchair Fund. Learn more at nationalwalknrolldogday.com
Meet Lipton! He is well loved and taken care of by Georgeanne from Evo and Eli’s Love Box sanctuary.
The cart Lipton had before this was too heavy and cumbersome and didn’t allow for him to move more freely about.
Quad carts can run a bit more than your average smaller cart – usually over $500, which can be a chunk for a sanctuary to come up with because of all the animals they try and help.
So The Frankie Wheelchair Fund was happy to help fund a new set of wheels for this sweet, adorable guy.
And I was even happier when I got this email from Georgeanne: “Thank you so much for Lipton’s cart. It is wonderful. It’s light weigh which encourages him to try and move it. Again we can not thank you enough.”
Way to go, Lipton! We wish you many more quality years of living life the best way that you can.
And so happy to say Lipton makes the 49th dog the fund has been able to help!! Stay tuned for Maui and Alexs coming soon!… celebrate with us and we hit the wonderful mark of over 50 dogs helped!
The Frankie Wheelchair Fund works with Eddie’s Wheels for Pets, having them build custom carts for paralyzed dog carts we fund. It’s because of my personal experience with them and the superior quality of their carts, along with their excellent customer service, that I continue to feel so good about working with, and recommending them.
