CHESTER WAS BORN IN SEPTEMBER OF 1998. HIS BREEDERS WERE GOING TO EUTHANIZE HIM BECAUSE HE HAD SEVERAL BIRTH DEFECTS THAT MADE HIM AN UNDESIRABLE PUPPY FOR THE PEDIGREE BUYER. ONE OF THE DEFECTS, A SPLIT NOSE, MADE HIM VERY MEMORABLE AND WON OUR HEARTS. HE SPENT THE FIRST 5 YEARS OF HIS LIFE VISITING THE ELDERLY IN THEIR HOMES AND NURSING CENTERS. HE WAS ALSO A HIT WITH DAY CARE CHILDREN. HIS LOVES IN LIFE ARE CHASING BIRDS AND RIDING IN A MOTORCYCLE SIDE CAR. HE ALSO LOVES SWIMMING, PLAYING BALL AND MAKING SNOW ANGELS.
THIS LITTLE DOG IS THE REASON I BEGAN CREATING DOLLS. I COULDN'T LEAVE HIM AS A PUP, SO I HAD TO WORK AT HOME. HE HAS LOYALLY SAT BY MY SIDE DURING THE CREATION OF EACH AND EVERY DOLL.
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3 AM SATURDAY JANUARY 26, 2OO8, WE HEARD A LOUD PANTING AT THE FOOT OF OUR BED AND ASSUMED CHESTER HAD TO GO OUT. WHEN WE TURNED THE LIGHT ON WE NOTICED HIS BACK LEFT LEG WAS PARALYZED AND IMMEDIATELY TOOK HIM TO OUR LOCAL VET AS AN EMERGENCY. AFTER BEING PULLED, POKED AND PRODDED HE SENT US TO MATTHEW J. RYAN VETERINARY HOSPITAL IN PHILADELPHIA. CHESTER WAS SNAPPED FROM MY ARMS AND TAKEN INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. THEY TOLD ME HIS CONDITION WAS BAD. BOTH OF HIS BACK LEGS WERE PARALYZED NOW AND HIS WINDPIPE WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY SHUT. HE WAS RUSHED TO INTENSIVE CARE, SO THEY COULD TRY AND STABILIZE HIM. I WAS ADVISED THAT IT MAY BE TIME TO SAY GOODBYE. I JUST KNEW IT WASN'T HIS TIME TO GO. ALL DAY THEY TRIED TO TALK ME INTO PUTTING HIM DOWN BECAUSE THEY FELT THERE WAS NO CHANCE OF SURVIVING THE SURGERY HE SO DESPERATELY NEEDED. I TOLD THEM HE WAS A FIGHTER AND I WOULDN'T GIVE UP ON HIM. A DISC IN HIS BACK BROKE APART AND HE NEEDED A STENT PUT IN HIS TRACHEA. I GAVE THE GO AHEAD FOR SURGERY AT 3PM AND WAITED FOR THE PHONE CALL SAYING HE DIDN'T MAKE IT. AFTER SIX HOURS, THE SURGEON CALLED WITH DISBELIEF IN HIS VOICE AND TOLD ME HE SURVIVED AND HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW. I SIMPLY SAID "HE'S A FIGHTER". THE NEXT FEW HOURS WERE GOING TO BE CRITICAL AND I WAS ONCE AGAIN TOLD HE WOULDN'T SURVIVE. IF HE DID NOT GET A VENTILATOR HE WOULD DIE. THE COSTS WERE HIGH, BUT WE WERE GOING TO GIVE HIM THE CHANCE TO LIVE. WE DID NOT HEAR FROM THE HOSPITAL THROUGH THE NIGHT. SLEEP ELUDED US. AT 8AM SUNDAY MORNING THE SURGEON CALLED AND SAID HE COULD NOT BELIEVE THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED. THEY ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VENTILATOR ON HIM AND HE THREW HIS LITTLE BODY BACK AND PULLED IT OUT. HE THEN FOUGHT THEM SO THEY COULDN'T REATTACH IT. MIRACULOUSLY, HE BEGAN BREATHING ON HIS OWN AND HELD HIS OWN ALL NIGHT. THE SURGEON HAD BECOME A BELIEVER AND TOOK UP THE FIGHT SAVE CHESTER. HE IS STILL IN ICU AND HAS SUFFERED SOME LUNG DAMAGE, BUT THE SURGEON FEELS HE WILL IN TIME RECOVER THE USE OF HIS LEGS. IT IS GOING TO BE A LONG HAUL, BUT HE WANTS TO LIVE AND MANY PEOPLE ARE IN THE THICK OF BATTLE WITH HIM. HIS 24 HOUR BILL IS OVER $10,000.00 AND CLIMBING. WE NEED HELP TO HELP HIM WIN. FOR EVERY $1000.00 COLLECTED FROM DONORS $100.00 WILL BE DONATED TO MATTHEW J. RYAN VETERINARY HOSPITAL (PENN VETS) IN PHILADELPHIA. THEY'VE HELPED MANY ANIMALS FIGHT THEIR WAY BACK TO HEALTH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY.
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JANUARY 28TH - THE PHONE RANG AT 4AM THIS MORNING AND CHESTER STOPPED BREATHING AND DIED FOR A MOMENT THEY HAD TO HELP HIM BREATHE. ONCE AGAIN WE WERE TOLD TO THINK ABOUT SAYING GOODBYE. HE HAD DONE SO WELL ON SUNDAY, WE WE’RE SO HOPEFUL. I COULD NOT DECIDE ANYTHING UNTIL I SAW HIM. WE WERE VISITING HIM AT NOON.
AT 9 AM WE RECEIVED ANOTHER CALL, HE ONCE AGAIN DODGED THE VENTILATOR AND STARTED BREATHING ON HIS OWN. HIS PNEUMONIA WAS WORSE TODAY, SO THEY WERE GOING TO TRY AND CHANGE HIS ANTIBIOTIC. HE WAS STILL IN OXYGEN, BUT RESTING COMFORTABLY.
THE NOON VISIT WAS AMAZING. HE WAS ALERT, CLAWING AT THE GLASS FOR ME TO PET HIM AND BRAT BARKING. THE ICU DOC SAID HE STARTED BARKING ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE. WE ARE IN DISBELIEF, HE WAS ON DEATH’S DOOR A FEW HOURS AGO. ONE CONCERN WAS THAT HE HADN’T EATEN, SO THEY ASKED ME TO TRY FOOD AGAIN. I STARTED FIRST WITH WATER WHICH HE LAPPED UP, THEN GRAVY WHICH HE LICKED OFF OF MY FINGER AND FINALLY SOLID FOOD. HE ATE THE WHOLE THING. EVERYONE IN ICU GAVE A LITTLE CHEER. WE CUDDLED FOR ABOUT A HALF HOUR AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD AN ESCAPE PLAN. HE BECAME VERY ANXIOUS WHEN WE LEFT HIM YESTERDAY, SO TODAY THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE HIM A LITTLE SEDATIVE SO I COULD SLIP AWAY.
WE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT HIS PICTURE WAS ON JUST ABOUT EVERY CELL PHONE IN THE HOSPITAL AND HE HAD A HUGE CHEERING SECTION.
I AM SO AFRAID TO SLEEP TONIGHT. I AM AFRAID OF ANOTHER DEVASTATING PHONE CALL. WHEN THE PHONE RINGS MY HEART JUMPS.
JANUARY 29TH- THE PHONE DIDN'T RING UNTIL 9AM. DR. STEINBERG SAID HE CRASHED THIS MORNING AND HIS TEMP WENT TO 106 DEGREES. HE FELT THAT CHESTER NEEDED TO COME HOME OR THEY COULD LOSE HIM. HIS MENTAL STATE WAS STARTING TO DETERIORATE AND HE DIDN'T WANT HIM TO LOOSE HIS WILL TO LIVE. HE WAS GOING TO TRY AND SEND HIM HOME TODAY.
AT 1PM WE ARRIVED TO THE HOSPITAL AND I WAS PREPARED TO GET A QUICK LESSON IN CRITICAL CARE. WE WENT INTO A SMALL COZY WAITING ROOM AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DAYS HE PUT MY BOY IN MY LAP. I WAS ABLE TO GET HIM TO EAT AND DRINK A LITTLE. AMAZINGLY HE KICKED HIS RIGHT LEG. THE DOCTOR WAS IN DISBELIEF. HE SAID HE HAS NEVER SEEN DOG LIKE HIM AND HAD NO EXPLANATION ABOUT HOW HE COULD SURVIVE. UNFORTUNATLEY HE WAS UNABLE TO SUSTAIN GOOD OXYGEN LEVELS IN HIS BLOOD DURING OUR 1/2 HALF HOUR VISIT AND HE COULD NOT COME HOME.
9PM - CHESTER WAS RESTING COMFORTABLY.
JANUARY 30TH- NO CRASH THIS MORNING AND WE ARE THANKING ALL OF THE PRAYERS AN GOOD WISHES FOR THAT ONE. HE WAS ASLEEP ON HIS LITTLE STUFFED BIRDIE WHEN WE ARRIVED. HE IS ABLE TO RELIEVE HIS BLADDER NOW AND IS REGAINING SOME MOVEMENT TO HIS BACK RIGHT LEG. I DECIDED TO FEED AND WATER HIM IN HIS LITTLE GLASS SAFETY ZONE. IT SEEMS HE FEELS SAFE THERE. WHEN THEY BRING HIM OUT HE STRESSES WAY TOO MUCH. HIS BREATHING SEEMS MUCH BETTER TODAY AND HE HAS A LOOSE COUGH. DR. STEINBERG TOLD ME THAT DURING HIS NEUROLOGICAL EXAM EARLIER, CHESTER GAVE HIM A SQUIRRELY EYED LOOK AND TRIED TO BITE HIM. THEY ARE STARTING TO SEE HIS FEISTY SIDE, WHICH WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE. I PICKED HIM UP AND PUT HIM ON THE FLOOR, HE WAS ABLE TO PUT BOTH LEGS DOWN. HE ALSO WAS ABLE TO BE OUT OF OXYGEN FOR A HALF HOUR WITHOUT STRUGGLING TO BREATHE. WE ARE ALL SO PARANOID ABOUT BEING HOPEFUL, BUT HOPE WAS ALL AROUND ICU TODAY.
ALL WAS WELL FOR THE REMAINS OF THE DAY AND I DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY CALLS THROUGH THE NIGHT.
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JAN. 31ST- CHESTER CAME HOME TODAY. WE WERE TERRIFIED HE WOULD BE OXYGEN DEPENDENT BECAUSE OF HIS LUNG DAMAGE, BUT HE ONLY STRUGGLED FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES IN THE EVENING HOURS. BOTH OF HIS LEGS ARE SHOWING MOVEMENT AND HE TRIES TO RUN WHEN WE PICK UP HIS HIND END. THANKS TO A DONATION FROM A FRIEND, WE HAVE AN OXYGEN TANK AT HOME IN CASE WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY. HE MISSES HIS DOCTORS AND NURSES AND SEEMS A LITTLE CONFUSED. THE BIG PROBLEM WE ARE HAVING IS HIS MENTAL INABILITY TO VOID IN THE HOUSE. HE STRESSES FOR HOURS AND REFUSES TO GO. WE NEED TO FIND A NEW SOLUTION. HE HAS BEEN HOUSEBROKEN SINCE HE WAS 4 WEEKS OLD AND HAS NEVER GONE IN THE HOUSE. HE HAS A LONG ROAD AHEAD, BUT I WILL BE THRILLED AT EVERY MOMENT WE HAVE WITH HIM.
FEB. 1ST & 2ND- CHESTER STRUGGLES TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE CANNOT CHASE BIRDS AND BALLS, BUT HE HAS MADE A CLEAR DECISION TO DO HIS BUSINESS OUTDOORS OR BURST TRYING. HE LEARNED AT THE HOSPITAL THAT IF HE Mimicked RESPIRATORY DISTRESS, PEOPLE WOULD COME RUNNING AND GIVE HIM ATTENTION. HE OPENS AND CLOSES HIS MOUTH LIKE A LITTLE GUPPY AND GIVES A WEAK LITTLE WHINE. HE HAD ME CRAZY WITH FEAR THAT HE COULDN'T BREATHE YESTERDAY, BUT I LEARNED QUICKLY THAT IT WAS A PLOY FOR FOOD, ATTENTION OR JUST TO WATCH ME JUMP. WHAT HE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND IS THAT IF HE CAME HOME WITH 3 HEADS I WOULD STILL LOVE HIM. HE STARTED WALKING ON ALL FOUR LEGS TODAY. OF COURSE, HE LOOKS LIKE HE HAD ONE TO MANY DRINKS AT THE PUB, BUT HE FIGHTS TO REGAIN HIS MOBILITY EVERYDAY.
FEB. 3RD- TODAY CHESTER WAGGED HIS TAIL AND GAVE KISSES TO SEVERAL OF HIS HUMAN FRIENDS. HE IS DETERMINED TO WALK. HE ATTEMPTED 2 TRIPS ACROSS THE LIVING ROOM BEFORE BEING DISCOVERED AND SCOLDED. HIS COUGH FROM THE PNEUMONIA IS STILL THERE, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE LESS FREQUENT THAN THE PAST FEW DAYS.
FEB. 4TH-6TH- HE WANTS TO RUN, BARK AND PLAY. DOES HE KNOW HE IS STILL PARALYZED? THIS LITTLE SOUL IS SUCH A BLESSING. HE IS BECOMING AN EXCELLENT PATIENT. ALTHOUGH WHEN HIS DAD WAKES HIM UP IN THE MORNING TO GO OUT HE IS NOT HAPPY TO BE DISTURBED AND GROWLS VICIOUSLY AT HIM. I BLAME THAT ON THE STEROIDS. THERAPY IS GOING WELL. HIS RIGHT LEG SEEMS A LITTLE STRONGER EVERY DAY, BUT HE IS STRUGGLING WITH THE LEFT. I WILL BE POSTING SOME NEW PICTURES OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
FEB. 7TH - I TOOK HIS STITCHES OUT TODAY AND ALL OF HIS ANXIOUS PANTING HAS STOPPED. I AM GUESSING THE ITCH THAT HE COULDN'T REACH IN THE CENTER OF HIS BACK WAS DRIVING HIM CRAZY. CHESTER STARTED AIR WALKING TODAY WITH BOTH BACK LEGS. IT IS A PRETTY FUNNY SIGHT.
FEB. 11TH- WHAT A GREAT WEEKEND. MANY OF CHESTER'S FAVORITE AUNTS AND UNCLES CAME TO VISIT. HE WAS LIKE A LITTLE STAR AND SHARED MANY KISSES AND SMILES. HE IS STARTING TO MOVE HIS TAIL, BUT IT JUST SWINGS AROUND ABOVE HIS BACK IN CIRCLES. IT APPEARS TO HAVE A MIND OF IT'S OWN. HE IS GETTING TIRED OF LAYING, SO HE JUST SITS IN ONE SPOT FOR HOURS WAITING FOR US NOT TO LOOK, SO HE CAN TAKE OFF ACROSS THE ROOM. CHESTER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLANNER AND SCHEMER. HE IS ALSO STANDING TO EAT AND DRINK. HE IS DEFINITLEY IMPROVING EVERY DAY.
FEB. 12TH & 13TH- BAD NIGHT, GREAT DAY. CHESTER COULD NOT SLEEP LAST NIGHT. HE WAS UP EVERY HOUR WANTING TO GO OUT IN THE 10 DEGREE WEATHER. TODAY HE WAS VERY ACTIVE. OF COURSE, ONE OF HIS FAVORITE THINGS IS MAKING SNOW ANGELS. WE HAD SNOW TODAY AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TRYING TO KEEP HIM FROM HURTING HIMSELF AS HE WOULD DROP TO THE GROUND AND TRY TO ROLL ON HIS BACK. I KNOW HIS DOC IS HAVING A HEART PALPITATION READING THIS. HE ALSO WANTED TO TAKE OFF RUNNING THROUGH THE SNOW LIKE A SLED DOG. I THINK THIS LITTLE DOG HAS A CRAZY WILL TO LIVE. CHESTER'S DAD WHISPERED TO ME THIS MORNING "MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THEM EUTHANIZE US". HIS COUGHING HAS SETTLED DOWN QUITE A BIT AND HE IS IMPROVING EVERY DAY.
FEB. 18TH- HURRAY! HE CAN WAG HIS TAIL WHEN HE IS HAPPY. HE STILL DOESN'T KNOW THAT IT IS SUPPOSED PERCH IN A POM POM ON TOP OF HIS BACK, BUT WE SEE SIGNS THAT HE IS REGAINING CONTROL OF IT EVERY DAY. CHESTER HAS ALSO DECIDED THAT HE WANTS TO SLEEP ON THE BED WITH US, NOT IN HIS CAGE. WE HAD A SLEEPLESS NIGHT LAST NIGHT, BECAUSE HE WHINED, BARKED AND GROANED UNTIL 3 AM TRYING TO MAKE HIS POINT. HE WON THAT BATTLE. His MEDS ARE ALMOST FINISHED AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO BE RELIEVED OF THAT JUGGLING ACT. HE IS ALSO EATING LIKE A LITTLE PIG. I AM STRUGGLING TO KEEP HIM SATISFIED, BUT I FEAR HE MAY EAT US IN OUR SLEEP.
FEB. 25TH- CHESTER SPENT 8 HOURS AT THE SHOW I DID THIS PAST WEEKEND AND FAIRED VERY WELL. NO ANXIETY AT ALL. USUALLY ANY CHANGE WOULD TRIGGER A PANIC ATTACK, BUT HE HAS DEFINITLEY MELLOWED. SO MANY PEOPLE PET HIM, I THINK WHAT LITTLE FUR HE HAS LEFT WAS RUBBED OFF. WE ARE ALSO STRUGGLING WITH WALKS OUTSIDE BECAUSE OF HIS COMPULSIVE DROPPING TO THE GROUND EVERY TIME IT SNOWS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF HIM IN HIS SLING WHEN HE IS WRITHING AROUND IN THE WHITE STUFF DOING SNOW ANGELS. HIS SNOW DOG GENES KICK IN EVERY TIME THERE IS A SNIFF OF THE WHITE STUFF AND HE GOES CRAZY. HE EATS CONSTANTLY SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT DR. STEINBERG. HE SPENDS EVERY DAY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ESCAPE HIS CONFINEMENT. I HAVE GIVEN HIM PERMISSION TO WALK IN CARPETED AREAS ONLY. HE IS STILL WOBBLY, BUT DETERMINED TO RESUME HIS FORMER LIFE AND ADVENTURES. TOMORROW HE GOES FOR A FOLLOW UP EXAM AND WE ARE KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.
FEB. 26TH- VERY STRESSED BY HIS VISIT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A FOLLOW UP APPOINTMENT. THE MOMENT WE LEFT THE HOSPITAL, EVERYTHING NORMALIZED. HE WILL NEVER ALLOW HIS MOM TO LEAVE HIM ANYWHERE AGAIN.
FEB. 27TH- HIS FIRST TRIP BACK TO THE GROOMER TO TRIM UP HIS FEET AND NAILS PROVED TO BE CHALLENGING. AS SOON AS WE GOT IN THE CAR HIS ANXIETY LEVELS SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL. I GUESS HE THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO LEAVE HIM THERE TOO. ONCE WE WERE HOME THINGS WENT BACK TO NORMAL. HE IS GOING TO BE A HIGH MAINTANENCE LITTLE BOY.
FEB. 28TH- WE ALLOWED CHESTER TO TAKE HIS FIRST STEPS OF FREEDOM OUTSIDE. AT FIRST HE WASN'T QUITE SURE IF HE WAS ALLOWED TO MOVE, BUT WHEN HE REALIZED IT WAS OKAY HE ANSWERED NATURES CALL. WHEN HE WAS FINISHED HE KICKED HIS FEET, RAISED HIS TAIL AND HAD A BIG GRIN ON HIS FACE LIKE A PROUD POMERANIAN.
MAR. 3RD- CHESTER TOOK HIS FIRST WALK TODAY UNTETHERED AND FREE TO ROAM. HE WOULDN'T STOP. I THOUGHT HE MAY TIRE, BUT THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. HIS LITTLE TAIL WENT UP WAGGING AND HE HAD A SMILE ON HIS FACE. HE DID REAL WELL. WE HAVE ALSO PUT THROW RUGS OVER ALL THE TILE FLOORS AND HE IS ABLE TO WALK FREELY WHEREVER HE WANTS. THIS HAS MADE FOR ONE HAPPY PUPPY. NO RUNNING, JUMPING OR PLAYING ALLOWED, BUT WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE PLAYING. HIS TEMP IS 99.1 DEGREES. SEEMS LOW, BUT I AM HAPPY HE ISN'T FEVERISH. HOPEFULLY WE ARE OVER THE HUMP WITH THE PNEUMONIA. QUESTION FOR HIS DOC "CAN HE WALK UP THE RAMP TO GET IN AND OUT OF BED?". THIS WOULD GREATLY IMPROVE THE BROKEN SLEEP PATTERN WE ARE NOW SUFFERING FROM (YAWNS). SPRING IS ALMOST HERE AND THAT MEANS BIRDS AND MOTORCYCLES. CHESTER'S FAVE THINGS ARE CHASING BIRDS AND RIDING IN THE SIDECAR WITH HIS BIKER BOY LEATHER VEST ON.
MAR. 17TH- HE IS RUNNING, JUMPING AND CHASING BIRDS. HE CAN GET DOWN HIS RAMP FROM THE BED, BUT HAS COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN HOW TO GET UP ON THE BED VIA RAMP. I SHOW HIM OVER AND OVER, BUT HE JUST CAN'T GRASP HOW TO DO IT. MAYBE HE HAD A TOUCH OF BRAIN DAMAGE. WE HAVEN'T LET HIM ATTEMPT STEPS OF ANY KIND, BECAUSE HE STILL HAS SOME WEAKNESS ON THE LEFT SIDE. CHESTER IS A VERY HAPPY DOG NOW. HIS BREATHING IS BETTER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN, SO WE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT HIS STENT WON'T FAIL UNTIL HE IS A VERY OLD MAN.
APR. 11TH- CHESTER IS DOING WELL AND SEND HIS BEST WISHES TO ALL OF HIS FRIENDS. HE HAS A LITTLE INFECTION THAT HE TAKING ANTIBIOTICS FOR, BUT THAT IS ALMOST FINISHED. HE IS ATTEMPTING STEPS. WE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT. HIS BALANCE IS STILL A LITTLE OFF. HE HAS BEEN CHASING SQUIRRELS TO THE POINT OF EXHAUSTION. HIS AND MINE. HE ALWAYS HAS A SMILE. HIS FUR STILL HAS NOT GROWN BACK, SO WE ARE THINKING ABOUT GETTING HIM A DOGGIE TOUPEE...LOL. A SIDE NOTE FOR HIS DOCS "HE IS DOWN TO HIS 12LB IDEAL WEIGHT".
APR. 24TH- CHESTER IS DOING GREAT. ALMOST 100% WELL. HE DOES HAVE A SLIGHT WEAKNESS ON HIS LEFT SIDE AND HIS FUR HASN'T GROWN BACK, BUT WE'LL TAKE IT. HE JUMPS, RUNS, CHASES EVERYTHING. HE CAN GO UP STEPS, BUT NOT DOWN. HIS SLEEP APNEA HAS VANISHED. HE IS MORE ENERGETIC AND ACTIVE THAN HE HAS BEEN IN YEARS. THANKS FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND HELP FROM EVERYONE. WE ARE WINNING THE UPHILL BATTLE FOR HIS SURVIVAL. NOW THE ONLY WORRY IS THAT DAMN STENT....
MAY & JUNE- CHESTER CONTINUES TO DO WELL. HE HAS DEVELOPED A NERVOUS HABIT OF CHEWING HIS PAWS, BUT WE WILL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO STOP IT ... HOPEFULLY. THE FIRST WEEK OF JUNE HE SPENT A WEEK IN LAKE GEORGE MEETING AND GREETING 1000'S OF OLD AND NEW BIKER FRIENDS. HE SWAM IN LAKE GEORGE EVERY MORNING, STROLLED THROUGH THE VILLAGE EVERY DAY AND RODE WITH HIS BROTHER IN THEIR CUSTOM SIDECAR. IT IS ONE OF HIS FAVORITE THINGS TO DO. HIS FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS BROUGHT HIM PRIME RIB AND OTHER GOOD THINGS TO EAT. EVERYONE WAS SO GRATEFUL TO SEE HIM THIS YEAR AND WE ARE THANKFUL TO ALL OF THEM FOR THE HELP THEY HAVE GIVEN US. THIS LITTLE ONE IS A PURE BLESSING AND WE NEVER FORGET THAT.
UPDATE ( SEPT - DEC) CHESTER HAS JUST WENT THROUGH A TERRIBLE BATTLE WITH AN ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT STAPH INFECTION CALLED MRSI. AFTER 10 DAYS ON THE ONLY ANTIBIOTIC HE COULD TAKE, HE BECAME LETHARGIC AND COULDN'T WALK, HE WAS DISORIENTED AND CONFUSED AND HIS LIVER VALUES ALMOST DOUBLED. TOOK HIM OFF OF THE ANTIBIOTIC AND KEPT MY FINGERS CROSSED THAT HE HAD TAKEN ENOUGH TO BEAT THE INFECTION. I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT AFTER 7 DAYS HE RETURNED TO NORMAL AND GOT A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH FROM HIS DOCTOR. WE ARE PRAYING 2009 WILL BE BETTER FOR HIM.
SIDENOTE (MAY 2009): EXACTLY ONE YEAR TO THE DAY CHESTER HAD HIS SURGERY WE FOUND OUT HIS YOUNGER BFF BROTHER REGGIE HAD END STAGE POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY FAILURE. WE HAD NO CLUE. HE HAS BEEN HEALTHY HIS WHOLE LIFE. BUT WHEN HE STOPPED EATING, WE HAD TESTS RUN AND FOUND OUT THE TERRIBLE NEWS. HE WAS GIVEN 2 WEEKS - 2 MONTHS TO LIVE ON JAN. 28TH. HE IS STILL WITH US, BUT IS STARTING TO FAIL. WE KNOW THIS CAN'T BE FIXED AND ARE JUST TRYING TO GIVE HIM THE MOST COMFORTABLE LIFE POSSIBLE FOR HIS REMAINING TIME WITH US. WE ARE ALL JUST DEVASTED.
SIDENOTE (JULY 3 2009): TODAY AT 3:30 PM, CHESTER'S BFF BROTHER REGGIE LOST HIS BATTLE WITH KIDNEY FAILURE. HE WENT TO SLEEP PEACEFULLY WITH HIS BROTHER BY HIS SIDE. HE WILL BE WAITING FOR US AT THE RAINBOW BRIDGE.
DECEMBER 2009 - CHESTER IS DOING WELL. HE JUST HAD HIS 11TH BIRTHDAY. HE IS PUSHING THE 2 YEAR MARK WITH HIS TRACCHEAL STENT AND WE ARE KEEPING OUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT THERE WILL NEVER BE A PROBLEM WITH IT. AFTER LOSING HIS BROTHER REGGIE HE SEEMED A LITTLE LONELY, SO WE DECIDED TO ADOPT A 9 YEAR OLD TOY POM NAMED PEACHES. SHE WAS A BREEDER DOG AND SPENT HER ENTIRE LIFE IN A CAGE. WE GUARANTEE HER REMAINING YEARS WILL BE GREAT AND SHE WILL BE TREATED LIKE A PRINCESS.
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| Chester is doing great Christmas 2010. He is still my little blessing. |
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| THIS ONE'S FOR YOU DR. STEINBERG. NOW GET SOME SLEEP. |
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| MARCH 19, 2008 Playing Ball |
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| Is it Halloween yet? Do Poms go into hibernation in the winter? 10/26/08 |
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| JUNE 2009 - Chester is doing great. |
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Chester thanks all of the friends that are helping him win his fight for life.
DR. STEINBERG & DR. SINNOTT (FOR SAVING OUR BOY'S LIFE)
KELLY BRADEN
CARRIAGE HOUSE COMPANY
SUSAN MACFARLANE
CHUCK BUTTO
CHARLOTTE CHURTON
WENDY MACLEAN SODERMAN
CATHY BURGARD
BRUCE BEEMAN
TOM EVANS
ROXANNE & CARL
HEATHER CULLMAN
KATHERINE CLARK
SHARON HUTCHINSON
WENDY & BOB OGDEN
COOK & BETTY LEVINSKY
MIKE & BOBBI OLLIVER
ROSE CAVALLI
NANCY & CHARLES GODSHALL
MELISSA MOREAU
CHARLOTTE & GARETH HESTER
ROSE GIORDANO
CYNTHIA ROOS
DUSTY MARIAN
MARK FRIESLAND
TONY DIFELICE
SCOTT BOCK
ARIANA PANAGAKOS
HOLLEY MORRIS
RICK DAVIS JR.
CSAM WHEATLEY
C. ROOS IN MEMORY OF HER FATHER WALLY
BARRY & JUDY PLEXICO
EZRA STEINBERG
ANGEL REUBER
DIANE & BRIAN KEELER
NATALIE ZAMAN (GRAVEN IMAGE ORACLES)
DR. HARRIS NEWMAN
ANNA MARIE DIETERELE
JIM & DEB HALL
JASON BEAUBIAH
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