Posts Tagged tripod

Just Like A Tripawd Pro

February 19th, 2011 by Elizabeth

Hopping around, tail-wagging, and smiling—these are some of the things that Pebbles does a lot these days. She is so very amazing to watch. She charges up the hill just outside our house and most of the time she gets up on her own to drink water, eat and go out. Sometimes she needs a bit of balance from a two-legged, but she is back to fully enjoying life–just in a new three-legged way. She’s even playing with her cherished toys again (she had given up play for awhile after the  surgery). One of her morning rituals now is going into the front part of the house to visit with the cats (and get a few biskees while she’s at it).

Nothing seems to stop her from taking every advantage of finding joy in her life. One of the most amazing things I have seen is that her heart seems to have tripled in size. She was always a very sweet, loving dog, but lately there is a different look in her eyes when she gazes into mine. Maybe it’s gratitude or maybe it’s just pureness of love. Whatever it may be, it’s quite remarkable and totally melts my heart.

She is beauty and sweetness personified (or should I say dog-ified?). My life is richer and fuller for having made the choice that we made. And I think she is delighted too. As she said, “It’s just a leg anyway.”

If you want to follow Pebbles’ complete Adventure, just click HERE!

Day Three: Determination Wins Over Fear and Stubborness

January 1st, 2011 by Elizabeth

Who knew that having a tripod (or also lovingly called a “tripawd” at Tripawds.com ) would be like attending a personal development camp–a VERY  intense personal development camp. Thanks to Pebbs, I am getting real world experience flexing my personal evolution muscles.

As our adventure continues on Day Three*, the challenge also continues in encouraging her to increase her own strength and motivate her to get up and walk on her own. We had been using a towel–as we had researched- to act as a balancer once she is up on three legs. But Pebbles has a lovely quality of stubbornness, and no matter how much she has to “go”, she has not wanted to get up or accept any assistance from us whatsoever. She would cry and whine while making motions of trying to getting up, but when we would try to help her up, she would flop over on her back and side and become dead weight. This went on for some time, exhausting all 3 of us (and unnerving Pebbles’ brother Monty). Somehow we eventually got her up and outside, carrying her most of the way. Once we put her down in her usual spot, she soon lay down and the whole stubborn-refusal-to-allow-us-to-help act began all over again. The poor thing was so riddled with fear- something that gets in all of our ways when we  try to move forward, stopping us in our tracks, no matter how many appendages we have!

But after 30 minutes outside in the cold with worries of her lying on cold cement, I finally thought to myself–perhaps loudly enough so that she could hear– “you are just going to get up now whether you want to or not” and with a fierce determination lifted her up against all her snappy, whiny protests. We then scooped her up and carried her inside out of the cold.

But then, once inside, we were still faced with the dilemma of the fact that she had not done her business in over 48 hours. She began the whine song again and in a stroke of brilliance, Lennie thought to use a body pillow that we have as a support/sling so that she could feel more comfortable and not be in so much fear. She still fought us until I once again was flooded with pure determination to win over her stubbornness and fear and put her up on her feet no matter how hard she protested. This time we let her walk/hop out and about 20 minutes later she did what she had to do!

Maybe it’s also about being strong for our loved ones when they can’t be and they can’t see to the Truth of a situation. Once Pebbles was shown that there was no need to fear, she hopped along as best she could and began getting used to her new gait.

She also sees now that one doesn’t get a biskee for stubbornness– only for walking through fear with resolute determination and persistence. She is just so amazing. When I grow up, I hope I am half the Warrior Goddess that this sweet little being is!

*we are actually in Day Five of Pebbles New Adventure, but Tripawd Care doesn’t always afford time for blog posting!

Day Two: Single-minded Focus Creates Magic

December 29th, 2010 by Elizabeth

So here we are on just Day Two of Pebbles’ New Adventure. To me it seems like it has been at least two weeks and at times two months. I can only imagine what it feels like to her!

Last night was her first foray outside to “take care of some business”. She resisted the need to go as she cried and barked. Every time we tried to help her up, she just flopped over on her side. Finally, when she just couldn’t take it any longer, she sat up on her own and pushed herself forward and got up enough for me to hoist her with her sling-towel and hold her up for a few steps, much on her own accord.  But I knew that she couldn’t make it all the way out and, unfortunately, Lennie and Monty (my boyfriend and Pebbles’ younger brother) had just gone for their own walk. So I some how picked up my 70 pound girl on my own and rushed outside with her and put her down near her favorite spot. There I witnessed true inspiration: she walked/hopped along, taking her first steps as a tripod with little help from me! It only lasted 4 or 5 hoppy steps, but it was a glorious sight!

She and I together, as we had sat inside the house just before the mad dash, had single minded focus: for her to get herself up and head straight for the door. We held that vision intently and let nothing else in. I know that’s what I did, and I am sure that’s all she could think and see herself.

It was an amazing victory. One that called for a handful of biscuits and a glass of delicious Christmas cordial. Here’s to you, Pebbs!

Day One: The New Adventure

December 28th, 2010 by Elizabeth

Hello my friends! Just want to give you an update on Pebbles surgery yesterday.

The surgery went well, finding that the cancer had not spread too much. Pebbles is so remarkable-she came home as a tripawd just 2 hours after the surgery and seems to be so relieved to have her sick leg gone. She’s taken a few steps on her own-I just support her with a towel as a sling right now- and her appetite for chicken and carrots (and anything else!) seems to have only increased! She is peaceful and happy and more filled with love than ever.

Thank you to all of you who have sent your love, prayers, and healing energy. We have a little work ahead of us, but being able to hold my girl in my lap and arms and look into her beautiful eyes makes my life more wonderful than ever!