Simone Update 9/19

Today was another good day. Simone's liver enzyme levels dropped a little, as did her bilirubin (from 16.5 to 15.0). While not a huge improvement, they are headed the right direction. She seemed to be breathing okay most of the time and alert. When we saw her at 4:30pm today, she actually stood up in her oxygen cage and walked out to greet us, her tail wagging ecstatically. This was the most animated we'd seen her in over a week. The nurses told us that she didn't eat breakfast, but did eat her dinner, dry and canned, and two of the gingersnaps I made her. I offered her five or six treats that I brought from home, and she ate those too, and made sure to not leave behind any crumbs!

She still can't come home yet, as she needs to be hooked up to an IV for fluids to help flush out the bilirubin (normal values are less than 1). Dr. Brownlee said that she wouldn't feel comfortable sending Simone home until the bilirubin drops below 10. She said she would check just the bilirubin tomorrow, and then the liver enzymes on Friday to see where things are at.

So, we're still missing our girl terribly at home, but her prognosis is looking up. Yesterday Dr. Brownlee said it was now "guardedly optimistic". It's looking more and more like she may very well be able to make a complete recovery. We've been told that Simone is also the best patient in the ICU! They alternate between having her closed in the oxygen cage, and having the doors open. Sometimes she steps out and lays on the floor. None of the other puppies in the ICU gets that privilege!

Thank you all for your continued love and support. We believe all of the healing thoughts and energies that you have been sending Simone this past week are truly going to give us our miracle.