A few days ago I put Anchovy back in for a tub soak and cut the last big chunk of her dead hanging skin off. I did not see any of her little maggot friends left, so obviously they have done a great job of getting rid of her gangrene and kept her from going septic and dying.
I MUST give them all the credit for saving her life and of course God for giving us these truly strange little creatures that literally perform little miracles and His over-seeing the process. Which I must say turned out VERY interesting. I have promised God that I will no-longer completely gross out when I see any maggots anywhere but instead will stop and remember their importance in the cycle of life and death.
Naturally this means she no longer smells rotten. YEA! Of course she now has a leg of raw flesh with NO SKIN, but as of this writing it has dried up good and looks very infection and death free. Very alive and healthy, healing up real well and still limping but using it a little more. The pic was made right after the bath and skin removal so it is real WET LOOKING but it doesn't look that way now. Just want you to see the process, God forbid, that you ever have to have any go through a similar injury!
I can not thank you all enough for all of your prayers, support and advice! You all are just the greatest! Let me take this opportunity to remind you all that I am here for you and you can all access my personal cell number through my website which is listed on my profile . So if you need me CALL! I will do what I can and I can always listen if you need me to!
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That is truly amazing! I really love this story. You (and God, of course) did a really great job! :)
Hey, that's great!
Wow that's awesome! Glad you didn't give up on her. Great Job!!
Such wonderful, wonderful news. {{{ Anchovy }}} {{{ Margaret }}}
Well,I had told you guys in the beginning that based on other animal experiences and my children, especially my 12 year old boy Henry who seems to think that he and I in the emergency room means "Quality Time", that I felt sure it would take Anchovy at least 2 months to heal to the point of no raw flesh etc. That turned out to be about right.
Today makes 12 weeks since her leg injury and I am proud to announce that she has just now, finally reached a point to where she rarely favors the leg. It has a little scabbing still, so occasionally she loses a bit of it and has a tiny bloody spot for a day or so but so far as the area becomes smaller her hair is even growing back there. She is walking almost completely normal.
Now we are waiting to see if she kids when due, then we will know if the poor baby actually went through all this trauma pregnant also! No matter, though, she will always be very special and hold a certain spot of her own in our hearts for all we have been through together.
She is the only one without erect ears, the only doe with noticeable scurs, was probably the wildest on arrival, and the one Katie (10yrs. who started all this in the first place) chose to be hers, but has turned out to be one of the sweetest, tamest, most loving, under my feet little things ever.
I love her dearly and expect her to spend her entire life with me. Therefore, I would like to extend heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for your advice, concern, prayers, support and hugs you sent our way, and I truly mean this. You will never know what you all meant to us through this time! I don't know if we would have made it without you all!
Here, a refresher pic from one of the rough times
:
& exactly12 weeks later, is Anchovy's leg TODAY!
Yippie! What a blessing! I'm so happy she's doing well.
We're enjoying the rain here in Texas and the lighting show, too! The Goatie Girls are tucked in tight in new bedding.
MsC
I am thinking of putting a photo story together.
I have a couple of other photos and will take some later as she heals even better plus I hope to eventually have some with new skin and hair. If she does not develop it on her own I have a product that is great at growing hair back over wounds etc. and I will use it on her.
Thanks for your suggestions! and speaking of your suggestions I also want to say a special thanks for all the support over our going this route and I mean both maggot therapy AND our keeping her here to care for her without the "professionals".
As far as we are concerned, we were getting help from ALL professionals!
Sometimes you need to be open to going the unconventional route to get the best results! I'm so happy for you, what a relief:)