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NEWS & EVENTS!
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Be sure to scan down to the bottom for the most up-to-date info!!
HINT - You can click on any picture to enlarge it!
For those of you who know me, you've known I've been sick for months. Just nobody could figure out what it
was. Apparently it was an infection that was growing in my abdomen and the only way to stop it was with
emergency surgery. I have survived the surgery but there is potentially two more to go. Only time will tell.
I am sorry to all those who have been trying to contact me. I'm afraid I just can't concentrate on work for now. If
you have emailed or phoned in the last 3 weeks, there's a good chance I've not responded. I am still planning on
having a litter in the fall but the deposits/waiting list is on hold for the time being. Please watch for updates as
to when I can get back to work. I appreciate your patience and understanding.
The dogs are all being taken care of by family and friends and are feeling no ill effects. (unlike myself)
Thank you again for your patience.
Mary Ann
June 30 - Well I'm home but have tubes and machines attached. One successful surgery has passed. They took
out approximately half of my stomach. I don't actually mean THE stomach but the skin and tissue that you and I
would call stomach. I have a hole that is 12 cm long by 10 cm wide by 7 cm deep. Like I said, half my stomach.
It's looking like I will have to go back for more surgeries but that won't be determined for sure until after the CT
scan on July 8th. I have a nurse visiting me everyday here to help me with dressings etc.
I appreciate all the cards, phone calls, emails and prayers from everyone. Please excuse the fact that I have not
returned each one individually. I hope this is enough to say thank you.
For those of you trying to contact me regarding puppies and classes, I'm sorry but I'm just not able to think about
working yet. I will definitely be having puppies in the fall and I expect dog classes will start up again about that
same time. I'm so sorry to not be able to help you with your problems right away. I appreciate your patience.
I can't believe how thoughtful you all are. It literally brings tears to my eyes. Thank you from the bottom of my
heart.
was. Apparently it was an infection that was growing in my abdomen and the only way to stop it was with
emergency surgery. I have survived the surgery but there is potentially two more to go. Only time will tell.
I am sorry to all those who have been trying to contact me. I'm afraid I just can't concentrate on work for now. If
you have emailed or phoned in the last 3 weeks, there's a good chance I've not responded. I am still planning on
having a litter in the fall but the deposits/waiting list is on hold for the time being. Please watch for updates as
to when I can get back to work. I appreciate your patience and understanding.
The dogs are all being taken care of by family and friends and are feeling no ill effects. (unlike myself)
Thank you again for your patience.
Mary Ann
June 30 - Well I'm home but have tubes and machines attached. One successful surgery has passed. They took
out approximately half of my stomach. I don't actually mean THE stomach but the skin and tissue that you and I
would call stomach. I have a hole that is 12 cm long by 10 cm wide by 7 cm deep. Like I said, half my stomach.
It's looking like I will have to go back for more surgeries but that won't be determined for sure until after the CT
scan on July 8th. I have a nurse visiting me everyday here to help me with dressings etc.
I appreciate all the cards, phone calls, emails and prayers from everyone. Please excuse the fact that I have not
returned each one individually. I hope this is enough to say thank you.
For those of you trying to contact me regarding puppies and classes, I'm sorry but I'm just not able to think about
working yet. I will definitely be having puppies in the fall and I expect dog classes will start up again about that
same time. I'm so sorry to not be able to help you with your problems right away. I appreciate your patience.
I can't believe how thoughtful you all are. It literally brings tears to my eyes. Thank you from the bottom of my
heart.
May 25 '10 - For those of you who know me, you've known I've been sick for months. Just nobody could figure
out what it was. Apparently it was an infection that was growing in my abdomen and the only way to stop it was
with emergency surgery. I have survived the surgery but there is potentially two more to go. Only time will tell.
I am sorry to all those who have been trying to contact me. I'm afraid I just can't concentrate on work for now. If
you have emailed or phoned in the last 3 weeks, there's a good chance I've not responded. I am still planning on
having a litter in the fall but the deposits/waiting list is on hold for the time being. Please watch for updates as
to when I can get back to work. I appreciate your patience and understanding.
The dogs are all being taken care of by family and friends and are feeling no ill effects. (unlike myself)
Thank you again for your patience.
Mary Ann
June 30 - Well I'm home but have tubes and machines attached. One successful surgery has passed. They took
out approximately half of my stomach. I don't actually mean THE stomach but the skin and tissue that you and I
would call stomach. I have a hole that is 12 cm long by 10 cm wide by 7 cm deep. Like I said, half my stomach.
It's looking like I will have to go back for more surgeries but that won't be determined for sure until after the CT
scan on July 8th. I have a nurse visiting me everyday here to help me with dressings etc.
I appreciate all the cards, phone calls, emails and prayers from everyone. Please excuse the fact that I have not
returned each one individually. I hope this is enough to say thank you.
For those of you trying to contact me regarding puppies and classes, I'm sorry but I'm just not able to think about
working yet. I will definitely be having puppies in the fall and I expect dog classes will start up again about that
same time. I'm so sorry to not be able to help you with your problems right away. I appreciate your patience.
I can't believe how thoughtful you all are. It literally brings tears to my eyes. Thank you from the bottom of my
heart.
out what it was. Apparently it was an infection that was growing in my abdomen and the only way to stop it was
with emergency surgery. I have survived the surgery but there is potentially two more to go. Only time will tell.
I am sorry to all those who have been trying to contact me. I'm afraid I just can't concentrate on work for now. If
you have emailed or phoned in the last 3 weeks, there's a good chance I've not responded. I am still planning on
having a litter in the fall but the deposits/waiting list is on hold for the time being. Please watch for updates as
to when I can get back to work. I appreciate your patience and understanding.
The dogs are all being taken care of by family and friends and are feeling no ill effects. (unlike myself)
Thank you again for your patience.
Mary Ann
June 30 - Well I'm home but have tubes and machines attached. One successful surgery has passed. They took
out approximately half of my stomach. I don't actually mean THE stomach but the skin and tissue that you and I
would call stomach. I have a hole that is 12 cm long by 10 cm wide by 7 cm deep. Like I said, half my stomach.
It's looking like I will have to go back for more surgeries but that won't be determined for sure until after the CT
scan on July 8th. I have a nurse visiting me everyday here to help me with dressings etc.
I appreciate all the cards, phone calls, emails and prayers from everyone. Please excuse the fact that I have not
returned each one individually. I hope this is enough to say thank you.
For those of you trying to contact me regarding puppies and classes, I'm sorry but I'm just not able to think about
working yet. I will definitely be having puppies in the fall and I expect dog classes will start up again about that
same time. I'm so sorry to not be able to help you with your problems right away. I appreciate your patience.
I can't believe how thoughtful you all are. It literally brings tears to my eyes. Thank you from the bottom of my
heart.
For those of you who know me, you've known I've been sick for months. Just nobody could figure out what it
was. Apparently it was an infection that was growing in my abdomen and the only way to stop it was with
emergency surgery. I have survived the surgery but there is potentially two more to go. Only time will tell.
I am sorry to all those who have been trying to contact me. I'm afraid I just can't concentrate on work for now. If
you have emailed or phoned in the last 3 weeks, there's a good chance I've not responded. I am still planning on
having a litter in the fall but the deposits/waiting list is on hold for the time being. Please watch for updates as
to when I can get back to work. I appreciate your patience and understanding.
The dogs are all being taken care of by family and friends and are feeling no ill effects. (unlike myself)
Thank you again for your patience.
Mary Ann
June 30 - Well I'm home but have tubes and machines attached. One successful surgery has passed. They took
out approximately half of my stomach. I don't actually mean THE stomach but the skin and tissue that you and I
would call stomach. I have a hole that is 12 cm long by 10 cm wide by 7 cm deep. Like I said, half my stomach.
It's looking like I will have to go back for more surgeries but that won't be determined for sure until after the CT
scan on July 8th. I have a nurse visiting me everyday here to help me with dressings etc.
I appreciate all the cards, phone calls, emails and prayers from everyone. Please excuse the fact that I have not
returned each one individually. I hope this is enough to say thank you.
For those of you trying to contact me regarding puppies and classes, I'm sorry but I'm just not able to think about
working yet. I will definitely be having puppies in the fall and I expect dog classes will start up again about that
same time. I'm so sorry to not be able to help you with your problems right away. I appreciate your patience.
I can't believe how thoughtful you all are. It literally brings tears to my eyes. Thank you from the bottom of my
heart.
was. Apparently it was an infection that was growing in my abdomen and the only way to stop it was with
emergency surgery. I have survived the surgery but there is potentially two more to go. Only time will tell.
I am sorry to all those who have been trying to contact me. I'm afraid I just can't concentrate on work for now. If
you have emailed or phoned in the last 3 weeks, there's a good chance I've not responded. I am still planning on
having a litter in the fall but the deposits/waiting list is on hold for the time being. Please watch for updates as
to when I can get back to work. I appreciate your patience and understanding.
The dogs are all being taken care of by family and friends and are feeling no ill effects. (unlike myself)
Thank you again for your patience.
Mary Ann
June 30 - Well I'm home but have tubes and machines attached. One successful surgery has passed. They took
out approximately half of my stomach. I don't actually mean THE stomach but the skin and tissue that you and I
would call stomach. I have a hole that is 12 cm long by 10 cm wide by 7 cm deep. Like I said, half my stomach.
It's looking like I will have to go back for more surgeries but that won't be determined for sure until after the CT
scan on July 8th. I have a nurse visiting me everyday here to help me with dressings etc.
I appreciate all the cards, phone calls, emails and prayers from everyone. Please excuse the fact that I have not
returned each one individually. I hope this is enough to say thank you.
For those of you trying to contact me regarding puppies and classes, I'm sorry but I'm just not able to think about
working yet. I will definitely be having puppies in the fall and I expect dog classes will start up again about that
same time. I'm so sorry to not be able to help you with your problems right away. I appreciate your patience.
I can't believe how thoughtful you all are. It literally brings tears to my eyes. Thank you from the bottom of my
heart.
July 27 '10 - Well, there's good news and bad news. Which would you like first? I hope you said bad because
that's what I've decided. I like to get the bad news out of the way and finish with something positive! I'm ever the
optimist!
If you are not interested in the long story of my health (which I couldn't blame you!), go down to the text in blue to
just get the good news. The bad isn't really bad, just long winded. You have been warned!
So CT scan came back and there are going to be more surgery(ies). There's two things that have to be fixed.
Whether they can fix them in one surgery will be determined at the time of surgery. I have to give you a little
background so I can explain what's going on now. In 2002 I had a gall stone removed (13 years AFTER I had my
gall bladder removed!) In 2003, the surgical scar herniated and they put in a "mesh" to cover the hernia.
Apparently the mesh has moved and has punctured my small intestine. That's why I ended up in emergency
surgery. The leaking small intestine had caused a huge infection and I was in danger of going septic. That is when
the infection can go into your organs or into your blood. So into the hospital I went and was on the operating room
table 24 hours later. In that 24 hours, they monitored me very closely. That operation was on May 20th. When
they let me go home, I could barely walk from the living room to the kitchen. Two months later, I look pretty much
normal to the outside world (just a little slower maybe). However, my stomach muscles (which I had to grow back)
are extremely weak. I can be a little off balance from time to time, especially on uneven ground. I also find myself
trying to do to much and pay for it dearly the next day (or that evening). You really have no idea how important
those core muscles are in day to day life. I have started trying to strengthen them a little at a time but the Doc
said that there's a good chance he will have to remove 90% of my stomach muscles in this next surgery so I'm kind
of thinking "why bother?"
From all the research on the internet, talking with Doctors and Nurses, it seems like this next surgery is going to
be very complicated. I asked the surgeon what kind of recovery time should I expect and he said "3 weeks in the
hospital and many, many months of recovery at home... and that's if everything goes well." Hmmm... I can't wait.
As for the scheduling of the next surgery, they are thinking August some time. It is no longer an emergency
because I have a hole in my abdomen which allows for the drainage from the small intestine. If that closes, or I
start running a fever, then it's emergency again. So my life is totally on hold at this point. I could go in tomorrow,
or I could go in at the end of August. I know I'm getting bumped back continuously because of people with breast
cancer. And I should be bumped. Those poor people need to get rid of that cancer asap.
I hope this isn't way more information than you wanted to know.
that's what I've decided. I like to get the bad news out of the way and finish with something positive! I'm ever the
optimist!
If you are not interested in the long story of my health (which I couldn't blame you!), go down to the text in blue to
just get the good news. The bad isn't really bad, just long winded. You have been warned!
So CT scan came back and there are going to be more surgery(ies). There's two things that have to be fixed.
Whether they can fix them in one surgery will be determined at the time of surgery. I have to give you a little
background so I can explain what's going on now. In 2002 I had a gall stone removed (13 years AFTER I had my
gall bladder removed!) In 2003, the surgical scar herniated and they put in a "mesh" to cover the hernia.
Apparently the mesh has moved and has punctured my small intestine. That's why I ended up in emergency
surgery. The leaking small intestine had caused a huge infection and I was in danger of going septic. That is when
the infection can go into your organs or into your blood. So into the hospital I went and was on the operating room
table 24 hours later. In that 24 hours, they monitored me very closely. That operation was on May 20th. When
they let me go home, I could barely walk from the living room to the kitchen. Two months later, I look pretty much
normal to the outside world (just a little slower maybe). However, my stomach muscles (which I had to grow back)
are extremely weak. I can be a little off balance from time to time, especially on uneven ground. I also find myself
trying to do to much and pay for it dearly the next day (or that evening). You really have no idea how important
those core muscles are in day to day life. I have started trying to strengthen them a little at a time but the Doc
said that there's a good chance he will have to remove 90% of my stomach muscles in this next surgery so I'm kind
of thinking "why bother?"
From all the research on the internet, talking with Doctors and Nurses, it seems like this next surgery is going to
be very complicated. I asked the surgeon what kind of recovery time should I expect and he said "3 weeks in the
hospital and many, many months of recovery at home... and that's if everything goes well." Hmmm... I can't wait.
As for the scheduling of the next surgery, they are thinking August some time. It is no longer an emergency
because I have a hole in my abdomen which allows for the drainage from the small intestine. If that closes, or I
start running a fever, then it's emergency again. So my life is totally on hold at this point. I could go in tomorrow,
or I could go in at the end of August. I know I'm getting bumped back continuously because of people with breast
cancer. And I should be bumped. Those poor people need to get rid of that cancer asap.
I hope this isn't way more information than you wanted to know.
The beginning of the good news is I'm finally able to return phone calls and emails. At least as long as I'm at
home. If you have been trying to reach me, please email or call me again and I promise I'll get back to you within
24 hours. I will do my best to call or email everyone I've received a message from but when you are talking about
over 100 emails and 100 phone calls, there's bound to be a few that get missed. Please try again, just to be sure.
The best news is that Isis and Diesel have been bred and they are expecting puppies on Sept. 22! Yippee! Yahoo!
Now the waiting game begins to see if she caught or not. It usually takes at least a month to be reasonably sure.
And Isis likes to wait until just a few weeks before she's due to really get big. I think she likes to keep me
guessing as long as possible!
And another chapter begins at GUARDIAN ANGEL SHEPHERDS...
home. If you have been trying to reach me, please email or call me again and I promise I'll get back to you within
24 hours. I will do my best to call or email everyone I've received a message from but when you are talking about
over 100 emails and 100 phone calls, there's bound to be a few that get missed. Please try again, just to be sure.
The best news is that Isis and Diesel have been bred and they are expecting puppies on Sept. 22! Yippee! Yahoo!
Now the waiting game begins to see if she caught or not. It usually takes at least a month to be reasonably sure.
And Isis likes to wait until just a few weeks before she's due to really get big. I think she likes to keep me
guessing as long as possible!
And another chapter begins at GUARDIAN ANGEL SHEPHERDS...
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