Alayne took this photo of Brynn and me right after we arrived back at the ranch this evening. I didn't have my camera with me this morning when Brynn was discharged from the veterinary teaching hospital at WSU, but we had both surgeons, the senior vet tech, and the 4th-year vet student on hand to send her off. The surgeons are cautiously optimistic that this surgery will work and finally clear up her urinary leaking problem, but only time will tell. (I did ask whether Brynn came with a 100,000 mile warranty for this operation.)
Part of the problem is that even in her vaginal vault, where the surgeons constructed the urethral extension, her body structures aren't quite normal. That presents challenges in building the urethral extension, which is made from her own body tissue.
Her echocardiogram showed no further changes in her heart, which indicates she probably did not have a heart infection after all. Instead, it means her heart valves are, like much of the rest of her, malformed, too. But on the positive side, even though she had grown considerably since her last echocardiogram, those valves had not changed in shape or condition, so her heart is not actually getting worse. (Hey, I'll take good news wherever I can find it!)
Brynn turned one year-old last month, proving that this little filly continues to defy the odds.
And, like me, she was glad to be home!
(Click on photo for larger image.)
So glad to see Brynn at home! Yes, only time will tell. She's a beautiful girl. Hope all goes well with her.
Posted by: karen | July 11, 2007 at 05:14 PM
GOOD NEWS. Welcome home.
Posted by: Karen | July 11, 2007 at 09:45 AM
This is a happy shot! It's so good to see Brynn back at the ranch!
Can you give her a belated birthday carrot for me?
Best wishes and high hopes that her next year of life is lived in good health with few vet visits.
Posted by: Boundforglory | July 11, 2007 at 09:27 AM
A warm welcome home to Steve & Brynn!
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Brynn's latest (& hopefully last) surgery will turn out to be more successful than the previous one.
God bless you all.
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | July 11, 2007 at 03:33 AM
Welcome Home Brynn! I hope everything goes well this time around and you get to enjoy the lovely Montana summer and roll around in the grass like Scout!!
Posted by: Mariko | July 11, 2007 at 03:18 AM
Is it just me or has she grown considerably lately?
Keeping my fingers crossed that the surgery did the trick this time.
Posted by: Noor from the Netherlands | July 11, 2007 at 02:44 AM
As Dorothy says, "There is no place like home." It makes my heart happy that Brynn has RDR!
Posted by: Shirley & James | July 10, 2007 at 11:49 PM
WELCOME HOME BRYNN!!
Happy belated birthday! What a beautiful girl you are!! I hope you continue to thrive I'm keeping you as well as everyone at RDR in my thoughts and prayers
Posted by: Beverly | July 10, 2007 at 10:56 PM