Monday, August 22, 2011

Walking With Sunshine


"Now what?"
 Watching this one year old and hearing her story makes the heart want to sing, “I’m walking with Sunshine…” Bulldogs already risk potential health challenges but this little girl seemed to be cursed with more than her fair share. Sunshine’s first few weeks of life hold a dark history, but things began to turn around the minute Betty met her and saw a gentle, worthy soul, behind those physical handicaps.



"For me?"
 Life was not easy for Sunshine even then. After months of intervention and several surgeries Sunshine was still unable to walk more than a few painful feet at a time. Most would have understood had Betty chosen to stop there. Some might even have considered it merciful to end Sunshine’s ‘suffering’. Something told Betty to keep trying, however, and that is where Circle City’s Veterinary Specialists come in. Kate Fitzwater, DVM, MS, DACVS, and Bobby Werbe, CCRP, began seeing Sunshine.  Determining that Sunshine would most likely be unable to walk any distance without assistance, they custom fit a wheelchair just for her!


"Look at me now!"
 The old saying, “Pictures are worth a thousand words”, rings true here. Look closely. Sunshine’s expression before her fitting clearly shows anxiety and hesitation, perfectly understandable after all she has been through. Once fitted comfortably in her wheelchair, however, her demeanor changes.  In the video below watch Sunshine experience what it is like to really walk for the first time in her life!
As of the publishing of this blog, Sunshine is active and happy, and can even walk longer distances without her wheelchair. 

 ”…oh yeah, and don’t it feel good!”