I don't know how to talk about this, but I'll do my best to explain...


Before March 7, 2007, Stitch 627 Godzilla, our 3 year-old French Bulldog had gotten really sick. No one knew what was wrong with him, all that we knew is that he wouldn't eat, he wouldn't drink, and he'd cry out in pain when he'd try to walk.

The next morning, he was doing a bit better. He was able to walk around, he even ate some snacks we offered him. Before my mom left for work she checked up on him. He was outside in his bed inside the igloo. He seemed like he didn't want to move, so my mom let him be. And she went to work that morning.

Because it was a Wednesday, Chris and I get out of school at 4:30pm so right after school we drove over to Chris's house and ate a little bit. It seemed like any other Wednesday. Right after eating, I told Chris I was going to stop by my house to check out Stitch. So I said, as usual, a "see you later", nothing more. I drove home casually, no rush, but I was concerned about Stitch.

It was about 5:00pm as I got home, I dropped my stuff off at the door and headed toward the backyard. I called out to Stitch. No answer. I don't hear he coming. I walk around the backyard and search. Quickly, I head to the igloo. Nothing. I call out for him again. I'm beginning to get extremely worried and panicky. I search around and around the backyard. Then I see it, a movement in the corner of my eye. I see Stitch sticking his head out from behind a cooler in the backyard. I rush over to him quickly. I notice right away he is sitting in a really awkward position. He was shaking alot. The look in his eyes was pain. My heart is pounding. "What should I do?! What should I do?!" I'm clueless on what to do about him. He tries to move, but he can't. I see and smell that he urinated on himself. I'm freaking out at this point. I pick him up to move him to an area where I can clean him up. As soon as I pick him up, his back legs go limp. My heart is pounding, I'm freaking out, I start to cry. I immediately go inside the house and grab a phone.  I call my mom. My voice is shaking, I'm crying to my mom over the phone that Stitch is shaking and is not moving his back legs. She tells me she's leaving the office immediately and we'll head over to the hospital. I go to Stitch and try to comfort him. I'm stroking his head and his back. I'm still freaking out. I want to bring him to the vet as soon as possible. I grab the phone again, I call Chris. I tell him what's going on. He tries to calm me down, but I'm just too freaked out and scared for Stitch. I tell him I think I should bring Stitch the vet, and meet my mom and Mike there. He said that sounds like a good idea. So I call back my mom and tell her to meet me at the Almaden VCA vet clinic. I grab Stitch's bed and I put it at the floor of the passenger seat of my car. I pick up Stitch and carry him into my car, onto his bed. We're off. I try to rush as much as I can, but I notice that Stitch cannot grip himself as I drive. As I made turns, he could barely stop himself from tipping over and hitting the door. I slow down, even though all I want to do is get him to the vet as fast as I can.

Finally, we reach the Almaden VCA vet clinic. I’m relieved. I jump out of the car and head to the doors of the clenic. I feel so relieved to have gotten there. I quickly ask the receptionist if it is possible to have an emergency appointment for Stitch. He tells me, “Sorry, I only have one doctor here and she’s completely booked for today. All I can do is recommend you to the emergency vet clinic near Oakridge mall.” I’m in disbelief. I say thanks and leave, when all I wanted to say thanks for nothing. As I get into the car I’m just more frustrated and even more stressed. I’m feeling even sorrier for Stitch because now, he must endure more pain as I drive.

We get to the emergency vet clinic. I rush out again. I ask the receptionist there if it’s possible to see a doctor. She says yes and that I’m lucky that I came right now because they just opened. It’s about 6:00pm. I go get Stitch from the car and bring him in. I sit him down, as I have to fill out some paper work. They sit us in Exam Room #1. This room is all too familiar to me. It’s the exact room, where I watched the doctor put Cubby, our 14 year-old Boston Terrier, to sleep (Rest In Peace, Cubby, I miss you & I love you). Finally, my mom and Mike arrives. Now, we’re just waiting on the doctor.

She comes in. She begins to check Stitch’s vital signs. After all that, she begins to check Stitch’s legs. She has someone come in and help her. They check Stitch’s reflexes. His legs don’t move. I sit quietly just staring. They begin to test his senses of pain in his legs by pinching his toes with some metal tongs. I can see she’s putting a lot of pressure. He makes no whimper, not even a wrinkle in his lips. She shakes her head and says, “Not good. Not good.” She tries his other foot. Same thing.

She tells us the news. Bed news. The cause of Stitch’s legs to be paralyzed can be multiple things from infection or dislocation of the spinal disk. She says that because he feels no pain whatsoever in his legs the chance of him walking again are “poor”. But she says that we can try surgery on him tonight. We can take him over to UC Davis, where they will perform x-rays, and inject dye into his spine to see if it is a dislocation of a spinal disk, and whether it is worth to do surgery on him. The cost of just the x-rays and the injecting dye would be about $2700 without the surgery. If they believe surgery might help the total cost would be $4000 - $5000. She also tells us that, because he feels no pain instead of a 10-20% chance of walking, it’s probably going to be less than a 10% chance of walking for him. With or without the surgery. My mom calls my dad and asks him whether we should take him. He tells her to bring him home. Because of that my mom had to sign a waiver saying that she went again medical advice. They give him a shot for his pain. We go home.

I bring Stitch inside. We all sit downstairs watching Stitch. I put him on top of his bed and pillow. He looks like he’s in a lot of pain still. I sit close to him. I pet him on the head. I look into his sad eyes. I cry because I wish I could have taken him to UC Davis. He might have had a change to walk. I’m sorry Stitch. That’s all I could say to him.

It’s March 10, 2007, three days after the incident. All we can do for Stitch is lay down some blankets and a pillow for him to rest on, and try to make it as comfortable as possible for him b/c he probably stays in that one spot most of the day. Luckily, my dad was off the last couple days, he was able to check on Stitch frequently throughout the day, even let him lay outside. Let him enjoy the beautiful sunshine we’ve been having. We had to buy dog diapers for Stitch because he cannot control his urinating. Fortunately enough, he is able to control his defecating. We give him a lot of dog food/snacks to eat. He eats normally again. I always keep a fresh bowl of water near him and elevate it enough so that he doesn’t have to force his head downwards too much when he needs to drink.

We all did some research on some dog wheelchairs. Finally we decided, which one. At first we didn’t want to buy the ones specially made for the dog because it takes up to 2-3 weeks for them to build. We wanted a wheelchair for him now. But we realized that having a specially made wheelchair for him would probably be easier for him. So that’s what we went with. I wish it would hurry though because to see him there, just in one spot, so immobile, makes me want to cry more. All I want to see his him getting up and walking again. To see good old Stitch as I saw him 4 days earlier. At times, I find myself really angry. Why Stitch? He’s the most kindest, gentlest, sweetest dog. He does not deserve anything like this, at all. He’s done nothing wrong. He’s never bitten anyone or hurt anyone in anyway. He’s just been Stitch, the goofy French Bulldog. I’m sorry, Stitch. You don’t’ deserve this. I’m sorry.

Well, this is what has happened to me the last 3 days. I’m somewhat in disbelief still. But all I want to do now, is make Stitch as comfortable and happy as possible. He’s been on my mind all the time. I’m feeling really down about the situation, but my mom and Chris keep me hoping for the best. And that’s all I can do. I am still hoping for the best. I love Stitch. And he’s always been there to cheer me up. Now it’s my turn to do the best I can to be there for him.