Prayers for a Special Pug

Please be praying for Baby Girl over the weekend and especially on Monday. Baby Girl is a very special little pug that my friend Jana has been fostering for SEPRA after accepting her as an owner surrender. The owners mentioned that she had asthma when they handed her over, but Jana soon discovered that Baby Girl's health issues were much worse than that. Baby Girl had the worst teeth that the vet had ever seen, but thankfully made it through her dental like the trooper that she is. The vet also found that Baby Girl had a collapsing trachea. Jana had to take Baby Girl to the University of TN Knoxville small animal clinic for this condition and they were seen today for a scope procedure. During the scope they found that Baby Girl has not only a collapsed trachea but also collapsed bronchial tubes, as well as some pneumonia. She is going to remain as an "in-patient" in Knoxville over the weekend and on Monday she will be having a stint placed in her trachea, her pallet shortened, and her nostrils enlarged in hopes of making breathing easier for this sweet pug. This is a very serious procedure, especially for an older, smaller pug like Baby Girl. I received an update e-mail from Jana this afternoon that really touched my heart. Here is an excerpt from that e-mail:

...I am crying now as I write this. I am crying out of gratitude that I don't have to go through this alone. There are people from all across the country and all walks of life who are praying for Baby Girl. I am crying because I can't imagine a world without SEPRA who accepts all pugs regardless of their medical conditions. I am at complete peace with taking BG to UT; I and everyone else who supports pug rescue and who is a dog lover can rest a little easier knowing that everything is being done to help her condition. I am mostly upset because I have realized the magnitude of her collapse, and can't believe that she has lived as long as she has in this condition. How horrible it must be to struggle for each breath and not get enough oxygen to your brain, organs, and body. But in all of this, Baby Girl was her adorable little self this morning and rolled over to demand a belly rub before we left the hotel for UT.

Jana truly is one of the great unsung hero's of pug rescue. I have met her on transports numerous times and no matter what she has going on in her life she always makes time for pug rescue. Please please keep Jana and Baby Girl in your thoughts and prayers over the next few days as they are critical. I will update on Monday or Tuesday when I know something more.