Here we are... the morning of June 27th, surgery day for Betty.
It is hard to process all that has happened on behalf of Betty in the last two months, the ingenuity and effort displayed by her medical team, the connections made between her and so many different people, and the other relationships formed along the way.
I cannot begin to express my gratitude and amazement at the generosity I have seen and the deep devotion and love of animals that is the common thread through it all. And this is all prior to surgery!
First and foremost, I need to express my amazement and deep appreciation for Lauren's commitment to Betty. Betty could NOT have made it to this point without her love and care. This was way more than your typical dog-sitting adventure. Sure she got snuggles and could soak up some sweet puppy energy, but the tube-feeding regimen is not for the faint of heart. Syringe after syringe, 3-4 times per day, all to help Betty build her strength and heal from her aspiration pneumonia. More than that, I fully believe Lauren nurtured Betty's spirit, allowing her innate sense of joy to stay strong through the turbulence of her medical reality.
Second, to Dr. Peter Belafsky and his wife Angela, thank you for supporting Betty (and us) in pursuing this treatment plan. Without Dr. Belafsky, a Professor of Otolaryngology at UC Davis School of Medicine (that's right, a human doctor!), this surgery wouldn't be possible. It is his team that is pivotal in providing the expertise to make the laryngectomy and myectomy happen. More than, that it is remarkable to witness the combined generosity and warmth that both he and his wife offer their animals and those of others. They truly have gone above and beyond - hosting Betty for several days pre-operatively to introduce her to their dogs and get into a rhythm of her feeding tube care, to then help us care for Betty in the most immediate post-operative, post-hospital period (keeping an eye on her surgical drains and tracheostomy site).
Dr. Belafsky also introduced Betty to a particularly meaningful community last Thursday. She joined a group of UC Davis ENT Clinic staff, providers, and laryngectomy patients for a happy hour at the UC Davis Medical Center as a part of dysphagia awareness month. There, she got to visit with post-laryngectomy patietns, meet most of her surgical team, and share some of that quintessential Betty joy.
I also had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Bean's owner by phone and here about her journey and theirs with her. In addition to discussing some of the caregiving logistics, the quirks and bumps in the road, it was most meaningful to me to hear that their family has no regrets about all they went through for Bean. Her buoyant spirit still thrived after surgery and she had a good life for many years. I hold her words close to my heart as we forge ahead.
Lastly, many, many thanks to Drs. Tarini Ullal and Stanley Marks at UC Davis Veterinary School of Medicine for their tireless efforts in caring for Betty. I know that many hours were spent delving into the details of her case, problem-solving, collaborating with other experts in the field, and more than that, I trust that on the other side of all of the academic inquiry and curiosity is an earnest desire to do what is best for Betty.
Betty spent her most-immediate pre-surgery days running through the Belafsky's yard, doing somersaults while playing with their dogs Duke and Charlie, passing out like a sack of potatoes on their floor and sneaking in many snuggles. She also had the opportunity to channel her guardian angel, Bean, wearing a Team Bean t-shirt to soak up all the good juju possible.
Today, she had a VIP chauffeur - Dr. Ullal - her dedicated veterinary GI fellow who has been caring for her from the very beginning of her UC Davis journey.
My heart is with her today! A new chapter is about to begin. (more pics to be added later so stay tuned)
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