My dog, Mei, was hit by a car on Christmas Day. It was horrifying and devastating. My husband and I were visiting my son and daughter in law in Washington, DC when it happened. Mei had her right rear leg amputated on Monday the 28th of December. I brought her back to my son's house and we stayed for two weeks - two of the hardest weeks I've ever experienced. Since my husband had had to fly home to the NW, I was on my own with Mei in terms of her care. Mei's fear of going outside was tremendous. She would scream the way she did when she was hit which sent me into a nervous tailspin. I was afraid of touching her, hurting her, making her scream again. She peed everywhere if I even suggested going outside. Getting a leash or harness on was horrible. I cried a lot.

I called the Tripawd Hot line and spoke with Nancy (I think that's her name - wonderful woman) in Virginia. She was so supportive - thank you Nancy! Everyone I spoke with, every site I checked online told me that my dog WOULD recover, it was just a question of time. I was beside myself - couldn't eat or sleep - and I wasn't in my own home, so the days were very long until my son and his wife got back every night. I was afraid to be go out for too long. Go figure. I am quite sure that my fear was felt by Mei, but I couldn't move on. 10 days after surgery I tried her on the stairs. That was very successful and to my enormous relief she didn't pull out any sutures. We started on short walks. By the time the sutures came out she was walking for 25 minutes - pulling the whole time. Mostly she was enjoying doing doggy things, but once we got back to the house she would be frantic to get to the safety of her bed. 

I had no earthly idea how I was going to fly us home to Seattle. I was petrified she would start screaming at the airport or on the plane. I considered renting a car and driving cross-country. But the day the sutures came out I realized she was ready. We flew home without any issues and she blossomed the minute she saw my husband.

She is 95% back to where she used to be. She jumps into my arms and over low fences. She eats like a horse and walks with me for hours. She runs easily, meets and greets other dogs and even puts puppies four times her size in their place. I'm so proud of her! She has a broken tooth that was overlooked and will need attention this next week. I am nervous about taking her in for more anesthesia - enough's enough! But teeth are relatively minor compared to everything else she's been through and they don't require a cone, thank God.

The purpose of this narrative is to add to the stream of positive success stories for those who are experiencing the anguish of a severely injured or sick pet who has to have a limb amputated. It's true: they actually do get through it. If Mei is an average example, then it is nothing short of amazing just how quickly these gorgeous creatures adapt. I believe that out of every awful situation something good comes if we are looking for it. My husband and I love her on a whole new level. I'm going to start her on agility classes which will be fun for both of us and work on her balance and strength. I'm so grateful she is alive and I am looking forward to many years with her beside me. And she's still gorgeous.