Thank you all so very much. I am so sorry we could not do more. I am very very angry, my heart feels it has been ripped from my chest. My son, Joseph, and and his wife, Theresa, are taking this hard as well. I know what Nellie meant to Joseph.
Nellie had five veterinarians working with her last night, some were there for the surgery others came in to help in recovery. Nellie was cared for by so many. Dr. Shur told me during her last call that Nellie was not in pain, but was fully aware of what was going on around her. She said for a horse that probably never knew a gentle touch was outstanding when they were placing her in the sling. She stated there was nothing but trust in her eyes. She also stated that Nellie did not die in vain, she taught us all what she had wrong with her and to take the steps to help Apple and Jerri, but it is not only helping them. We have networked via our blog to others that have have adopted horses from the same ranch and they have now taken measures in their feeding programs to avoid what our sweet Nellie had endured.
I have also taken the liberty to give her unborn foal a name. I named him/her Lil Angel as he/she was destined to be an Angel from the start and did not even know it.
Nellie endured a five-hour surgery and it is remarkable that she came through. This is why Dr. Shur was so hopeful. She also let me know that we were faced with many other issues if Nellie pulled through. There was a lot of damage done to her intestines due to all the sand she had in her. She actually stated it was like removing concrete. She did state they filled a five gallon bucket of this sand and there was more they had removed including the concrete hard substance. There was going to be some issues with her kidneys and they would have to be careful as to what antibiotics they administered to ensure that no additional damage would occur.
Nellie will be FOREVER in my HEART but she and Lil Angel took a huge part with them. When I spoke with Veronica this morning, she said that Nellie had her own Hotline and she took all the calls that came in from all over the country wishing Nellie well as well as the calls of condolence and to thank the staff of Desert Pine Equine Center...they gave it their all. I want to THANK EACH OF YOU for EVERYTHING. You are prime examples of what BARBARO'S LEGACY is all about. He asked of you to HELP HORSES in NEED to STOP SLAUGHTER.
I have but one request. When you can, please help your favorite rescue or a rescue needing help in saving a horse(s), needing something special for a horse, and when you do.. do it in HONOR OF NELLIE AND LIL ANGEL and for all those who have gone before them. Let us all pray that the PMU industry and SLAUGHTER comes to a STOP.
We must now concentrate on those that need us...our Apple and Jerri are both carrying new life and we must be there for them , as well as all the horses at MHR.
Bless you all and we thank you from the bottoms of our hearts.
Stephanie, Rob, Joseph, Theresa and the entire MHR Famblee
MHR PMU horses
