This
is Carrie Dann. One of the Fish Creek mares saved from starvation in July 2003.
Carrie's left hind leg suffered a terrible injury prior to our Fish Creek
rescue. Carrie probably got tangled in some barbed wire and stripped her leg
completely of it's hide and tissues. The result of not having any medical
treatment is what you see. Proud flesh grown out of control and infection
working into her bone. Surgery was needed to save her life, not just her leg.
Since Carrie Dann was still wild upon arriving at the Lifesavers Ranch, she had
to be gentled very quickly in order to prepare her for a long trip to Alamo
Pintado Equine Hospital. Carrie needed to be halter trained, trailer trained
and gentle enough to allow us and others to doctor her leg. It was an amazing
feat accomplished by our own Angi Keitel who developed a bond with Carrie Dann
built on kindness and trust. Here Carrie Dann is resting in the corral at the
hospital awaiting surgery.
Because Carrie Dann was not used to the sights and sounds of such a busy vet
hospital, Dr. Rick, Carrie's surgeon, felt it would be safer to give Carrie her
sedative on the natural green lawn. Once asleep Carrie was hoisted by a
tractor and transported to a guerney which would then move her into the surgery
room. Dr. Rick and assistant are seen here supporting Carrie's head and tail
while the tractor gently floated her to another location.
The tractor softly landed Carrie Dann on to a padded cart or guerney so she
could be wheeled into the surgery room. Carrie is sound asleep at this point
and was not aware her ride using this unique mode of transportation.
Once in the surgery room, Carrie is prepped for surgery and Dr. Rick begins
cutting away the old proud flesh near to the bone. The objective was to strip
away all the bad tissue and basically start the healing process over with proper
medications and treatments in hopes of healthy tissue regrowth and avoidance of
infections.
Surgery complete, Carrie is again hoisted up and moved by a crane built into the
ceiling of the surgery room to a padded recovery room where she could wake up
slowly and safely.
Dr. Rick was very satisfied with the outcome of Carrie's surgery. She was
allowed to heal naturally for a few weeks until phase two of her program
begins. As you can see, Carrie Dann's leg is looking more like a normal horse's
leg just a couple of weeks following surgery.
Here you see Carrie chatting with a friend while during her extended hospital
stay. Carrie will remain at Alamo Pintado pending phase two - skin grafting.
I would like to thank all of our precious donors who made Carrie Dann's costly and complicated surgery possible. Lifesavers' supporters saved her life not just once, but twice!