I am Walter and this is my World.

I am Walter and this is my World.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

A Stimulating New Year!

Happy New Year everybody. 2010 has a rather auspicious ring to it, doesn't it? like this is already and important year. If 2009 taught me anything, (and lets face it, I got more lessons than a Rodeo Clown gets from a bull) I learned that life happens whether you're ready or not. It's also short (but sometimes feels long) and filled with beauty (as well as ugliness.) The most important thing is what you FOCUS on. The beauty vs. the ugly, the luck vs. the accidents.

The most amazing part of 2009 was the grace we were shown after Walter's accident. By people, by medical technology, by prayer.

Todays grace comes by way of electrodes and acupuncture. Yes! We have been waiting for this day for a long time. Walter's nerves and muscles had to get strong enough to even handle electro-stim and acupuncture needles. These hopefully help his nerves grow. Nerves, I've learned grow verrrrrrry slowly. We STILL believe walter will walk again. I know sometimes when he's putting on his shoe he flinches, and more than he used to, like maybe I'm pressing on something he can feel.

He really liked acupuncture. he didn't like sitting still, but the vet popped a "happy place" needle in his forehead and he went all melty ga-ga (for anyone unfamiliar with acupuncture, the "needles" are so fine, you can't feel them, so while these pictures make it look like we're doing something akin to medical experimentation to wally, he was actually conking out on my lap.)After the needles are placed they are hooked up to electric wires and receive a very (very) low vibration. It's like someone ringing a doorbell on wally's nerves and saying "Hello? HELLO?" We hope this will greatly improve Walters nerve growth! If you have any prayer time to spare, please pray for that nerve to grow!

The other good news is I think I found a place to stay down south. we are praying PRAYING we can work it out.

We all have the power to give away love to other people. And if we do so, we change the kind of person we are, and we change the kind of world we live in.
- Harold Kushner

You have to pick the places you don't walk away from.
- Joan Didion

24 comments:

Salinger The Pug said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Just say the word and you'll have the guest room for as long as you need it here at TheLazyK!!!!

We're so glad to hear that Walter's nerve doorbells are being ding-donged! We can't wait for continued good news!

Love,
Laura (Salinger's mom)

Stubby said...

Hi Heather & Walter! I'm so excited about Walter's new treatments. I'm keeping my paws crossed that his nerves will grow and grow strong.

I can't believe you guys are going to Marathon. Mom told me to tell you guys that you have to visit the Turtle Hospital while you are down there. She said it's a pretty amazing place and that you will find inspiration in the little miracles that happen there.

I live in a suburb north of Chicago so you are headed straight my way! You guys can stay here as long as you want. I'll even get Dad to get us some Popeyes.

Stubby xoxo

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Hi Walter and Heather
Thank you for the wonderful surprise of us getting to see your little faces. And the update is wonderful. Let the show begin with the electrodes! Grow nerves grow!

Be care ful as you travel on your journey- i hope you get to meet pugs and people, and hope you find a great new home
love
tweedles

Smushie Ranch said...

Happy New Year!

We're praying all the time for Walter. Acupuncture is great and we hope it works for Walter.

And oooohhh, the Keys are so nice. I hope it works out for you two.

Shannon,
Stella, Gunther and Betty's mom

agent99 said...

Uhm, we were kinda wondering if Walter was gonna eat that skeleton in the picture? Cause it seems like a bad idea. Just saying.
Momma has been to the place called Florida Keys where Marathon is and she says two things: GOOD IDEA...and please stop in Chicago on your way!
Sending healing nerve vibes up north!

Love
Gen & Fuji

Brutus, Ellie, Pippa and Otto said...

I am happy to hear that Wally is doing good and have heard good things about acupuncture in dogs. I am sure that his nerves will grow back and he will be better than ever - Super Wally :)

I am in Indianapolis and you and Wally can crash at our house for as long as you need to on your trip to Marathon.

Pugs & Kisses,

Cindy (Yoda & Brutus's Mom

BRUTUS said...

Walter - were you so zonked out that you didn't notice that scary skeleton creeping up on you in the background??? Oh my..... It creeped me out from here!!
Not sure if Ohio is a direct route to Fla from here, but if you and Wally want to take in the lovely (wink, wink) shores of Lake Erie, tell us when you'll be coming through. Love to meet the miracle pug (although mom says i might have to be tranquilized as to not want to chase & play with you...). Plenty of room here :)

Michelle & Brutus

Page said...

awwww, i hope his nerves start to respond!! it's so amazing to me how well acupuncture works! we're here in panama city, fl, so if you need a place to stay on the way just let us know!! my hubby actually has family in marathon and it's about an 11 hour drive from pc to there. winston and sela would love to meet wally ;)

Harry Pugalicious said...

We highly recommend the Lazy K and then it's a straight shot down I-65 from Indy to Birmingham! We would love to meet Mr. Walter Fancy-Pants Pug McGee - and you! We have a guest room waiting for you :-)

We also recommend a great little hole in the wall restaurant on Grassy Key (or just before it) that has amazing dolphin burgers (the fish, not Flipper).

Note to Walter's nerves: "Grow, little nerves, grow!"

The Devil Dog said...

New Hampshire is on the way. (Okay, so it's on the LONG way.) But we'd still love to see you. And we'd even give you a bed!

Roxy

Sandra y Coco Pug said...

Hi Walter and Heather!
First, what's more important:
GROW NERVE!!!
Second, I am glad Wally is trying new forms to improve. You are a great pug-momma!
Third, we live 1 mile away from the turnpike, about 92 miles (2 hrs) north of Marathon. Let me know if you need to stop here on your way south, or anytime you need to stay here in Miami! Since we live that far south, we frequently go to the keys, Coco loves the beach there. Maybe we could plan a play date for the puggies while you are staying here? (Don't worry, Coco doesn't run/chase/play much, he mostly sniffs and enjoys the moment!)
Kisses for Mr Wally!
Sandra

Anonymous said...

Happy New year!!!

oh wow, that is so neat! I didn't know you could do electric acupunture.

I have heard that when nerve's are growing back it tends to feel like pins and needles.. so maybe that is why Walter is flinching? If so.. that is awesome! (except for the pins and needles part, they suck lol)

I hope your plans work out, i am looking forward to wally on the beach :)

Emily said...

Walter you are in our prayers!! Heather if you guys make it to Oklahoma, you can stay with us. It inspired Steinbeck and Ferber, so it can't be that bad!

Archie and Melissa said...

hi heather and wlater!
oh how exciting! that acupuncture looks divinely relaxing! wally is such a lucky puggy!

your move to florida looks wonderful! it will be so tropical and warm!

i wish we lived on your route down.

xoxoxo
m & e

Priscilla said...

Happy New Year!!

We'll sure be praying for those nerves to heal up. Yes they take a long long ever so long time to heal.

Wish we were on the way, I've got an extra room you could crash in.

Sequoia & Petunia & Emma said...

Oh Walter looked so comfy getting his acupucture. Grow little nerves!

We know there are many ways to get to the warm FL, but we have an extra bed if you two come through Virginia Beach. And I am sure the girls would love to see Walter!

Just let us know!

Jenn Sequoia and Tuni

rrgal said...

We are here in Jackson, TN and would be happy for you two to stay with us! Let us know if we are on your route!!! mjbormann@hotmail.com

Marci & Lola, Bella & Hank the pugs.

Jennifer Sneed said...

Hi Wally and Heather,

So mom tells me about your nerves getting stimulated, and boy oh boy that looks like serious business, well lets face it...it is serious business to get you back to puggie 100%. Mom and I are praying and praying hard for you, you have come this far we both know you can do it. And as far as a couch, we have one of those and a blow up mattress so if you want to stop through Columbia, SC...we are here with our puggie arms open and OMG how special it would be to meet you both, the miracle pug at my very own house...so exciting. Just let us know, we are here. Moms email is jenniferann.sneed@gmail.com and my email is maxwellsneed@gmail.com.
Lots of love to you both!!!!
Jen and Maxwell

Unknown said...

THANK YOU everybody! We are making our plans, which have been slowed a bit by walters foot, which has a pretty bad sore spot on it. We want it to close completely before we travel, but we will contact any and all we can visit and anyone we miss, don't forget about the WALTER TAKES THE WORLD tour! coming this summer to a pug near you!

KeysEric said...

Heather,

It's so ironic to have met you when you were here... we had come across Walter's blog sometime ago via Shelbey's (winnie wong) blog and his story brought us to tears.

I told Steve to let you know that MTH Animal Hosp. (Dr. Doug Nader) does to accupuncture!! I'm not sure about the nerve stimuli.

Louie (the 11yr old Pug), John and I can't wait to meet Walter and have him/you for our neighbor (even if its temporary)

My mom, her husband and Twister (2yr old pug) will be in town on the 19th for a few days, I hope you're here by then... and eventually you'll get to meet Ocean (3yr old pug on "the Causeway"

We are all willing to help with Walter any way we can... we have a real close knit neighborhood just waiting to welcome you "home".

Unknown said...

awesome news! Here's to a great 2010 full of healing, and new adventures, and lessons learned in less traumatic ways! Well, depending on the route you take, if eastern Virginia is on your way - please come and stay with us! We'd be happy to have you and Wally stay with us.
And when you get to Miami you can be best buddies with Coco and Sandra!! How exciting! Keep us updated!

Pug(s) and Bugg said...

We are in Indianapolis too, but our 800 sq foot house that's chock full of wedding stuff won't compare at all to TheLazyK :) HOWEVER if you stop at Salinger's overnight we would LOVE to come visit and spoil Walter and give him tons of pets. I'm just praying it's not during my bachelorette weekend or wedding/honeymoon... my fingers are crossed that I'll get to meet you guys!

Wilma said...

Hi Walter,
My Mom and I just stumbled upon your blog. You are one amazing pug and you have an awesome Mom who is helping you get well. I wanted to give you some encouragement about accupuncture. I have been going since I was about three. I have a subluxating patella and I was barely able to use my left hind leg. The vet reccomended surgery, but Mom and Dad found out about a holistic vet that does accupuncture and chiropractic. With treatment and some chinese herbs and supplements, I no longer have the problem. I haven't even limped inlike 6 years. So have faith, I know this will hhelp you. Also, ask your accupuncturist if they can apply a pin to your happy thoughts spot. It's right in the middle of your forehead wrinkles. It always helps me to chill out. Best of luck to you Walter, we will be sending healing vibes out to you.

MJ said...

That's so wonderful Walter about your nerves starting to feel. And I totally know about the happy place needle. Mys sister Delilah has been doing acupuncture for 6 months now and she loves it. She comes home after a visit and sleeps so soundly and then she is quite a bit more spry for about 6 weeks or so before she goes back. Usually she is pretty mellow about it all but sometimes she gets feisty and that's when they do the happy place needle...oh, and one time, she was kind of congested and they put in one that stays for like 3 days and she wasn't sniffly or snorty at all for like 2 weeks.

Hope you are doing well and I am excited to hear about you moving south. Mother is a total Parrothead so perhaps she can bring me to meet you sometime when she goes to key west.

Take care.

~Wilbur