UPDATE 05/19/2010

Stitch is just about back to normal. He has been playing and romping like a typical 2 year old again. We have not asked anything of him except to heal and get his strength back. He is doing just that. We have only concluded that his balance on life was due to an antibiotic reaction and we basically kept him alive through supportive care and treatments. His blood levels have returned to normal, and he is now reaching the point of being put on a diet due to gaining so much weight. Thank you all for your support and well wishes for his complete recovery. LCR is here to do whatever it takes to recover an equine friend in need, and although Stitch's treatments cost us close to $10,000 in total he was worth every penny to see him happy and healthy again. We would not be able to accomplish these things with out the support of so many people like you. Every penny counts. If everyone who viewed this web site would send in $10 (or what they could afford) we would be able to help more animals like Stitch. We have found a home for him when he is released to go through one of his dedicated volunteer supporters. He will be moving in a few months. We want to make sure he is 100% before we put the stress of a move on him.

June 2005: Well, Stitch's testosterone had taken over and although he had only dropped one testicle it was time to geld him. At the age of almost 2 years we feel he was not going to drop the other one so a Cryptorcidectomy was performed by Quakertown Vet. Surgery was text book and successful and he was sent home the very next day. 2 days latter Stitch has a severe reaction the the routine antibiotics he was on. He was on the common SMZ's we use so often. The same which he had been on before. Whatever changed in his system will remain a mystery, but Stitch had to fight for his life due to a reaction he encountered 2 days after surgery. He developed liquid diarrhea and we could watch the very life draining from him. His temperature hit 105 degrees and the diarrhea drained from him threatening his life with dehydration. His PCV hit almost 60, normal is about 35. He was hanging on by a thread. IV fluids and new medicines, pepto to calm his gut were given around the clock for close to 2 weeks. His blood work took a turn for the worse when his TP went below 2. Fluids had to be stopped and a delicate balance between fluids and oral hydration. Stitch's system was shutting down. His body could no longer endure the constant diarrhea and toxins. Critical went to crisis. The vets couldn't believe has was still alive. Stitch lost over 150 pounds and looked like death warmed over. With a lot of encouragement and coaxing we were able to get him to eat and drink. This saved his life. One week after we thought we had a handle of things his temp went back up into the 104s. He was baffling us as to what could be wrong. A new course of meds and treatment started all over again. We are now 2 days without a fever and he is eating "like a horse" again. He has been able to get walked and grazed lightly and shows signs of enthusiasm.

Please send us your wishes and prayers. Donations would be greatly appreciated. Medical expenses have reached into the thousands.

Thank you!!!!!!

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Stitch has been given a clean bill of health and ready to start some preliminary training. Since he is only about a year or so he will not be able to be ridden for some time, but he can start learning ground work. Several volunteers have been working with him and he is a fast learner. Stitch is still a colt and MUST  be gelded before he will be placed.

Placement Fee undetermined and will depend on his age and training at time of placement.

 Disaster With a Happy Ending…

 Stitch came to LCR on August 11^th, 2004. We had a call from a dealer up in the mountains. He said he had an 8 month-old colt that was gored by a bull. The details of the accident were unclear, and still have not been completely sorted out. He said there was some muscle hanging out of his side and we could probably push it back in “Stitch” him up and he’d be fine. He didn’t want to take this task on himself; dealers want to make money, not spend it on vet bills.  At least he called us instead of letting nature take its course.

 He delivered Stitch to Quakertown Veterinary Clinic at about 9:30 pm.  Dr Patrick assessed the situation and announced, “That’s not muscle, that’s momentum (organs connective tissue) and guts”.   This would require surgery to repair the abdominal wall and then stitch up the skin on the outside. This adorable colt was now sedated and laid down on his side to stitch up his wounds. The complications from surgery were likely, but there was nothing else to do.  Stitch had massive internal bleeding in addition to the blunt force trauma sustained by the bull. Dr. Patrick felt he had damage to his diaphragm, spleen, and other organs in addition to the obvious external damage.  Bleeding, both internal and external left Stitch with a PCV (packed cell volume) of 23, where it should be around 35 to 45. Dr. Patrick made an additional incision to be able to clearly see the 2½- inch hole in his abdominal cavity. Although the hole in his side was threatening, his biggest challenge was the possibility of peritonitis. Stitch’s organs and entire internal make up had now been exposed to the outside air and all of the contaminants that go along with it. We could actually hear his lungs and air rushing into his abdomen through the hole. Dr Patrick carefully stitched the hole between two ribs. Miles of absorbable sutures and a million or so stitches later (hence the name) and Stitch was sewn together on the inside and then the outside. First the incision put there by the vet, which was easier due to the straight even edges, then the other jagged hole, which took some skill.

 Surgery was over and it was time for Stitch to wake up. The anesthesia was almost too much for his traumatized little body to handle. This baby was injured, trailered, sedated and now waking in a strange place with strange people. He was a bit overwhelmed. With four of us holding him and steadying him he was able to stand. It was now 3:00 am and we were almost unable to stand. Stitch was settled in for the night and remained at the vets until all the effects of the anesthesia wore off and he was steady enough to make the 20 minute trailer ride home. The vets did all they could do. It was now out of our hands. 

With an IV catheter and a mound of medicines Stitch was on his way to LCR. He was critical with probably less than a 20% chance to live. Each day we made it through with out peritonitis increased his chances. Stitch is still with us today and quite the spunky colt. He has wonderful manners and just a delight to work with and be around. We still need to keep him quiet and under surveillance for setbacks.