"Bitsi has lost her valiant fight."

BITSI UPDATE JULY 24, 2006

It really saddens me to have to tell everyone that at about 2 PM today Bitsi left us for the bridge. Her little body just could not fight any longer. After ten days of constant around the clock care in one of the best hospitals in the world the end result was not as we had hoped. We gave it a valiant effort and spared no expense in her care thanks to Pug lovers all over the world who dug deep into their pockets and helped Bitsi finance a fight she would lose. While Glynna and I only had Bisti for two months she was a huge part of our Pug family and we loved her as much as we love our own. Thanks to everyone for their prayers, emails and monetary contributions. Bitsi may you rest in peace.

BITSI UPDATE JULY 18, 2006

Glynna and I just returned from a quick trip (seven hours) to A&M to check up on Bitsi. We did not like the news we got this morning and liked it even less when we got there. Dr. Dinayak is doing everything she can to keep Bitsi alive. She took a turn for the worse at 2 AM, and nearly left us. Bitsi cannot or will not eat. She cannot swallow, and this is great concern. Bitsi has not eaten in six days and she is getting very weak. Dr. Dinayak wants to insert a tube to feed her, but is afraid she will not wake up from the 15 minute procedure. We all decided she must be fed, so I gave the go ahead to try. If this is successful she will be fed this way, at the cost of $200 per meal. We will have exhausted all of our funds that were donated by this time Thursday night. I cannot give up on this little girl, so I guess we are begging again! It may all be for nothing, but at least we are trying. Bitsi is only three years old and if at all possible we will save her. The doctor and I have already agreed that the minute she starts to suffer, then the fight will be over, but until then PLEASE keep Bitsi in your thoughts and prayers. Check back for other updates as they become available.

BITSI UPDATE JULY 15, 2006

Just got off the phone with our contact at Texas A&M and Bitsi seems to be improving. She is sitting up and is aware of people around her. It also appears that she may be blind and deaf from the seizures. Only time will tell. She is still not eating and she cannot even be considered on the road to recovery until she eats on her own. The doctors say the blindness and deafness may or not be permanent. We will continue to treat her at A&M till they say she can come "home". Check back later for more updates and keep Bitsi in your thoughts.

BITSI UPDATE JULY 13, 2006

As of this morning Bitsi is holding her own but is far from recovery. She is still in ICU and not out of danger. She has some swelling of the brain but the doctors said that is not of concern at this time. This is a very rare case and the doctors at A&M are very interested in the outcome. We have about two to three days left on the original estimate that we were given so this may cost us more than we originally planned. We as a club may have to dig deeper and do a lot more begging and still the outcome is in doubt. If all of you will keep Bitsi in your thoughts and prayers it has to help WE CANNOT LOSE THIS GIRL. I promised her all was going to be OK and I hate not telling the truth. Check back often as I will update as info becomes available.

BITSI UPDATE JULY 10, 2006

Just a quick update to let everyone that is interested what is going on with Bitsi. She saw the vets at Texas A&M this morning, July 10, 2006, and is scheduled to have her shunt surgery tomorrow, July 11, 2006, morning. The vet said prognosis is good but will not know for sure until the surgery begins and the actual shunt is located. This is the beginning of a long process that will take a lot of patience to get Bitsi back to normal. She will be transferred back to our home as soon as she is well enough to travel and she will stay here as long as it takes to make sure she is back to health. The vets at A&M were very impressed with the diet and care that Glynna has given her the last two months. I will post more after her surgery and let everyone know what is happening. Stay tuned.

BITSI UPDATE JUNE 21, 2006

A HUGE THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Because of Pug Lovers all over the world we have reached our goal for Bitsi's surgery. Every $5-$1000 donation was received and Bitsi is turning flips over the love she has been showered with. We have read stories on-line about Pug people pulling together and saving a particular Pug but I never dreamed it would happen to one in our care. Bitsi's surgery has been scheduled at Texas A&M the first part of July. I will continue to post her progress. We are told each particular dog that has this surgery needs different kinds of aftercare so the few donations that came in over our goal will go to pay for that. Any other monies left over will be spent on other Pugs that come into our care. We are getting about 8-10 a week and our vet bills are enormous. So again with all of our hearts we thanks each and every one of you that either sent cash or said a prayer. Check back later for updates on Bitsi's progress.

BITSI UPDATE JUNE 19, 2006

Because of the generous support of Pug lovers all over the world we are over half way to the needed amount for Bitsi to have her surgery. We are so confident that the donations will continue we are scheduling her surgery at Texas A&M at the first available date. I have always said there is nothing in this world like Pug People and this outpouring of generosity is the proof. We will keep everyone posted on Bitsi and her surgery as it happens.

Thanks from Bitsi to all of you.
Tim & Glynna (Bitsi's foster parents)

Challenge to all pug lovers!

This is Denise Ruhl from the Austin Pug Club. I gave $100 on the 1st and said to give it to the pug that needs it the most. I hope it went to Bitsi. I'm giving $200 for Bitsi. Also, I will donate $5 for the first 100 people that make a donation for Bitsi from this day onward. I'll say a prayer for Bitsi. Thank You, Denise and Kim Ruhl

EMERGENCY HELP NEEDED NOW!!

OK Pug People if I have to beg then I will. Bitsi has been on our Web page for about a month now and if she is going to live then she MUST have surgery to correct her liver shunt. This is a surgery that is beyond what our regular vets can do so any and all discounts we get will not apply. We are told the surgery will be between $2500-$3000. A hit like that will devastate DFWPRC and we will not be able to continue to rescue other Pugs in need. Bitsi has been in our home and is currently taking medication that helps her appear to be normal but we are now starting to see a crack in that procedure. Our rescue vet says the medication will only help for a short period and the eventual out come will not be pretty. In other words Bitsi is DYING right in front of us. Now the begging part. If there are any of you that can send any amount all of it will be applied to Bitsi. Five hundred people send just $5 each and we are there. Please help us help Bitsi any amount you can spare will be appreciated very much. Thanks in advance from all of here at DFWPR and THANKS from Bitsi.

SPECIAL NEEDS PUG NEEDS HELP

Hello everyone my name is Bitsi and I need a lot of help. I am only 2 and 1/2 years old and I have been diagnosed with a liver shunt. I belonged to a military family that could no longer care for me so i was given to DFWPRC. I am in a very loving foster home now with lots of other Pugs to play with. I do not feel ill or show any side effects so I am not sure what is going on. I saw a nice doctor on Friday that used a funny machine (ultra sound) to take pictures of my liver. They said that by Tuesday they would know what type of shunt that I have. They are all praying it is of the external variety so I will have a chance at a very expensive surgery so I can live to be an old Pug. If it is internal then how long I have on this Pugy earth is a huge question some say a year others say 5 or 6 years it is anyones guess. Reguardless of the type my treatment is going to cost a love of money. I know a lot of you give money all the time but if any of you can reach down and give a little more so I might have a chance at a semi normal life I would be very grateful. I know my chances of being adopted are slim but my foster mama said she would care for me. I love to play fetch and go for walks. Today I am just a normal Pug doing puggy things. Please help me be able to continue. have a blessed day.

Bitsi.

Update May 26, 2006

We have done about all the test that we can on Bitsi and the outlook is fuzzy. The results of her ultra sound did not show a shunt but the next test a bile acids test did. Dr Gumfory has conferred with a specialist and she told him that 90% of the shunts in Pugs are of the external variety and rarely show up on the test. This can be corrected by a surgery that will cost between $2100 & $2500. She would also have to have one other test done before surgery that runs about $400. If we choose to not do the surgery and just continue with medicine therapy then the specialist said she could live 1-4 years but would eventually give into the disease. Right now she is just a normal Pug girl who loves walks, fetch and oh yes EATING. We are open to suggestions from all you pug people. Either email the website or call the hotline @ 817-481-2004. Bitsi says thanks to everyone who has asked about her this past week.