Text Box: An hour later, Mom was contacted and indeed the hole was still there and the blockage that made Dr. Lawrence think that the hole closed on its own was food particles that build up. Dr. Lawrence said it would be a very simple procedure to close the hole and Mom and I could be back on the road in a couple of hours. So Mom decided to go ahead with the surgery. After about one and one-half hours, Dr. Lawrence came out and told Mom everything went very well and she even closed the hole in my pallet as it came open again. Mom was even allowed to go back into the surgery room so that Dr. Lawrence could show her what she had done for me while I was still asleep. Shortly after, I awoke and it was getting time for us to go and no one wanted to see me go as I stole everyone’s hearts. Oh, when Mom got the bill, she was truly amazed as it was a whole lot cheaper than it would have been at MSU! Mom was so grateful with everything that they did for me that she gave Dr. Lawrence a great big hug and then gave the staff a big hug too! As for me, I jumped on the counter and laid down while the receptionist was trying to check us out! Well, I just wanted to help with the bill!!!!!!! As Dr. Lawrence told Mom, we were on the road by 1:00 and on our way home. I was given a sedative because I kept pawing at my sutures so I slept most of the way home while Mom drove to get us home safely. When we arrived home, Mom got me out of the car, brought me into the house and put me in that same room again!!!!!!!! This time though, she did not put me in the crate as I was still pretty sleepy. She put a baby gate up in the door area and said “Will honey, you need to be here tonight as Dr. Lawrence said you need to be confined for at least twelve hours”. She leaned over and gave me a kiss and gave me a pat on my tummy and said good night. As she left the room I was fast asleep again resting very comfortably. The next morning Mom came in with my breakfast and to check on me. I was so hungry that I gobbled my food up in seconds and she even gave me a little more! Gosh, I really do love Mom, she really takes good care of me! Anyway, Dr. Lawrence instructed Mom to take me back to Dr. Rick one week later to see how my sutures were doing and to just make an overall check up on me so Mom called Dr. Rick and made an appointment for May 10th. Tuesday, May 10th, Dad took me to see Dr. Rick as Mom had to work. Boy, was it good to see him!!!!! I think I am his best patient because he is always so happy to see me, man, am I lucky or what? Anyway Dr. Rick was very pleased with Dr. Lawrence’s surgery and gave me flying colors!!!!! I know you all don’t know how extensive and dramatic my injuries were except only by what I told you. Mom recently received a bunch of pictures of my surgical procedures from Dr. Shores all of which made me a little woozy, but really hit Mom hard as she had really no idea except for the aftermath of when she was allowed to pick me up and take me home. I am attaching one picture to show everyone how terrible these injuries were and also to show you all that if it were not for each and every one of you, I would not be here today!!!!!!! This is a picture taken in March, 2003, during my two and one-half month stay at MSU.

May 13, 2005 Update Continued