Oh, Pimmy

Sunday, August 25, 2024

My journey with Pimmy has been an intense learning experience, pushing me to grow and adapt rapidly. I had no idea her liver might be failing, nor the seriousness of that happening. Today will be her third day hooked up to an IV, which provides a steady supply of glucose to stimulate her bodily functions, which aren’t bouncing back enough. Yesterday, I visited and saw that she was listless and disinterested in eating.

Late in the afternoon, there was one breakthrough. Pimmy pooped! Just a little, but her caretakers had hoped that would happen. While her gut sounds aren’t strong enough, that gut has produced a tangible sign that it’s working, some at least.

This photo shows Pimmy’s shaved body areas to facilitate hearing her gut sounds.

An attending doctor will call with an update in an hour or so. A doctor briefing me yesterday said that a failing liver can “bounce back.” Today, I hope to hear about new signs of Pimmy’s liver reviving.

Dear Friends: Donkeys blend charm and resilience with surprising vulnerability. Diana