Unfortunately our little girl lost her battle today.
Below is the last journal entry for today and a special poem about her. If you would like to make a donation to our emergency vet care fund to help the next needy pug, please send contribution to:

Karen Powers
14 Pine Ridge Circle
Lyndonville, VT 05851
Thanks for your support through this- we are all grieving at GMPR.

Sept 3, 2002
Folks, Sad, sad news. Hazel died at 10:30 this a.m. Her condition had deteriorated dramatically in the past 18 hours and she was bleeding internally, we think, from all of the outward signs. I called in to work to say I wouldn't be in as I knew what was happening. Joe and I are devastated to say the least...her little presence will greatly be missed by all of us who knew her...in body and in spirit. What a wonderful little girl-child. Surely she is now in a place with no more suffering and pain. Hugs, Joe and Jackie

In Memory of Hazel

By Jennifer Leigh Goldberg

She came here on a summer day
And leapt into our hearts
With her hopeful face
And endless grace
A friendship was to start
She was loved
She was liked
And her spirit brought us cheer
We hoped and prayed that Hazel
Would be forever here
But one heartbreaking morning
Hazel flew away
But we all know she's watching
And her memory is here to stay

HAZEL HAZEL FUND INFO!!!
We have started a Hazel Hazel Memorial Fund for seriously ill pugs and life threatening problems. If you would like to donate to this cause, please send your contribution to:
Karen Powers
14 Pine Ridge Circle
Lyndonville, VT 05851
or email vtpugs@charter.net.

Sept 1, 2002 3:55 p.m.
Hi Again, a reasonably good first day home for all of us. We're getting into a routine and finding out what pleases the girl and what doesn't.
Kelley stopped by for a visit and actually lulled H.H. into a nice sleep that she badly needed. Seems that she really gets wound up with her "paddling" and cannot stop...almost a frenzied sort of activity. Phenobarb? Probably.
Focused on lots of liquids today and cooked up a batch of food that could be taken through a syringe...also have her on energel, per Kelley's suggestion to take the place of her daily Peppy Tabs. Needs to be built up, for sure. Feeding her is the biggest challenge and the most important aspect of her getting well....she is so thin and shaky and sometimes listless. Sure that her energy level will improve with heightened good nutrition. Working her little butt right off with the exercises, standing, massaging, etc. We are doing okay even tho no progress can be seen yet....Joe will have her alone tomorrow....they get along wonderfully well together and he will give her great care while I work. I don't worry at all.
Thank you for all of your phone calls, your emails and concerns and suggestions and support. Jackie, Joe and Hazel Hazel

Sept 1, 2002
Hi folks, the past four days have been unbelievably tiring and no sleep last night to boot.
Got to Amhurst and we think Hazel Hazel recognizes us....she began her crowing and hasn't stopped since! All night long this went on....through phenobarb and the valium!
The medicals told us that her behavior perked up fantastically well and so that made the whole effort worthwhile. We worked with her about 3 hours in the a.m. and 3 hours in the p.m. On the first day she was beginning to hold her head up for a second or two and now she does that quite well for much longer periods. She can also roll over now....of course, she cannot stand or walk, cannot go to the bathroom on her own, cannot eat on her own. She can CROW THO! We have a lot of hard work ahead of us and that includes Hazel Hazel. She is VERY skinny....breaks my heart to see her that way....our goal is to get three small jars of baby food into her daily...plus 8-10 oz of water all by syringe. Time consuming, messy and she hates it.
She is swallowing quite well now tho and we may be able to progress to something a little bit more palatable for her...in fact, I'm going to cook for her today and puree it....I think she will like it better. No red meat, just chicken.
She's still on the antibiotics for her pneumonia and of course, the phenobarb.
When we go to work she will have to stay at the vets at ARK....the Drs. Schunk and Dr. Solow have been in contact....she will need someone to feed her mid-day and to stimulate her and exercise her and then, of course, we take over at 3 p.m.
She has to return for another evaluation on Thursday....luckilily, I was able to switch a day with another nurse. Joe will work Friday as well to make up for the lost time. That is a mighty loooooonnnnngggggg trip to Amhurst.
The nights are going to be a major problem if she doesn't settle
down....I slept for two hours last night and Joe got about the same but I let him sleep in this a.m. Cannot bring her to bed....we tried that
and she "paddles" all night with her front feet...constantly in motion.
Right now she is sleeping and that's why I have a few minutes! Won't last long. Now I know why God doesn't allow older folks to have babies!!!!!
Take care, all of you....glad to be back home, I think. Jackie and Joe

8/29/2002
jackie and joe went to see hazel today, she can't walk, she is only eating little bits. Jackie, thinks that hazel knows her, though she is blind and very skinny, please pray for hazel, she needs good vibs now more than ever!

8/27/02 update
Well, folks, a day of surprises....some good and some not but mostly positive. This a.m.'s report told us that H.H. was lifting her own head and there was some movement in her hind legs. YIPPEE! No more seizures and the phenobarb is being reduced slowly. But, the docs had her on antibiotics because she had an elevated temp and thought there might be a pneumonia developing.
This p.m.s report said that the fever had been reduced to normal temp.,she took two sips of water by herself and a spoonful of baby food. She also showed some awareness of her surroundings....she is being followed by the female Dr. Schunk only now, not the neurologist. He has recommended that she be weaned off the phenobarb totally and then restarted at a very low maintenance dose for the rest of her life.
In fact, it was recommended, strongly that we make the trip down there for a visit and to stimulate Hazel Hazel, talk with her, pet her, etc.
So, Joe and I made arrangements to take time off from our jobs and we are to make plans to spend two overnights in Amhurst to be close to her. Then, on the second report that Kelley got, the vet is saying that there is the slightest of outside possibilities that Hazel hazel may come home with us this weekend if all goes well and if she can continue to show progress. I will call tomorrow a.m. to see what our best plan of action will be. We are ready to travel and to do what we have to do to get her moving and crowing at us once again!!!!!!!!
Unfortunately, Hazel Hazel is now blind. This sometimes clears in a few weeks and sometimes it doesn't. We'll have to wait and see...pardon the pun. I know we can give her a quality life even without her sight.
So, we've been riding that same roller coaster but it seems to have slowed down some...thank heavens. I really feel that we are making huge strides towards wellness for the girl.
Thanks again for your interest, support and prayers. Jackie and Joe

If anyone wants to see the journal entries prior to the surgery - email me and I can get them to you.  :)  vtpugs@charter.net 

Jackie and Kelley with Hazel coming home.

Dr. Schunk and Hazel

Joe and Hazel- watermelon break :)