Part 16 (2/2)
”Thanks to you and Susan. I wouldn't have had a clue if you both hadn't advised me,” Abby said. ”Can I help here?”
”Sure. Grab a couple vet techs and tell them we're ready to get started with these little weenies. I'm not a neurosurgeon, but I do know that the first thing we need to do is make sure that deep pain doesn't set in, or these little guys will never walk again.”
As soon as the MRIs were completed and the results in, Dr. Wright started a decompression treatment that would slow any further damage to the spinal cord until Dr. Carnes arrived to perform surgery.
Dr. Wright spoke as he worked. ”I can't wait to meet her. I read on her Web site that she recently performed brain surgery on a baby panther at her hospital in Naples. I have been on Alligator Alley and have actually seen all the wildlife on and near the road. It's no wonder so many of them meet up with cars and human intrusions.”
”She should be arriving soon. Dr. Becker is on his way to the airport now,” Abby said, glancing at her watch, surprised at how fast the time had pa.s.sed.
”I just think it's wonderful what you and Chris are doing here. I pray for your success, as animals have no greater allies than those humans willing to give of themselves. I know it cost a small fortune to equip this facility.”
”We have a lot of private donors. My mother, for starters. Then, of course, my three G.o.dmothers all chipped in. Funding isn't going to be an issue, at least not yet.”
Abby thought of her days at The Informer, her little ranch house in Brentwood. All of that could be sold, the funds put into 3Ds. And, of course, she couldn't forget the little one. She and Chris would set aside money for the baby, his or her education. No, as bad as the economy was, funding wasn't a problem at this stage.
”Well, you know Susan and I will do all that we can, free, gratis.”
”I do, and I can't thank you enough,” Abby said. ”I'm going to check on the other dogs. Sophie and Goebel might need a hand. Just buzz me if there is anything you need.” Abby walked over to the two metal cages, where both doxies were sedated. She reached in and rubbed the brown guy's long ears. She could have sworn the dog smiled at her. The black-and-brown pooch was awake. She reached inside the cage and rubbed her little black head. ”You're gonna be okay, little girl, I promise.” Abby's heart broke for these poor animals. Thankful she was able to help in a small way, she closed the cage and went in search of Sophie and Goebel.
Abby found the lovebirds in unit two. ”Hey, how's it going?” She spied the three dogs, who were each splayed out on the giant dog beds.
”They're not bad, considering. The vet techs just left. Said these furry friends just needed a little bit of tender loving care.” Sophie's gentle side showed as she worked with the dogs.
”Soph, I know this is probably stupid to ask, but those little doxies that are having surgery, do you, you know, have any insight into what their status is? Recovery-wise.”
”Where are they now?”
”They're being prepped for surgery. I just left them. They're sedated right now.”
Sophie stared at the three dogs on the beds. ”These guys are gonna be just fine. One of their owners will come for them, the golden. The others, they'll be adopted. Good homes, too. Can I see the dachshunds? I might be able to get a take on them if I see them.”
”Goebel, you okay here on your own for a few minutes?” Abby asked.
”Heck yes. Best day ever. Second-best day ever. I'm loving this, go on. Let Sophie do her thing.”
Abby and Sophie slipped inside the surgical unit. Careful so as not to disturb them too much, they tiptoed across the newly tiled floor to the wall where the surgical cages were. Sophie grinned. ”Look at the ears on this one.” She stuck her finger through the door, touching the paw where the IV had been placed. She closed her eyes and stayed that way for a minute.
In the next cage, she did the same thing. Sophie smiled again; then she whispered to Abby, ”I want to talk to that surgeon as soon as she arrives. There could be some complications with this one if I don't tell her something about a disc. There's something loose.”
They left the surgical unit and returned to find Goebel snuggling on the floor with the dogs. ”I think he likes the dogs, Abs,” Sophie said.
”It sure looks that way. Now, tell me the truth, what kind of vibes did you get on those two?”
”They're both going to recover. The little female will need some extra therapy, but they'll both walk, and your mother and Phil will adopt them.”
Abby's jaw dropped. ”Are you pulling my leg, or are you really telling me you know what the future holds for those two?”
Goebel laughed. ”Abby, you should know better than to question Sophie.”
Abby nodded. ”True. So they're gonna be okay?”
”Yes, they are. I promise. Don't ask me how I know this stuff, I just do. It just comes to me like a thought.”
Abby wanted to ask her about her pregnancy, if she knew the s.e.x of her child, but something held her back. Sophie was very accurate. Abby wasn't so sure that she wanted to know her child's gender before he or she was born. That seemed like it took all the fun and mystery out of the pregnancy. Just this morning, she and Chris had discussed possible names: Jonathan Christopher for a boy and Amelia Sophia for a girl. (Abby informed Chris that Amelia would be known as Amy.) ”I believe you, Sophie. Now it's about time for Phil to return with the great Dr. Carnes. You two okay here for a while longer? Mavis and Wade are with the cats. I'm going to peep in on them real quick before the surgery. And, Sophie, do me a favor, okay?”
”Anything your little heart desires,” Sophie said as she joined Goebel on the floor.
”First of all, stop being so d.a.m.ned nice. It's not like you. And secondly, if you get any visions, or have any sudden thoughts about my baby, the pregnancy, please promise not to tell me. I want to be surprised.”
”Oh, Abs, I won't do that. Truthfully, I haven't picked up on any vibes since you told us about the baby. Maybe this is something I shouldn't know. But if I get anything at all, I promise to keep it to myself.”
”Thanks, I appreciate that. Now I need to get out of here. Hey”-when she got to the door, Abby turned around-”I'm super happy you two bought 'the purple palace.' It's going to be great having another married couple as neighbors.”
Sophie laughed out loud, and Goebel raised his bushy eyebrows up and down, Groucho Marx style. ”Thanks, kiddo, now get outta here,” Goebel said.
Abby arrived at the surgical center the same time as Phil and Dr. Carnes. ”This is Abby, the woman who made all this possible,” Phil said, introducing them.
”I can't thank you enough for coming. I've heard so much about you, and all that you do for animals. Little Frankie is thriving, too.”
Dr. Carnes was adorable, Abby thought. Probably close to Abby's age, she wore her deep red hair in a casual ponytail. A spattering of freckles dotted the bridge of her nose, and her smile was as bright as the moon. She wore blue jeans and a T-s.h.i.+rt that read ANIMALS ROCK.
”It's my pleasure, trust me. This is what I live for, these little pooches. I guess we should get started. The sooner I can get in there and fix them up, the better chance they have of a full recovery.”
”Before you start, our resident psychic, Sophie Manchester, whom you may have heard about in connection with the rescue of two children who were kidnapped here in Charleston, and the breaking up of the largest child-p.o.r.nography ring in the state, wanted to tell you something she picked up about one of the pooches. I'll send her into the surgery to speak to you.
”Then I'm going to leave you both to work your magic. Dr. Carnes, Dr. Wright, thank you both. You're really helping me make my dreams come true,” Abby said, and realized she meant it. No longer worried about chasing the next celebrity story, she was totally at ease with her new career.
She'd been in such a hurry, once she saw that Dr. Carnes had arrived, that she hadn't stopped in to check on her felines. After telling Sophie to alert Dr. Carnes about the disc, she went into unit number four, where she found Mavis and Wade sitting watch over the cats as they rested in their cages. The doors were open, just in case the animals wanted to move. Abby didn't want them locked up unless it was absolutely necessary for their safety and the safety of the staff.
”Abby, you look wonderful this morning. I take it you're feeling good,” Mavis said.
”Thanks, I am. Actually, I feel better today than I have in a while. I don't know if it's because I know I'm going to be a mother, or this.” She gestured toward the cat cages. ”But whatever it is, I'm totally loving it. Add that I didn't barf this morning, and I'm sure that accounts for some of my good cheer. I just wanted to check the kitties.”
Abby went to their cages and fluffed their soft fur. The kitten mewed at her touch. She wasn't sure if it was a male or a female, but whatever its s.e.x, she thought the kitten adorable. Gray fur and bright green eyes. This little one would be fine, she knew, because it had perked up as soon as it was fed and had a chance to bathe when the oxygen mask was removed. The cat with the burns was sedated. Dr. Wright said it was best because the first few days would be miserable. The pain meds would help, but the biggest adjustment for this cat would be the collar it would have to wear as soon as it was able to move around. This, Dr. Wright said, would prevent it from licking its wounds.
”They're all so quiet. My neighbor in Atlanta had a cat. It was a male, and, I swear, he had the loudest meow I'd ever heard. His name was Harvey,” Wade said.
”Well, we can only hope these girls or guys make a full recovery so they can meow as loud as Harvey. Dr. Wright seems to think they'll make a full recovery.”
”Yes, she was just here. What a lovely young woman. So pretty and kind. We're fortunate we have them,” Mavis said in her sweetest voice. ”Are you sure Chris doesn't mind watching Coco and Frankie?”
”Not at all. Chester is having the time of his life, I'm sure. No worries there. You two mind staying for another hour or so? I have another group of volunteers coming in this afternoon.”
”We can stay as long as you need us to,” Wade said. ”This is fun. Put me down as a daily volunteer. It will be a pleasure. Plus, it'll give me a few much-needed hours away from Robert. He and Bernice need some alone time anyway.”
<script>