It is May 12th and we are 3 months and a week out from when Elsa was hit with a spinal stroke. I thought I give you all an update and talk about how she is doing and dealing since that day in February. It has been a rough road and more than anything it has left her changed forever. I try not to let it get to me or be sad but if I’m being honest it does get to me and I am sad about it. I do have to consider us lucky that she is still with us and able to run around but she is vastly changed forever.

What makes me sad is that she is no longer able to do a lot of what she use to do. She is also mentally changed in a huge way. Funny, she is able to run and catch low balls but she has the hardest time with the mundane day to day activities. Jumping on the bed, doing the stairs, getting on the couch and getting into the car. She has lost her confidence in all of these things. Much of the time she is paralyzed by her loss of confidence. Although she can do more than she thinks, the thought of falling while attempting to jump up or move over a non carpeted floor freezers her ability to move.

I hate it, I honestly do. But in the big picture we are lucky and I remind myself of that daily. She could have been hit far worse with this; many dogs lose the ability to move at all or become incontinent forever. I have watched many videos of dogs hit much worse than Elsa was and my heart breaks for them and their guardian. She was lucky and she is strong. Elsa has learned what she can and cannot do now and is constantly learning how best to maneuver her new life. She has many years ahead of her; she will turn 9 years old in July.

Physical activities are much easier for Elsa if she stays out of her head. If she allows her thoughts to take over she’s sunk. Just walking across a floor can become a sheet of ice if she stays in her head. If she thinks she can’t do something, then she cannot. Not that she is physically incapable but her mental state will create a scenario where she actually cannot do it; even though she actually can do it.

When Elsa was first inflicted with this, I was left with a giant question mark about her future. Much of my research stated that the 3 month mark was pretty much the recovery mark. I think that Elsa his the recovery mark earlier and the rest of her recovery is simply her learning how to do things in her new world.

Life is ever changing for all of us; I am blessed to still have the Amazing Miss Elsa by my side.