This is not a Nursing issue, but I had a very bad night tonight. First I get to work and get a phone call about 1930 from my husband that my Mare is in foal and something is wrong. I've had her 19years and so I'm upset.I tell him to call a vet, I'm at work, can't leave, I AM the relief help. Second phone call , she's down and it's bad, he needs help. I can't leave, no way. I call my daughter, she goes over to my house and calls me, it's very bad. Fortunately, by this time another unit is now over staffed, thanks to 2 codes that went bad, Would I like to go home? Not really, but I love my horse and she's dying. I go home, I get here and find out my husband has been calling the same vet, over and over. I try a new one I've never used, and will from now on, he comes over. The Mare is in a bad way. I'm a Nurse, I got a strong stomach, Right? Evidentally not. He says he has to cut the foals head off , it's dead and stuck , the mare will die if he doesn't. My husband holds her head, the vet hold the metal rod in her lady parts, and I have to pull the wire back and forth until it cuts off the head. I am sick, sick, sick. Then we have to pull out the rest of the poor little thing. My mare may die anyway, it's too soon to tell. I can't get the decapitated baby out of my mind. I'm a Nurse, I'm supposed to be strong, but not this! I pray to God I will forget. I am heart broken and I have to tell the kids when they get up. I'm not telling them about the head, I can't. I don't know what I'll tell them if the mare dies. I'm just sick.Thanks for letting me vent.
You were strong...you did what had to be done, that's courage! And afterwards, it's normal to feel horrible and cry.What had to be done was awful! My heart goes out to you and I sure hope your mare makes it. She is family!
thank you all for yor kindness and caring. Right now Khaia lives, but I don't know for how long. She still has failed to pass the afterbirth and placenta.I have been giving her oxytocin injections every 4 hours since she lost the colt. She is standing, but looks miserable. I also started giving her 2-10cc injections of PCN. All of this is per Vet's orders. If she has not passed it by morning, I am to call him back. He has been reluctant to tell me what happens then. I want to pull on the stuff hanging out, but if that was the thing to do, the Vet would have done it. I find myself wondering if they can do a D&C on a horse. They have very delicate intestional tracks, and I have seen no signs of her having had a bowel movement. If she doesn't she will die for sure. The kids are doing better than I had hoped, but to them, they think she's going to be ok, after all, she is up and standing. I dread tonight. I have had about 3 hours sleep through all of this. With the usual callousness my agency has exhibted, they called wanting me to work tonight and are very sceptical about my reasons for declining. I no longer feel the need to explain anything to my manager, I am, after all, per diem and I was not on the schedule for tonight. I have the right not to work. I start a 13 week assignment in Macon on the 3rd of next month and I am looking forward to it. I just hope this passes soon and Khaia lives. I hate to leave my family with the kids upset..I'll keep you posted.thank you all again...Cat
Oh how awful. You are truly a strong woman to have done that for your mare. That shows how much you love her, and I'm sure on some level she understood. I'm very sad for you and your family.
WalMart_ADN
143 Posts
(((Hugs)))) hope khaia pulls through......