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Torbens journey

  • Torben coming home! 💕

      11 February 2022
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    We picked Torben up this morning to bring him home.. he has nearly been at Massey for 3 weeks..

    They have taken such great care of him, we are so thankful for them.

    Unfortunately Torben lost a lot of weight over the last few weeks.. we are hoping that by taking him home to an environment he is familiar with that he will regain his appetite and happiness..

    Torben has come to work with me everyday for the last 3 years and never been away from his family for more than a few days. So I think that combined with the paralysis caused him to waste away very quickly.. by bringing him home we hope he will put on weight and keep trying..

    Torben has to do physio every day, and see his vet every few days..

    we have booked him in with a great physio, acupuncturist and hydrotherapy clinic in Hawkes bay..

    We have high hopes of eventually getting Torben running at the beach again.. it may take a long time! Even years but at least with everyone’s help we have managed to give him the best chance of having a normal life one day..

    I will continue to update Torbens progress on here and will post regularly on his Instagram- Torben the thunder bear..

    He is so brave and adapting so well to what I can only imagine must be very unsettling and scary at times.. he trusts us. And he knows everything we do

    Is for his best interests! He is such a happy boy, despite everything it hasn’t crushed his spirit or his love for life and everyone in it.

    He is currently fast asleep on my lap snoring.

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  • 2 weeks in

      6 February 2022
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    Torben has now been living at Massey for nearly 2 weeks.. the longest he’s ever been away from us his whole life..

    Cody and I are back at work working big days, so cannot visit Torben until the weekends which has been hard.. we have friends and some of my incredible clients who live close by that have taken time out of their days to spend a little bit of time with him and give him some hugs.

    We are so grateful! And so appreciative of everyone who has helped us help him.

    It’s been hard not having him around. Especially at the studio everyday. Life feels a lot lonelier without the worlds happiest piglet around every second of the day.

    He is doing very well at Massey and very well looked after by everyone there..

    He has a little buddy, a chihuahua called Tink which will be very comforting for him as he’s spends his life with our little chihuahua at home, they have never been apart..

    He has made some small bits of progress this week..He has been slowly but surly getting muscle definition back in his back legs.. has been getting heat packing and physio to try keep those back legs moving and muscle coming back..

    Torben was having issues with his right leg not responding as well as the left.. for a little bit there only one leg had superficial feeling which was worrying. luckily it has caught up and both legs now have superficial feeling..

    He has lost a bit of weight over the last few weeks due to being immobile.. a big change for him after running and swimming the beach everyday of his life.

    He still cannot go to the toilet on his own And until he can urinate on his own he has to stay at Massey., so at this stage we have no idea when he may be able to come home..

    it feels like it’s been forever and things are going so slow while we wait at home, but really Torben has done so well over the 2 weeks he’s been there and definitely made changes moving forward!! So we just need to stay positive and trust the process. We are so proud of him.

    Massey ring me every morning to tell me how he’s doing and they say how happy he is and excited to see everyone in the morning, shuffling his little body around to make sure he’s said hi to everyone there..

    Torbens insurance company have yet to come to the party. So his give a little page has been chipping away at his bills that have been coming in.. as well as clearing his surgery cost completely.

    I will say it over and over again that words will never be able to express how grateful I am to have gotten him to this point.. it’s not an easy thing when our beloved fur babies get sick or injured .. mentally, and financially it’s exhausting and heartbreakingly I know people who wish they could of received the help Torben has.. Torbens bubbly personality and the affect he has on the people he meets have worked wonders for him..

    we absolutely cannot wait to have him home!

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  • Our t t

      31 January 2022
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    Cody and I are both back at work now so sadly cannot visit Torben everyday..

    but luckily Massey has been calling us every morning with updates..

    Today Torben has superficial feeling in his back legs, he can feel when his legs and feet are being touched! Which is awesome! 💕

    Torbens journey has been very special. Everyone that has helped him at Massey has known him somehow. Wether they have met him before at the studio or simply follow his Instagram page! We have been sent updates from the vets there and photos which is so lovely and definitely brightens up our day! He’s is so loved and it’s that love that’s gotten him to this point

    His surgery bill has now been settled because of his give a little page! 🥰we have a lot to focus on with his healing journey and will try our best to update you all at every step!

    Thank you!! Thank you

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  • Visiting Torben

      29 January 2022
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    We got to visit Torben this morning! He was so excited to see us. He’s being looked after so well at Massey he’s very spoilt.

    Torben has moved from a level 5! To a level 4. Which is hopeful, means he has regained feeling in his toes. Although he is still paralysed he can feel his feet which is great..

    He tried to get up and play, made his happy snorting noises and sniffed our faces for awhile which is something he’s done since he was a puppy..

    he is happy and calm.

    He has been aloud to go outside and soak in some sunlight and fresh air.

    We still have no idea when Torben may be able to home home.. obviously every day he spends there adds up quickly, so again we cannot thank you enough for helping him to be there and get the help he needs.

    We have been in touch with a hydrotherapy clinic and physio in Hawkes bay to start the process of a treatment plan for Torben to regain strength and movement.

    Together we have given him the best chance at becoming normal again. Although it may take a long time we will get there!

    Stage 1: Neck or back pain without neurological deficits

    Stage 2: The ability to walk but with proprioception deficits (knuckling of paws, figure 3), and incoordination (ataxia or paresis)

    Stage 3: The ability to move the legs, but inability to stand and walk under their own power

    Stage 4: Paralysis, which is the complete inability to move the legs but maintaining the ability to feel a deep pinch of the toes

    Stage 5: Paralysis with no feeling of a deep pinch to the toes

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    • 31/01/2022 by Katja

      Thank you so much for updating Torben's journey. What a tough and challenging process for you all. Thinking of you, reach out if you need help

  • Torbens healing

      28 January 2022

    Torben is healing well after his surgery.. he had his IV lines out this morning which means he is now eating and drinking on his own..

    Unfortunately Torben still has no feeling in his back legs. Which is heartbreaking for us.. we just hope that given time as his body heals he will regain feeling..

    Massey have been great in updating us throughout the day with how Torben is doing.. he has been able to walk around on a sling. They said he’s fast and quick to try open his cage when they check on him, given the position he’s in he’s still super happy and comfortable. They don’t think that he’s in any pain..

    It has been a rough week for us, sleeplessness nights wondering if he’s ok and trying to plan what we might need to do moving forward.. we definitely have a long road ahead of us.

    We will do everything we possibly can to get him walking again.. Torbens favourite thing in the world is running along the beach and we hope one day we can get him there again..

    We miss him immensely, the kids miss him, his brother and sisters miss him.. we get to visit him on Saturday and we’re so excited to see his little face.

    Thank you all again so much for getting Torben here.. there’s no way we could of done it without you all..

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  • Torben is out of surgery..

      26 January 2022

    Torben is out of surgery.. 🙏🏼💕

    Everything went really well which we are super stoked about, they removed what they could of what was pressing on his spinal cord..

    Torben will go through neurological tests tomorrow to see if his lower body has any feeling in it, and wether there is a chance he may walk again..

    He is so brave and resilient.. we are so proud of him, and we are so so grateful to be a few steps away from our goal.

    It is unbelievable how much you have all supported us in such a short amount of time. Allowing Torben to have surgery so quickly. Unfortunately not all fur babies are given the chance Torben has been given so we are so so grateful to each and everyone of you.,

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  • Torbens scans and surgery

      26 January 2022
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    Torben made it down to Massey vet hospital for MRI scans and to discuss a surgery plan for him..

    With proof that we will be able to cover these costs via his give a little page Massey have done the scans necessary for surgery..

    Torben is currently in surgery.

    He needs a herniated disc removed from his spine that is currently pressing on his spinal cord causing him to be paralysed.

    He does have a long road ahead and we hope he will be able to walk again..

    He is such a loving happy boy. Feel asleep hugging into me and snoring while they discussed his surgery and quality of life options with me..

    This whole thing has been heartbreaking but we are beyond grateful to you all for getting us to this point..

    Thank you, thank you, thank you

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