Posted on 07/26/2006 6:39:09 AM PDT by gate2wire
KENNETT SQUARE, PA — According to Chief of Surgery Dean Richardson, Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro slept well after his left hind foot bandage was changed yesterday. “I’m happy with the appearance of this foot, which is doing as well as can be expected,” said Dr. Richardson. “Over the last several days, his temperature has been normal and his blood work has significantly improved suggesting that the infection in his right hind is under control.” His heart rate is also consistently normal now, a good indication that he is stable and comfortable.
Barbaro remains in the Intensive Care Unit of Penn’s George D. Widener Hospital.
The next update will be posted on Friday, July 28 unless there is a significant change in Barbaro’s condition.
You are quite welcome. I love those who love and respect animals.
Yes he does have a big heart.
It's still a very long, tough road for him. Let's walk with him all the way. It may help the sweet fellow to get through it all. And God bless the good folks taking care of him. I wish I could help.
Let's walk with him all the way. It may help the sweet fellow to get through it all.
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Kind sir, and fellow FReepers, I will walk with this beautiful horse in spirit, and keep him mentioned daily in my prayers.
pattyjo
Thank you!
A day without Barbaro news is a day when my spirits flag. I'm still hoping and praying that this valiant horse heals quickly and soon enjoys the freedom of sweet pastures.
C'mon, Barbaro. You (and your angels) can do it.
How about this one? It's pretty good ...
~~~~~
http://www.catholic.org/national/national_story.php?id=20496
Highs and lows – Derby winner's co-owner finds perspective in faith
By Christie L. Chicoine
7/27/2006
Catholic News Service (www.catholicnews.com)
PHILADELPHIA (CNS) -- The co-owner of Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro, Gretchen Jackson, must be hoping for the horse's biggest win yet: recuperating fully from a shattered leg that ended his running in the Preakness almost before the race began.
And she sees her almost lifelong relationship with horses as something that helps in her relationship with God, she told The Catholic Standard & Times, newspaper of the Philadelphia Archdiocese, in an interview after Barbaro's Derby win in May.
"With an animal, you cannot fake talent, or what you are. It's all exposed, as one is exposed to God," said Jackson, who owns Barbaro with her husband, Roy.
"I see that as sort of helping me think about my relationship with God - and also, my responsibility to take care of this animal," she said. "You praise God for creating such a magnificent animal."
As America watched, Barbaro, a 3-year-old colt, lost the Preakness Stakes May 20, and with it, his chance at the Triple Crown.
Disappointment quickly gave way to concern about whether Barbaro would survive his injury, as he was taken by equine ambulance to the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square. He has recuperated there since undergoing surgery May 21, although his recovery has been complicated by fevers and infections.
The Associated Press reported July 9 that veterinarians have replaced the plates and screws inserted during the May 21 surgery to stabilize his leg, and in one week in July changed his cast four times.
The Baltimore Sun reported July 27 that Barbaro has continued to make progress over the past two days, according to Dr. Dean Richardson, who changed his left hind foot bandage July 25.
The doctor noted that the 3-year-old, who is at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center in Kennett Square, Pa., has a normal heart rate, his temperature is normal and blood work suggests that the infection in his right hind foot is under control.
The horse's progress has been followed by people in the U.S. and around the world. Get-well letters and cards have been arriving almost daily.
Shortly after the accident, Jackson said, "One of the things that one is supposed to do when one becomes a horse owner – or racehorse owner – is to not fall in love with the animal, because it's so painful when something like this happens to you."
But not loving Barbaro wasn't an option for Jackson, a member of Assumption B.V.M. Parish in the Philadelphia suburb of West Grove. She fell in love with horses – in particular, racehorses – early in her life.
Jackson, 68, remembers reading about 1941 Triple Crown winner Whirlaway in a horsemanship dictionary when she was a young girl. "I dreamed of having racehorses, or at least having a horse," she said.
Raised outside Chestnut Hill, she worked for people who owned horses and helped out at riding camps. "I did anything to be around a horse," she told The Catholic Standard & Times.
At age 16, Jackson got her first horse. "I wanted to be like Elizabeth Taylor in 'National Velvet,'" she said.
It was during her coursework at Neumann College in Aston – she received her master's degree in pastoral counseling there in 1994 – that she learned more about the Catholic faith.
"I just loved the Catholic faith as lived through some of the sisters there, and through the courses and the people (as well as) books we read. I just wanted to be a part of it," she said.
Baptized Episcopalian, she took Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults classes at Assumption B.V.M. In the nearly 10 years since she became a Catholic, Jackson said she has become a much more peaceful and accepting person.
"The Catholic faith has truly helped me try and (I) surprise myself to find I am living by the moment. It's the greatest way in the world to live – because you truly live," she said. "If you're always projecting into the future, you're not enjoying the moment. If you're quiet and observant, you certainly see God's action in the world."
Her pastor at Assumption B.V.M., Msgr. John W. Graf, said a great racehorse reflects the great spirit of his owners, trainers and jockey.
The appreciation they all have for Barbaro is a reflection "of how we should view animals and (other) living things, and how much joy they bring us," the priest said.
"I really believe that as we respect one another as human beings – the supreme creature of God – it doesn't rule out that we should be respectful to everything that God creates," he said.
The outpouring of support the public has shown Barbaro has been overwhelming, Jackson said. The numerous religious items that have been sent to Barbaro include crosses, St. Francis medals, statues, prayer cards and holy water from Lourdes.
She thanked all for their concern. "There are certainly enough people praying for him," she said.
~~~~~~
FWIW, we are supposed to have an update from Doc R tomorrow.
Don't know if you're old enough to remember this, but I noticed in a Barbaro story yesterday that there is a Breyer show in Lexington (KY) this weekend and they mentioned, in addition to the Barbaro model they'll have available in October, that they are doing a model "Flicka" in conjunction with the October opening of a movie based on either the TV show "My Friend Flicka" or maybe the book series of the same name.
I spent some time reminiscing about that Sat morning show about the dark horse (can't say whether Flicka was chestnut like Barbaro or not, lol, because it was all B/W back then)(and I believe Flicka was a mare - but had a blaze of white like B), which led to other memories of another TV horse in that time slot, the jet black "Fury" - his "dad" on the show was Peter Graves (the first "Mission Impossible," among many other things) and his owner was a boy named Joey.
There was some good quality programming on for children back then. And there were lots of horses!
"I see that as sort of helping me think about my relationship with God - and also, my responsibility to take care of this animal," she said. "You praise God for creating such a magnificent animal."
Thanks for posting this article. It's what we've been saying all along to those here who don't understand praying for a horse.
More prayers for Barbaro's recovery.
Oh, I thought it was a good story, too. Kinda told us some things we might've wondered about forever.
Well, I didn't know Liz went to camp in WI. Learn something new every day.
Here's the update from today:
~~~~~
Barbaro update: Appetite strong, radiographs 'good'
This week's last update is out from the doctor for Kentucky Derby champ Barbaro. According to Dr. Dean Richardson:
• "Barbaro has a strong appetite and he has been enjoying hand-picked grass daily and 'healthy snacks.' "
• The cast on his right hind leg was changed Wednesday. "We took new radiographs, and they look good."
• The cast on his left hind foot, which has laminitis, is changed daily so the foot "can be treated and watched for signs of infection."
Richardson and his team at the University of Pennsylvania’s George D. Widener Hospital say the next update on Barbaro's condition - barring bad news - will come Tuesday.
~~~~~
Thank goodness! Go Barbaro Go!
It also says that they see the new hoof growth coming in and there is no sign of infection in his right hind. Everything is working so far!!! Dr. Richardson seemed to be a bit more optimistic than usual in today's report. Yay!
Encouraging sign: Barbaro's hoof regrowing
www.thoroughbredtimes.com
Posted: 7/28/2006 11:17:42 AM
The condition of injured Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Barbaro's left hind hoof, stricken with severe laminitis, is steadily improving and has begun to regrow, said Dean Richardson, D.V.M., chief of surgery at the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center.
Although he described Barbaro's overall condition as "very guarded," Richardson was more upbeat on Thursday night than he has been in weeks."
"We change the bandage on his left hind every day now and it's improving regularly," Richardson said. "It looks like he's starting to grow at the coronary band again. It's where the hoof grows down from. It's where he's going to have to grow a new hoof, so that was nice to see."
Richardson also had good news about Barbaro's surgically repaired right hind leg, which he examined on Thursday.
"Where the new plates were put on it actually looks very good. There were no signs of infection," Richardson said. "I was pretty happy with how the leg looked as well as how the X-rays looked, so he was put back in a fresh cast on his right hind.
"If you were to look at him, he looks like a happy horse. He's eating well and he looks bright," Richardson said. "He's lost a lot of condition, but that's expected. You can't put a horse on bed rest for two-plus months and expect him not to lose a lot of muscle, so he has lost a lot of muscle."
Dealing with two problematic legs instead of one has made the recovery process more difficult, but Richardson said the mood around Barbaro is much more optimistic than it was two weeks ago when the laminitis struck.
"His prognosis remains very guarded, but we're not even remotely considering quitting on him right now," Richardson said. "The horse looks too good. No one is thinking about quitting on this horse now."
—Pete Denk
BTTT
Nice report. I'll bet Barbaro has lost a lot of weight along with "muscle." The lighter the better, one would think.
We're praying for you, Barbaro!
I was so glad to read this additional detail today, especially about the hoof growth! That's what we want to hear! Yippee!
Now I have to pray about his muscle tone. Hmmm, what can we do about that? I can't think of anything, other than some Swedish masseuses coming in several times a day and working him over, lol!
Heavens to Betsy, Bobby, it's *always something* with a horse like you! And that's OK - we're glad there is *something* to hang on to.
Bulk it up, Barbaro, Bulk it up! Just not *too* much!
Thanks for the good news. A few days ago, it looked bad.
Today's update...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1674177/posts
I am afraid his condition is just going to be that way until he can get outside and exercise a little bit. It may be why we haven't seen any new pictures of him lately. A lot of people still see him as a well conditioned athlete in their mind and to see him in the condition he is now would probably upset people. Here is a nice article about Michael Matz;
http://www.drf.com/news/article/76966.html
Yeah, I know it is. Sorry, couldn't open the link - it's a sign-up. I saw a good one on Matz in the last few days, so maybe it's similar.
It was whatever day he had two horses, one of them belonging to the Jacksons with "Sly" in the name (can't recall the full name), come in something like 2nd and 5th at Saratoga - but it was mostly about his daily visits with Barbaro.
Truthfully, I'm not sure I would notice the physical changes, not being a horse person myself - at least not around them on a daily basis - so it would have to be something pretty obvious to get my attention.
I do like to see video of him walking around with Doc R; it always makes me feel a little better - but I probably would notice in that case.
good news bump.
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