AnnaBelle's Christmas Came Early!!!!!

[kimlovescats]

I made AnnaBelle a new outfit, and it fits her perfectly! Also, Jerry put her wheelchair together tonight. We decided it would be a good idea to just let her get used to the feel of the harnesses first, so we put them on her. It came with a leash type strap so that you can help her walk with support, without the cart. She enjoyed it, but it is hard on the hooman's back! ;o)

Getting strapped in:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/kimlovescats/AnnaBelle/AnnaBellesNewWheelchairFirstDay1-1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/kimlovescats/AnnaBelle/AnnaBellesNewWheelchairFirstDay1202.jpg



Sporting her new outfit and walking with the hand-held lift harness:
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/kimlovescats/AnnaBelle/AnnaBellesNewWheelchairFirstDay1-2.jpg


She did so well with getting both harnesses put on that we decided to go ahead and try her wheelchair on too.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/kimlovescats/AnnaBelle/AnnaBellesNewWheelchairFirstDay1-3.jpg



After a year and five months of being immobile, the moment of truth had arrived!
I started the video camera to record her first free moments in her wheelchair.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/kimlovescats/AnnaBelle/th_AnnaBellesNewWheelchair120207compre.jpg (http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/kimlovescats/AnnaBelle/?action=view&current=AnnaBellesNewWheelchair120207compre.flv)

After stopping the camera and bawling my eyes out, I took more pictures of her having the time of her life!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/kimlovescats/AnnaBelle/ImFreeAgain120207.jpg

"Look, I'm taller than sister again!"
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/kimlovescats/AnnaBelle/SideBySideAgainAtLast120207.jpg

Here's my BIG HAPPY SMILE for PT!
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/kimlovescats/AnnaBelle/AnnaBellesNewWheelchairFirstDay1-4.jpg

[K9karen]

I'm at a lose for words! I'm so overwhelmed with happy tears! The smile on AnnaBelle's face says it all! She's a PRO using her wheelies already! I'm so so so happy for you all and AnnaBelle! (Loved the kitties in the video too!!) Thanks so much for sharing your special event!

[Cincy'sMom]

What a great reason for happy tears! AnnaBelle looks wonderful, mobile again!!! Looks like she is taking to her new wheels like a duck to water!

[Taz_Zoee]

I am crying right along with you! That is the most wonderful thing to see. I am so glad you got the video. *wipes tears*
She truly does look sooo happy. The smile is obvious on her cute little face.
Oh, this is just so exciting!!! :D :D
Please give her congrats hugs for me. :)

[caseysmom]

LES here too, but happy ones. That is priceless.

[critter crazy]

That is just absolutely the coolest thing I have ever seen!! LES big time!! Annabelle is a pro!! I am so glad that she took to the chair so quickly!! What a gorgeous happy girl!!

[chocolatepuppy]

Oh AnnaBelle, that video brought tears to my eyes also. What a nice Christmas present! :D

[kittycats_delight]

LES here as well!!! And big big :D!!! She looks so happy when she realizes she can run again!!! I seen her little tail flicking away happily!!! Such a wonderful thing to see first thing in the morning!!! Give that wonderful little girl some cuddles from me and tell her she is simply amazing!!!

[Ginger's Mom]

She did great! One of my friend's recently adopted a handicapped dog, and she bought him a wheels so that he could run and play and go for walks with her other dogs. And let me tell you, Annabelle sure took to her wheels much better than Beamer. He did alright going forward, but he had a real hard time learning to turn around (he would just run into the nearest person's legs and wait for them to turn him around, lol). Good girl, Annabelle, you sure started my week off with a smile.

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Her gorgeous smile says it all!! well done little girl....(I really should get some waterproof mascara.... ;) )

[Pam]

Mommy isn't the only one who had a big cry. I am sitting here with tears running down my cheeks. (Good thing I saw this before putting my make-up on this morning). :) Kim, words cannot express how precious the video and pictures are. Thank you so much for sharing *the moment* with all of us. Ripley and I (yes, he is sitting right here on my lap) send AnnaBelle big (((hugs))) and tail wags. You and your hubby are awesome for giving your girl the gift of freedom! Oh and by the way I loved hearing your voices. You sound just as cute as I imagined. :)

[pitc9]

LES here too!!
I'm not able to watch the video right now, but all it took was the first picture of her in her wheels to make my eyes leak!

Oh I'm so happy for Annabelle!!!

[anna_66]

Well add me to the group who have LES! This thread made my morning:D

It's no wonder you had to turn the camera off to have a cry, I would have too.
She really seems to love being mobile again!

Enjoy your new wheels girl!!!!!

[kelli1843]

Bless you and her. She is precious and I hope you have a truly, truly wonderful holiday!

[Freedom]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y244/kimlovescats/AnnaBelle/AnnaBellesNewWheelchairFirstDay1202.jpg

Even in this pic, Annabelle looks so happy! She knows something special is about to happen, he he. She must have been picking up on your excitement and anticipation!

What a wonderful Christmas story. Oh Annabelle!

Kim, her new outfit is great, and what timing. "Oh yeah, just LET it snow; I got my WHEELS now!" He hee. Might have to see about snow tires for her, though. ;)

I had no idea there TWO harnesses! Must take a few minutes to get her all ready.

She did so very well; just wait until she develops those front legs muscles and figures out her coordination! LOOK OUT!

I am SO happy for her and all of you.

[4 Dog Mother]

Oh, what a wonderful early Christmas present for you all! She is obviously very happy to become mobile again! You and your husband are great fur parents!

[lizbud]

Hooray AnnaBelle :) Merry Christmas little girl. You look so happy. :)

[cassiesmom]

Merry Christmas, AnnaBelle, you look very nice in your sweat suit! (Kimlovescats, is there another thread with "background" about AnnaBelle's disability?)

[lvpets2002]

;) oH Kim I am in tears of joy right now.. How so Sweet & Adorable this baby is in her new wheelchair.. AnnaBelle you go go girl.. ;)

[WELOVESPUPPIES]

This thread just made my day! I am so happy to see that her wheelies are working for her. She looks so happy to be up and moving around, that smile on her face says it all.
MERRY CHRISTMAS ANNABELLE!!!!

[kimlovescats]

Thank you, my dear PT friends! It means so much to hear your sincere happiness for my little girl! Words cannot express the joy we felt seeing AnnaBelle take her first independent steps in her wheelchair! I only regret that we didn't get one sooner, but we wanted to see how her general health maintained for the first year. Our vet had warned us that it was quite a struggle to keep infections (bladder specifically) at bay. Thankfully, we have not had any of those to deal with in this past year and five months!

Freedom, you were exactly right about AnnaBelle's anticipation just while we were putting the harnesses on! She was excited every step of the way! She knew that her mommy and daddy had something special planned for her!

Pam, please kiss Ripley for "us" and tell him that AnnaBelle is so proud to be standing up to smile for him again!!!

Here is the original thread explaining AnnaBelle's accident:
http://www.petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=111019&highlight=AnnaBelle



Kim :)

[kimlovescats]

*bump* :confused:

[Tollers-n-Dobes]

What a wonderful Christmas for Annabelle! She looks so happy. The pictures make me both sad and happy. Happy for your family and Annabelle that she can cope with a cart and still have a great life, and sad that I couldn't have given the same to my Tango. What a special little girl she is. :)

[kimlovescats]

Thank you so much, orangutango!

(((hugs)))
Kim

[K9karen]

Checked out the pictures again! What a spirit lifter! Please kiss AnnaBelle's happy, beautiful face for me. I also reread her story. You are an awesome couple. I pray you are blessed with everything wonderful.

[Scooter's Mom]

Awwww, what a beautiful sight. Even my hubby was moved!

I am so happy for AnnaBelle. Merry Christmas sweetie!

[mruffruff]

How wonderful!!!

Anabelle has made my day. I'm so happy that she can run again. Way to go! :D

[Jadapit]

That has to be one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. It made me cry also. Anabelle, looks so happy what a wonderful Christmas present. :D

[Muddy4paws]

AnnaBelle, you look so happy, I bet you have wrapped up christmas and made your mum have the best new year already.

Im suprised how well shes taken to her wheels, Im so happy shes managed to figure it out so fast the smile is so clear on her face.

[kimlovescats]

Thank you all again, for sharing in my joy!!! :)

[cassiesmom]

Dear miss AnnaBelle! How are you doing with your new wheels? I hope you are getting along great! Merry Christmas, sweety.

[kimlovescats]

She is doing good! She's timid around any of the dogs except her buddy Gretta! That's how she has always been anyway! She just has never taken to any other dogs but her "sister" Gretta! As long as the other doggies aren't in the room, she goes "to town" in her cart! :D

[rg_girlca]

Kim, include me as one who also has LES seeing your precious AnnaBelle so happy with her new wheelchair. Even though I hadn't posted on your other threads about her, I always read your updates on her. But I just had to comment on this breakthrough. I can't get over how well she adjusted to her wheelchair right from the start. Words cannot express how I felt seeing her take her first steps. Gosh this is truely such a heartwarming story.
AnnaBelle, "YOU GO GIRL!!!!" There is no stopping you now sweetheart. May you have many, many, MANY more years, enjoying your wheelchair.
I just LOVE her little shirt.

{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}} Kim.

I made thread in Cat General including this link for all your cat friends to see this. :D

[catnapper]

Oh Kim, I had no idea Annabelle was paralyzed! What a truly amazing tale and bless you for caring so much for your sweet little girl. I can see how happy she is!!!

[kimlovescats]

Oh, thanks for the crosspost, Lorraine! ;) AnnaBelle took her first official walk this afternoon. I had Gretta on a leash and a leash attached to AnnaBelle's harness. Well, she spent most of the time trying to bite the leash off! LOL! So, I finally decided, she wasn't going anywhere so why not take the leash off. She did great, even ran over mommy's heals a few times! :p She got very winded quickly though, so we just went a little ways down the street and back! I told her that was fine with me, because mommy needs to build up stamina slowly too! :rolleyes: :D

[dukedogsmom]

Oh AnnaBelle, I just love that smile on your face in that last pic. I hope you adapt just fine to your new set of wheels. And I like your new outfit. You look really cute in it.

[Seravieve]

*Sniffle* Wow.. Thats just so heartwarming to see. *Sniffle* Im glad that you are able to provide her such a wonderful life. =) *Sniffle*...

[Daisy and Delilah]

How can there possibly be a dry eye in the PT house? This little doggie gives us all the will to keep going. She is as cute as a button. I love her. She looks so cute in her little outfit. God bless her and you and your husband too, Kim. Thanks to you two, she has a great life. She is so adorable!! :)

[krazyaboutkatz]

Kim, thanks for sharing this heartwarming story with us.:) She's such a happy girl now and you're such a wonderful mom to her. I hope that she'll continue to do well.:)

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Thanks for the crosspost!!

Oh Annabelle, seeing you so happy is wonderful....! I have heavy LES , but this are happy tears...! What a wonderful item that is :) !!!

[cassiesmom]

So, AnnaBelle ... It's been a week and a half already since you got your wheels! How are you doing?

[joycenalex]

kim, how cool is this!!! and what a smile full of life from annabelle. thanks for sharing

[finn's mom]

How wonderful. that video is precious and what a strong spirit she has, doesn't even question it or complain, just knows what to do and does it. Priceless, that video and your lovely girl.

[kimlovescats]

Thank you to those who are just now seeing our great news!

Cassiesmom: The past couple of days I have been preoccupied caring for my sick kitty, Panda. This weekend I plan to get Miss AnnaBelle out on her wheels more! (I can't leave her in her wheelchair because she can't lie down comfortably when she needs to.) My daughter Amanda will be here, she hasn't gotten to see her in person yet ... just the video! AnnaBelle will have a chance to show off for her!!! :D

[Christiansmommy]

I am just now seeing this. This the sweetest thing I have seen a long while. So happy for AnneBelle!! :) She is a doll.

[BaileysMom]

Yay Annabelle!!!!!!

Mommy and I are so happy you like your wheels! I knew you would! I took off in mine too! I love them!

Love you Puppy Pal!
Bailey

[BaileysMom]

Kim, a lil off topic, but how to you make AnnaBelle's clothes? I used a sleeper on Bailey, but we've only found one that stays on him well, how do you go about doing hers?

[kimlovescats]

Kim, a lil off topic, but how to you make AnnaBelle's clothes? I used a sleeper on Bailey, but we've only found one that stays on him well, how do you go about doing hers?

This time I bought a regular doggie shirt because the human infant onesies aren't cut right in the arms, neck and shoulders. So, I cut the top half of the onesie off and sewed the doggie shirt to it. Unforunately I got a onesie that was a bit too big, long, and so it sags and her diaper still slips off when she scoot around! :rolleyes: It was a good concept, just be sure your onesie is short enough to fit snugly after it's sewn to the doggie t-shirt!

Kim