Ashildr's surgery for Stage 5 IVDD and Rehab

My name is Freyja Ashildr, but everyone calls me Ashildr (pronounced a-shield-a). My parents told me that Ashildr is from two Old Norse words translating to God and Battle, well I'm sure in a battle now.

I was born on January 01, 2016. My parents say I'm very smart because I know over 30 tricks and have a big personality. Over the years, I've had back pain here and there, but usually, with a bit of a rest, I'm back to my old self. Unfortunately, while on a walk Tuesday, July 5, 2022, I suddenly had back pain so bad that it made me vomit.

I tried to take it easy and rest the rest of the day, but the pain was getting worse. Finally, on Wednesday morning, I began having trouble walking and was tripping over my hind legs. My parents immediately called my vet and got an appointment to find out what was wrong. When the vet initially saw me, he suspected I might have a swollen disc and started me on IV steroids and pain medication. At that time, I still could feel deep pain in my paws, so everyone was hopeful. That evening, I went home with my parents and had an appointment with the vet the next morning to resume treatment. When the pain medication started to wear off, I was in a ton of pain and couldn't get comfortable. My parents were very concerned and consulted the emergency vet and was advised to make me as comfortable as possible and to take me back to the vet in the morning. Thursday morning when I arrived at the vet, they tested for deep pain again I could no longer feel it and was completely paralyzed in my hind legs. I was rushed to a Veterinary Neurology center to get an MRI and an emergency Hemilaminectomy (surgery to remove pieces of the disc that had ruptured in my back and was causing damage to my spinal cord). I've had the surgery and my pain is being managed, but I have a long road of rest, recovery and rehab ahead of me and hope that I will be able to use my hind legs again and live a long and happy life.

I'm still at the Veterinary Emergency Hospital while I recover from my surgery but am hopeful to be able to go back home on Monday to start my long crate rest and eventually start my rehab. I'm hoping to be able to get back to my old self, doing tricks again (so I can get treats), playing fetch (but let's be honest, I really just like to run after the ball and make my parents come get it from me), and barking at every little noise I hear.