Crisis when you are 500 miles from the nearest vet...

No pictures on this update.. but an account of what happened the other night out in the remote and isolated bush...

1) About 10pm Friday night Ginger threw up just out of the blue. Then again about midnight, then again about 2am and then foamy blood about 4am and then foamy blood again about 5am... I am stuck in the bush with a sick dog.

2) I made a flight reservation (departs at 1pm which would get Ginger to the vet by 3pm) to get to Anchorage asap to the emergency vet - first flight out of Togiak doesn't take place until sunrise which is approximately 10ish am. So, I made the first flight out and got to Dillingham (which is where the flight to Anchorage leaves)

3) I made it to Dillingha with plenty of time to spare - Ginger was soso at this point - I was a nervous wreck with all the crisis happenings and feeling very helpless.

4) Got to the ticket counter at Dillingham (pretty small airport - really just a building with benches and few little counters - no security checkpoints..) Anyways.. When I had to get my ticket she asked for my ID - OMG... guess what I never grabbed in my frantic packing.... (Who needs to carry their ID in the bush.. really; I've had it put away since July)

5) They called TSA to see what could be done with the few items I had (Credit Card, checkbook, and.. well, that was all I had) TSA said I couldn't fly.

PANIC MODE - My dog needs to see a vet! The next flight out of Dillingham to Anchorage is at 6pm...

6) Dillingham's supervisor asked if there was anyone who could get my ID to the bush pilot to bring back with them - what a GREAT IDEA!!! So, I contacted the wonderful pilot of AIA who was going to be making one more trip to Togiak and back - but not until after the 1pm flight would have already departed. But it still worked out - My MOST AWESOME "I couldn't do this without her" room mate dug through my stuff to find my ID and got it to the pilot and I got my ID about 3:30pm and made the 6:00 flight! Ginger is doing pretty well at this point; she is mostly lounging and nervous at the changes taking place in her environment and my anxiety, fear and stress were probably affecting her as well.

At this point - I'd not eaten anything at all that entire day and the last meal (and even a drink of anything) was the night before.. I was sitting at Dillingham and our tech guy from the school district, Cory, happened to be there coming back from a flight - He was concerned for Ginger when he found out what I was doing there and all the drama of finally getting a flight out. A hour or so later, he shows up with a bottle of water, an apple and a package of peanut butter cracks... It was a FEAST for me at that point.

7) Boarded the flight! Made a quick stop at King Salmon and then finally landed in Ancorage - grabbed a cab - got to the vet and met some super nice folks while waiting for Ginger's test results... (This one guy, Bob, had his sick dog there - he comes in weekly for his dog to have chemo for stomach cancer - Bob is a kind soul and everone knew him well - he did a great job at keeping my mind off things that were going on...)

8) Doctor comes out with test results and called me in - I told her, "I came all this way for this information and now I don't want to hear it..." She said..."Yes you do!" Ginger's results were perfect! Blood, urine, etc.. all looked great great great (We thought she may have gotten into some antifreeze or something - we had no idea) - the only thing is there was a little area on her tummy where something may have scratched her belly (probably a rock!) and that was what could have upset her stomach and caused the bloody vomit - nothing a little coating of medicine can't fix. Vet sent us "home" (Motel 6) and said to come back in 24 hours to have tests done again just to make sure she is good to go back to Togiak.

9) Bob was getting ready to leave as I was - he gave us a ride to Motel 6... I have a new friend!

Sitting at Motel 6 while I write this.. No flghts out of here to Dillingham on 1/2 (Monday) the only flight out on 1/3 (Tuesday) is after 6pm and that puts me in Dillingham and stuck somewhere overnight there... 1/4 (Wednesday) has a 6:50am flight which will get me to Dillingham in time to hopefully get on the first bush plane to Togiak and be home by noon. I am grateful beyond words to my room mate who is taking care of Chloe during all this - POOR CHLOE... I guess she is pretty lonely :( She is probably so confused where everyone is and has nobody to snuggle under the covers with for 4 nights..

This is not how I expected to spend New Year's Eve.. or 3 days afterwards. I am stuck in Anchorage.. but, at least I am within a quick ride to the vet should anything change with Ginger.

If you are still reading at this point - I am impressed!

Happy New Year everyone.
Ginger is doing well - eating, drinking