If there is one person or more on your friends list who makes your world a better place just because they exist and who you would not have met (in real life or not) without the internet, then post this same sentence in your journal.

This is "Ming" and here's her story:

The other day, I was cruising around town and I decided to stop in to our local dog shelter. I pass it every time I go somewhere, and it had been a long time since I visited.

I did not go there for any reason, other than to add some excitement to my day and to see who they had locked up this time.

So, I walk in and begin to walk around slowly. As always, every one of these dogs has a story to tell. Some are more heartbreaking than others, and they all want a home.

As I was rounding the last bend of cages, I came upon "Ming". "Ming" wanted to eat my face off! She was very gnarley in the cage, and I was actually a bit nervous. That's when the animal warden came up to me and said that she was a totally different dog when she is out of her cage. I'm like, "OK prove it"! So, the lady takes me to a "get acquainted" room and unleashes "Ming". "Ming" ran over to me and gave me big ole kisses, all the while she was leaning into me as if she were trying to hug me. I began to pet her, rub her ears, and under her chin...that's when she got the squinty "I can't get enough of your attention" look.

So, at that point, I still had my face but my heart was a big ole melted mess on the floor!

You see, "Ming" was abused. She was abandoned and found with three puppies (of hers) under a dumpster at a construction site. Prior to the time that she was picked up by the warden, her puppies were taken from her (way too early). Ming continued to produce milk, with no way to release it. Eventually, her abdomen became so distended that it was dragging on the floor...full of milk.

She was also covered in scabs, and all four of her paws were gooped up with hot roofing tar.

She was pissed off at the world when she was brought in to the shelter.

The ladies at the shelter worked with her every day, and she became sociable, yet fiercely protective of her space...which is why she wanted to eat my face off when I first met her.

I asked a lot of questions about her temperament, beahavior towards other animals, and people. She got a clean bill of health on all of the above.

I pondered over the thought of adopting her for a couple of days.

Today, I decided to go see her again. Again, she tried to eat my face off...all barking, lunging, snarling, etc... Then I showed her the treat that I brought her and she, suddenly, became my best friend.

I decided to give her a new forever home, and I brought her home yesterday afternoon.

She is about 18 months old, and weighs 46 pounds but she is STRONG for her size.

She is a little love bug but she did try to rip my mom's face off after my mom gave her a treat...I don't know what that's all about but I hope it's just stress, and a new environment, and that it won't be a problematic thing.

Ming is a Shar-Pei/Retriever mix. Here are some pics...mind you, she was sleeping whn I woke her up to take these. She looks a bit tired but it has been a rather exciting day for her:








What can I say? I'm a pushover for a sad story, and I usually defend the underdog.

Sorry that I haven't been around much lately, I just haven't felt up to it.

Here's the story:

On December 12, 2008, I began to have upper abdominal/chest pains...kind of a dull pain that would come and go. It lasted for about five hours, and sometimes it hurt so bad that I thought I would hurl. This pain subsided at 4 AM and I finally went to sleep for a few hours.

On December 13, 2008, I had a bagel with cream cheese at about 1 PM. The pain began again at about 2 PM. This time, the pain never subsided. My initial thoughts were that I was having a gallbladder problem, as I am the only one left in my immediate family that still has theirs.

At about 5:30 PM, I couldn't take it anymore!! I walked over to the other house on the property and I asked my sister to take me to the emergency room. Upon arrival, I was whisked in VERY quickly. They hooked me up to all kinds of things, introduced three mainline IVs, and gave me morphine and dilaudid for pain. During the whole time, I was friendly and upbeat with everyone. After some more tests, EKGs, etc...it was determined that I was having a heart attack in the atrial part of my heart.

This is when I was beginning to get worried...REALLY worried!! The docs gave me drugs to slow my heart, and to lower my blood pressure. Then, I was informed that I would be taking a Med-E-Vac helicopter flight to University Hospitals in Cleveland. Now, don't get me wrong...I have always wanted to go for a helicopter ride, just not in this kind of situation.

Anyway...so I get all strapped in, covered up, and wheeled up to the helicopter. The whole thing was very surreal!! This was a small helicopter, and it was entirely cramped but the service was first rate. The flight lasted 15 minutes, and it was rather bumpy due to inclement weather that evening. After praying to a higher power for a safe landing, we finally arrived at University Hospitals.

Upon my arrival, I could only explain the next 20 minutes or so as something out of a TV show like ER, or something. I was rushed down hallways in a speedy manner and had questions thrown at me on a constant basis by no less than 20 people. I don't mind questions but start asking me some new ones!! It seems as though every person asked the same question that I gave an answer to thirty seconds before. This kept going on for the next several days, as UH is a teaching hospital. It seems new people would come in to say hi, and to converse with me about the same questions that have been asked about 100 times now...PEOPLE...read the charts or something. I don't feel like answering these questions anymore!!

After the initial 20 minutes, I was in a very cold place where they do heart catheterizations. They, essentially, cut a hole into your groin to access an artery, and then they feed this tiny wire up through this artery until it gets to the heart. They, then, begin to inject dyes that make it easy for their live x-ray machine to look at the heart and any blocked arteries, veins, etc...

At this point, I was pretty much dazed and confused and then I was wheeled to a room in the cardiac intensive care unit. I had to lay completely flat for 8 hours after the catheterization. That REALLY sucked!!

I spent the next three days in cardiac intensive care. On the fourth day, I was wheeled down to the operating room. This is the scariest day of my life.

This is the point in which you don't know if you'll be dead or alive, seeing family again, etc... I was a bit emotional but tried to stay upbeat. The surgery was scheduled for 8:15 AM on December 17th. The surgery to be performed was a double bypass.

I was very disoriented when I awoke from surgery. Tubes were gagging me and I was completely helpless. My arms and legs were shackeled and I could only lay there and gag on these tubes that were down my throat. I was able to flag a doctor down and write a short note to beg him to remove the tubes. He was very nice, and did that. I was much happier at that point. At least I wasn't gagging. Until you have gagged for hours on end, after having surgery that basically cuts your breast bone down the middle, you haven't experienced pain and worry that your insides could actually end up on the ceiling at any given moment.

After awaking and having the tubes removed, I wondered why my family wasn't there. The nurse advised me that it was too early, and they weren't allowed there. She informed me that it took an ASTONISHING 23 hours to come out of anesthesia. Most people come out of it in 4 to 5 hours. I lost nearly a day of my life.

During the next four days that I was in Surgical ICU, I was placed on several different kinds of breathing apparatus. Various oxygen maskes, the nasal canulas, and even a C-Pap machine (correction...BiPap Machine).

I developed some breathing issues after surgery, and everything seems to be fine now.

I have been advised to get a sleep study done, as it turns out that I have sleep apnea. I will gladly do so, as I really enjoyed the BiPap machine. I got more sleep on that than I ever have before. It will be a joy to be able to get a full night's sleep again.

I was released from surgical intensive care on 12-22-08, and I was given my own room.

After many many many test, x-rays, blood tests, CAT Scans, etc... I was able to go home on Christmas Eve.

I have been unable to sleep in bed, as it's much too uncomfortable. I have been sleeping in a recliner, which has been as comfortable as it can be given the circumstances.

I have been in A LOT of pain since I got home. Today was the first day that I actually felt like typing something of substance.

Although I feel a little better each day, the pain seems to be endless. I have not gotten more than a couple of hours of sleep at a time, since December 12, and I can't wait to be able to sleep in bed again.

I have quit smoking, and I am now on a low cholesterol, low-fat, low sodium diet.

I can't drive for 4-6 weeks. I can't push or pull for a couple of months, and I can't lift anything heavier than 10 pounds for at least 4 months.

That's where things stand right now.

I'll give updates when I have them available.

Ugh!! I'm sore!

Surgery sucked. I have had surgery three times in my life. None as serious as this last one on December 17th. Each time, I have had difficulty with anesthesia.

It took me an ASTOUNDING (and quite uncomfortable) 23 hours to come out of anesthesia. Most people come out of it in 4 to 5 hours.

It feels good to be alive but it's a bit disconcerting that I have lost nearly an entire day of my life.

I am home now, and quite sore. Some days are better than others. It nice to know that my libido is coming back slowly! :-)

Anyway, just wanted you all to know that I made it through and that I'm on the slow road to recovery.

Who wants to entertain me?

I had a heart attack last night, which required a lovely Med-E-Vac helicopter assist.

I will be going into surgery sometime this week for a minimum of a double bypass.

I'll be spending at least the next 6 days, or so, at University Hospital.

I'll try to check back often but I know that I won't be available right after surgery.

David

You are a Social Liberal (63% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (26% permissive) You are best described as a: Democrat Link: The Politics Test on OkCupid.com: Free Online Dating Also : The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

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If all goes well, this will be the new girl in my life:

( Pictures behind the cut )

I generally tell it like it is. I have a hard time blowing smoke up people's asses to make them happy. You either like me or you don't, I couldn't care less either way.