Ponderosa's Gotta Love Me
"Punkin"

Punkin is my special tiny baby.
At 12 weeks of age we found out that she has a duct/valve in her heart that did not close after birth like normally happens with newborns. There is a slight chance that the valve/duct will close on its own. If it doesn't then we will have to consider surgery to close it off for her. At this time she is not big enough at 1# 4oz to even consider doing any type of surgery on her. If it doesn't close on its own, and she gets big enough to undergo the corrective surgery on her heart, we will have it done for her.  And if she doesn't get big enough to safely undergo the proceedure, she will just be with us and loved as long as she lives. So Punkin will remain with us for her life time as our special tiny girl.

Punkin at 4 mo. -- 1# 8oz

"Punkin" 5 mo -- 1# 12 oz
Punkin is doing remarkable well, and better than I think was expected by the vets.
She is so full of vigor and life and brings such joy to my life to just watch her strut around the room
with the others like she is as big as they are. She will be going back for a check up soon to see how she is progressing and what options are available if any for her at this time.

UPDATE.....
Punkin had her return visit to the vet today 4/24 and her vet was thrilled to let us know that her condition was on the mend on it's own. She has gone from a grade 3 murmer down to a grade 1. She will not longer have to consider surgery to fix the problem. Her vet said if she continued to do as well over the next 8 weeks, as she has the past 8 weeks, that the next time he see's her that the valve/duct should be completely closed and she will get a 100% clean bill of health. We expect she will always be very tiny and may always require close supervision of her sugar and excertion/playing level, as you would any tiny, but her prognosis is excellent of being able to carry out a normal, healthy life.

 
Punkin 7-31-04
8 months old
Punkin's murmer hasn't completely closed and may never.
But she is a very happy, active little girl who doesn't know she isn't "perfect"
and we will never tell her any different. She is an always will be my velcro baby.

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Revised: July 31, 2004.