Loki was born on the 10th October 2020. I went to meet him when he was only 6 weeks old and this little ball of fur walked over and sat down on my foot, just like that my heart was gone this cute little chihuahua had chosen me I was now a mumma.
Loki came home to me around the same time my dad started to get sick, as my dad had tests and we waited, Loki was keeping my nurse’s-mind occupied and stopping me from constantly thinking the worst. Diagnosis of my dad’s condition and treatments led to more mental stress then I had ever experienced in over 30 yrs of nursing, Loki became my solace and my tissue when i cried in my room so my parents wouldn’t see me.
Five years on, my mum got sick, I thought here we go again. My dad’s cancer took him from us and I was petrified my mum’s cancer would do the same. Loki again was my solace and he also kept my mum company while I worked. Test and biopsies and treatments for my mum, more tears in my room with my tissue.
We made it through that, then my little boy started acting strange he wasn’t himself. At first I struggled to articulate the issues. Then my little Loki started staring off into space and walking towards the right instead of in a straight line. I became increasingly worried. I couldn’t lose my baby.
I rushed him to his regular vet (Rouse Hill Family Vets) he was assessed and my heart sank. His problem was probably neurological and he was referred to SASH.
I was a blubbering mess by this time my mum drove us to the Emergency department at SASH North Ryde. I arrived with my baby in my arms and me a snotting, crying mess. Our initial contact was so positive the receptionist was lovely and calm. The nurse came out and took my story and never once made me feel foolish because of the amount of pauses I took to compose myself. Loki was taken to the back and assessed. I was called in and the vet explained to me that it was indeed an neurological issue and he would need to be assessed by a neurologist. I had 2 options. I could take him home with me and wait for an appointment or I could have him admitted overnight for monitoring and they would assess him as an inpatient. I chose the later, I am a people nurse and Loki’s mum I could neither be objective nor could I with any certainty do a credible assessment of a worsening condition.
The next day I got a phone call from Dr Ed Pilkington, the neurologist. He explained that he believe Loki had MUO but would require an MRI and lumbar puncture to confirm. He would do this around lunchtime and call with results.
Dr Ed called me later that afternoon with the news and a treatment plan, he was so calm but also very honest, as a people nurse I knew what the diagnosis meant and appreciated his honesty. He also explained the costs involved, I straight away said I didn’t care about the cost I just wanted my baby home.
Loki required another night in hospital for treatment. I was so worried. The next morning, my phone went off. I had a text message from SASH. It was a lovely girl called Jess, she had sent me the attached photo of my baby with an update that my baby had been a good boy overnight and was doing well. That one thing, the message with the attached photo, meant the absolute world to me. It showed me that Loki had people caring for him that actually CARE about their patients.
Loki is home with me now and continues to improve everyday, he isn’t out of the woods yet but he is improving and I am so thankful to everyone at SASH.
– North Ryde NSW
