Amigo

On January 17, 2010, Amigo (an Endurance Arabian at the top of his game) was found at the barn at 4:20pm with a 2in wide, 3ft long, limb in his left side. It penetrated above his left shoulder and entered his chest, breaking 2 ribs. Only Amigo knows how this happened, maybe a tree fell on him or he slipped onto a downed tree. But on 100 acres the fact he walked to the barn is amazing! The vet that responded first advised that if Amigo was his horse, he would put him down. That was how serious the injury was. Gary decided to give Amigo a chance to recover and took him to UT Large Animal Clinic. Under his own power, Amigo walked into the trailer, made the trip standing while eating hay, made the 30 yard walk at the clinic to the stockade. Amigo was immediately taken into surgery to remove the limb, where he was not sedated and stood for the entire surgery. Removal of the limb collapsed his left lung. Days following the surgery were very rough. They feared that laminitis would set in. He was given antibiotics to fight the the bacterial infection in his lungs. Since the surgery he has over come every hurdle placed in front of him from both lungs collapsing forcing the vets to put drainage tubes in both lungs to platelets dropping to 16,000 from 100,000. Amigo had 11 bags of plasma, from 2 donors, and he had immune mediated Thrombocytopenia - destruction of platelets by his own immune system. He had a blood clot go to his brain, causing him to collapse. He then got up on his own. Through everything that has happened, Amigo has remained calm and collected, not once biting or kicking. He is one amazing boy with one amazing will to live! He is improving daily jumping every hurdle that has been in his way! He misses his home and his fellow boys in the barn as well as his daddy!

Thank you to everyone that has been keeping Amigo in their thoughts and prayers! They have helped greatly!