Safari Adventures

About a month ago, I was asked to travel to Lusaka, Zambia to conduct a laboratory assessment and provide training to the national syphilis reference laboratory to support efforts to scale up syphilis screening in the country. I spent the latter half of August and the beginning of September frantically putting together training materials, presentations, and packing lab supplies, and I finally had a moment to breathe when I stepped on the plane for my 10 hour flight to Amsterdam. This would be my second trip to Africa, and I was extremely excited and extremely anxious to do a great job. I'm happy to report that while exhausting, the trip went very well, and the laboratory learned quite a bit from us and vice versa. This will definitely be a wonderful partnership going forward. Unfortunately, due to the government shutdown, I am on furlough (more on furlough adventures later) until Congress passes a spending bill. I hate to lose the momentum from this trip, but what can you do?! Hopefully Congress can get their act together before this whole situation becomes even more of a debacle.

 Anyway, while the trip was extremely busy (like 14+ hour days busy) my colleague and I did manage to do some sightseeing on the day of our departure. We decided to visit Chaminuka Lodge, a private wildlife reserve about an hour outside of Lusaka. It was absolutely incredible! For about $80, you received two game drives, a delicious buffet lunch, and access to the lodge's activities (boating, fishing, horseback riding, hiking) and amenities (pool, amazing collection of African artwork). We made it in time for the morning game drive, and I'm so glad we did! It seemed like all of the animals were out and about enjoying the beautiful Zambian weather (nowhere near as hot as Atlanta). I saw plenty of gazelle and antelope, zebras (including a baby!!), wildabeests, buffalo, elephants, and giraffes (my personal favorite- they are so graceful!). Our guide took us by the lions' 20 acre enclosure, and we were able to spot a lion and lioness lounging in the shade. They were absolutely magnificent! Last but certainly not least, we drove by the Cheetah enclosure, and the guide invited us to reach out and pet them through the fence. I cannot even explain how cool it was to scratch a cheetah behind the ears. They are beautiful, awe-inspiring animals!

Osterich running away from the car

Chaminuka Lodge

The logde has an impressive collection of African artwork. This is just one wall from the gameroom.

Ready for the game drive!

Elephants

Gazelle

Zebra

Wildabeest

Sleepy buffalo

Sable Antelope

Giraffes!

Lions!

Cheetah

My cheetah friends

Squeeeeee!

After the game drive, I went for a ride in the bush! You heard me- I went for a horseback ride in the bush! It was the most incredible experience! The atmosphere was alive with the sounds of birds and cicadas, and we passed elephants and sable antelope as gazelle leaped in the distance. Edward, the steady little horse I rode, was born and raised at Chaminuka, and he knew his way around the reserve like the back of his hand (hoof). It was the perfect way to explore this amazing reserve. I spent the remainder of the afternoon eating a delicious lunch on the deck overlooking the lake and sipping a Mosi while perusing the lodge's art collection. Chaminuka was certainly an experience I will never forget!

Don't forget! Lauren's contest over at SheMovedToTexas to win a Horze winter jacket ends tomorrow!

I wanted to take sweet Edward home with me!

No Stiches, No Shoes, No Stall Rest

Long time, no post!

Kwik had his sutures removed at the end of August and that meant NO MORE STALL REST!!! I honestly thought two weeks of stall rest would drive him absolutely bananas, but he handled it pretty well. The first couple of days he seemed on edge during the hand walks, but he figured out the new routine quickly and settled in just fine. I decided to put him on Ulcerguard to protect his tummy throughout his bute regimen, and (knock on wood) he didn't have any problems. He was also due for new shoes and my vet and farrier decided the best thing to do would be to pull his shoes and allow him to go barefoot during his layup. He's doing quite well without shoes, and the extra week of stall rest gave him some time to adjust before turnout. After two weeks of turnout in our small medical paddock, he will go back out in his pasture with Sky tonight. Hopefully any residual foot soreness with deter him from running around like an idiot!

I've definitely been a busy lady in the meantime. Adam and I joined three friends for a backpacking trip on Cumberland Island, GA. It was my very first backpacking trip, and it was amazing! We hiked 4 miles to a back country campsite the first day and spent the afternoon on the most incredible, pristine beach. The next day we hiked 4.5 miles to Plum Orchard Mansion, built by the Carnegie family circa 1900. The mansion was absolutely incredible- it even had an indoor heated swimming pool! After picnicking on the side porch of Plum Orchard we hiked 6.5 miles to the island's Sea Camp. The next morning we hiked up to the Dungeness Ruins to catch a glimpse of the island's main attraction- wild horses!! They weren't phased in the least by our presence, and I was able to get close enough to snap some great pictures!

On the boat in St. Mary's- we're ready for our adventure!

Beautiful salt marshes

Horseshoe crabs

Reindeer moss

Plum Orchard Mansion

Indoor heated swimming pool

Dungeness Ruins

Curious stallion!

Spanish moss everywhere- beautiful!

Crow Hopping Chronicles: Update 3

Well, there is good and not so good. Here's the scoop:

One of our wonderful boarders offered to haul us up to Athens last Wednesday for the ultrasound. The appointment was scheduled for 10:30, but it was an extremely busy day at the hospital and it was closer to 1:30 when Kwik was seen. My doctor watched him walk and trot out, and he confirmed the severity of Kwik's right hind lameness. The ultrasound revealed "very mild protrusion of the medial meniscus" and "mild effusion and synovitis of the medial femerotibial joint." All in all, there wasn't anything to really go on save the mild protrusion of the medial meniscus which he said could indicate possible cruciate damage. NV was able to attend the ultrasound, and after discussing the findings with her, we decided the best way to proceed would be to leave him overnight for arthroscopic surgery the following day.

I was a nervous wreck at work all day on Thursday waiting for the phone call, and I finally heard back from my student around 6:30 that evening. The arthroscopy revealed trauma to the synovial membrane over the cruciate ligament. While no tear was observed in the visible portion of the ligament, the presentation along with the displacement of the medial meniscus is highly suggestive of a cruciate ligament injury. The surgeon couldn't give me a definite prognosis, but he was encouraged by the appearance of the cartilage and the rest of the joint. Kwik will be on stall rest for two weeks, and once his sutures come out at the end of the two weeks, he can go out in a small medical paddock for another two weeks. At the end of this two weeks, he'll get an HA injection (no steroids at this point) and can go back out with Sky. He will enjoy a nice long 6 month vacation after which we can then reassess whether or not he will be able to return to work.

So, the way I understand it, it could be much worse. Hopefully the injection and rest will be just what the doctor ordered and he'll make a miraculous comeback in the spring. In the meantime, I'll hand walk him, groom him, and love on him, and hopefully I'll be able to pick up some rides here and there. I'm so glad to have a diagnosis and a plan, and 6 months will fly by!

Headed Back to Athens Town

Kwik is scheduled for a 10:30 am ultrasound at UGA on Wednesday. My BO has graciously offered to haul Kwik, and NV wants to be there for the ultrasound if possible so I won't be alone this time! I spent the week frantically researching stifle injuries, their diagnosis and treatment, and prognosis. Then I started worrying about what I would do if Kwik needed to be retired and basically drove myself crazy thinking about different scenarios all week long. Adam and my sister were very understanding and let me have my little pity party. I even got "Cheer up!" flowers and ice cream :) They're the best!

Don't mind the price tag on the picture frame :)

This morning I woke up and decided the pity party needed to be over. I'm going to be optimistic about this no matter which way it goes. This is not a life or death situation, and it will all work out in the end. I just have to believe that or I really will drive myself crazy. I spent some much needed time at the barn with my pony today. He was extra affectionate- it was almost as if he was saying, "don't worry mom- it'll all be okay!" I really do love this sweet horse.