A little Bundibugyo Miracle

Jesse was hiding in the bushes.  Her breathing was labored, she kept hacking up stuff and gave a pitiful low growl when I tried to pet her.  Earlier in the day Jesse had killed another cobra in her usual strike and shake to death method, but this time she had not managed to avoid the fangs and venom. Jessica (one of our team doctors, now with some veterinary experience)  was sure that Jesse wasn’t going to make it.  She did look bad.  The tears started to flow and I choked back a few sobs as I thought about life with out this pup.  No Jesse jumping up on the window in the morning, with her whole body wagging.  No more excited Jesse kisses as I sat on the back porch to check my email.  No more of her cute little howls, where she would throw her head back in attempts to get a little love and attention.  I love this dog.  I thought to myself... this was a goodbye I was not expecting and one I felt like I could not deal with.  

It was a long night. I tossed and turned, went through a lot of my America stash of tissues, and offered up many prayers in my semi-wakeful state.  I got up at 6 am with puffy, red, tired eyes and went out to the porch to face what I thought I couldn’t handle.  And there they were snuggled together, Jesse and our other dog Chloe.  Chloe got up to greet me and Jesse slightly raised her head and gave a little tail quiver.  To which I almost started crying again.  My heart was definitely singing with thankfulness to God.  Jesse still couldn’t get up, but she was alive!  Jessica administered a round of IV fluids.  Jesse spent the day in a basin in our kitchen.  By the end of the day she was able to lick a little water from my hand.  With the advice of some vet friends Jessica gave steroids and antibiotics.  I happily sat in as veterinary assistant and held Jesse’s head with my oven-mitted hand.  (This is a dog that freaks out when I have to put totally painless flee treatment on her back.)  Fortunately, she was too weak to do much more than wriggle around and growl.  By the next morning she was able to stand up and walk to the back yard.  She could even drink. Yesterday she ran to the gate to greet me.  My girl was back!  

Some people might think it a little crazy to pray for a dogs.  But I know that God healed her. Jesus himself said that not even a sparrow falls without the Father noticing.  The point of saying this may not have been to show that God cares about animals, but I believe that he does, he created them after all.  And the bigger message is that He cares for us, A LOT.  Whether or not Jesse had made it this would have been true, either with God holding my heart or by filling it with joy and thankfulness.  One thing I know... Jesse is just another way that God shows his love for me.  And it is pretty amazing how much He cares!