I had high hopes that Nellie’s second bionic leg would be ready to engage at warp 9 as of this week. She had TPLO surgery on her right-rear leg eight weeks ago (to remove a ligament, refit the knee bone, and install a metal plate with six screws). Since this is Nellie’s second bionic leg, and the healing process seemed to be going perfectly, I had no worries. In fact, I wondered if the eight-week anniversary X-ray was even necessary. Nellie appeared healed and ready to go, and Deb and I would no longer have to sleep on the floor with her (to prevent her from jumping into our tall bed.) To celebrate, the three of us would take off for a camping adventure on Vancouver Island!

Well, best laid plans. . . .

Despite outward appearances, the X-ray showed a gap where the two bones had yet to mend together as they should. One wrong twist at warp 9, and Nellie could snap her metal plate implant.

The healing difference between the two legs could be many things. But the simplest explanation is that when Nellie got her first bionic leg she was four years old. Now she’s almost seven.

Nellie’s surgeon says she’s never performed a TPLO surgery that failed, and she recommended shock wave therapy to speed up the bone healing. Nellie got her first shock wave therapy yesterday (at $500.00) and is scheduled for a second one a week from Friday. That will bring Nellie’s bill for this leg alone up to $7,000.00.

Yes, Deb and I really love our dog!

As for Vancouver Island, we’re still going to do it. Even if Nellie was 100 percent healed, she’d have to be on a leash the majority of the time there anyway. So really the only difference is that I will have to lift Nellie in and out of the truck to avoid jarring her leg.

When we get back, we’ll do another X-ray, and if necessary, add a third round of shock wave therapy.

Nellie is family, and we will do whatever it takes to get her back to warp 9. Or at least warp 8.