Chester’s 6 week check-up

Last Wednesday was a big day for us, and an even bigger day for young Chester. We were to deliver him to Dr David Lidbetter’s surgery at Parramatta by 8.30am ready for sedation and x-rays of his new hip.

He wasn’t too impressed when room service didn’t arrive with his breakfast, but soon brightened up when he saw his car harness.

It was a long trip out to Parramatta, through peak hour traffic, but our boy was very patient, and only heeded a little hand paw-holding when we were nearing our destination.

Crunch time (so to speak). We would soon know whether all the hard work by ‘Team Chester’ (and his Papa in particular) had paid off.

[You’ll recall how we met Lacey the golden retriever at Dr David’s 5 weeks ago when she was there for her 6 week x-rays after undergoing her second total hip replacement. Just look how well she’s doing now. Her big golden retriever smile says it all!]

Lacey

Last Wednesday, while Chester was undergoing surgery, and I was feeling particularly anxious about what lay ahead, I spent some time Googling canine hip replacements (as you do).

I came upon this heartwarming story. Lacey is a beautiful golden retriever who was rescued from a neglectful home by Wendy Donohue and Trisha Jarvis of the Golden Retriever Rescue Society here in Sydney. I know, you’re probably wondering, as we all do, why anybody would mistreat one of these gentlest of dogs (or any dog, for that matter).

She had the worst case of hip dysplasia (in both hips) that the examining vet had ever seen, and had been compensating by taking all her weight on her knees. Poor Lacey needed two new hips as well as a new knee! And guess who performed this life-changing surgery for her – Chester’s specialist veterinary surgeon, Dr David Lidbetter!

Of course it couldn’t all happen at once. She had her first hip replacement on 23rd September last year, and Lacey is now 6 weeks post-surgery on her second hip. What an inspiration!

But it gets better. Who should we meet, when we were at Dr David’s surgery this week with Chester, but Trisha (L) and Wendy (R) – with Lacey! Please take a look at the Golden Retriever Rescue Inc website and marvel at the caring work these wonderful ladies, and a huge team of volunteers including my dear friend Di - - do to help link these beautiful dogs up with suitable owners. They aim to find them “forever homes”.

I’ll be following Lacey’s progress, as she is just 5 weeks ahead of Chester. Wendy and Trisha had more exciting news, too, of an upcoming TV story to be filmed about their star patient. Stay tuned for more!