Ffion Haf (her
name means summer rose) was rescued by H.A.C.K. when she was just four
months old and was in a distressed state after being put up for
auction. When she was first rescued she was suffering from an
infection and was given antibiotics from which she seemed to recover,
however, a few months later, again she had an infection and was given
the same treatment, but then again the infection got a lot worse.
Although treatment was intensive over a longer period of time she was
getting worse. Ffion was taken to Liverpool University's Philip
Leverhulme Large Animal Hospital at Neston for investigation and they
had to put a tube in her throat because she was struggling for
breath. Further tests were carried out which revealed a growth
inside her skull blocking her airways. Her only hope was surgery.
The surgery was risky and costly but the only other alternative was to
have her destroyed. The day the operation took place was
nerve-racking. Thankfully Ffion came through the operation and
recovered. Ffion was allowed home 10 days later and when the
H.A.C.K. staff went to pick her up were surprised as they had expected
her face to be disfigured, after all she had had part of her skull
removed. In fact all there was was a curved line on her forehead
resembling a pencil mark. Professor Edwards at the hospital had
done a marvellous job, and Ffion still looks as pretty as a
picture. Ffion has to have regular check ups but its fingers
crossed that there is no reoccurence of growth.
Ffion Haf (her
name means summer rose) was rescued by H.A.C.K. when she was just four
months old and was in a distressed state after being put up for
auction. When she was first rescued she was suffering from an
infection and was given antibiotics from which she seemed to recover,
however, a few months later, again she had an infection and was given
the same treatment, but then again the infection got a lot worse.
Although treatment was intensive over a longer period of time she was
getting worse. Ffion was taken to Liverpool University's Philip
Leverhulme Large Animal Hospital at Neston for investigation and they
had to put a tube in her throat because she was struggling for
breath. Further tests were carried out which revealed a growth
inside her skull blocking her airways. Her only hope was surgery.
The surgery was risky and costly but the only other alternative was to
have her destroyed. The day the operation took place was
nerve-racking. Thankfully Ffion came through the operation and
recovered. Ffion was allowed home 10 days later and when the
H.A.C.K. staff went to pick her up were surprised as they had expected
her face to be disfigured, after all she had had part of her skull
removed. In fact all there was was a curved line on her forehead
resembling a pencil mark. Professor Edwards at the hospital had
done a marvellous job, and Ffion still looks as pretty as a
picture. Ffion has to have regular check ups but its fingers
crossed that there is no reoccurence of growth.