Born January 22, 1998 in Rimrock Arizona. First born of a set of cashgora twin girls, daughter of a rather large angora/cashmere mom...She was born on the fly so to speak.. mom was walking away from another goat at the time.. and dropped her in the process.. Checking her out carefully I saw nothing wrong with her in spite of her rude arrival into this world of ours. She was standing in no time and nursing along side her sister - things seemed fine. This was the year of 40+ babies being born in a 3 week period, and because of this I wasn't able to give as much attention to each child as I would have liked.. maybe I would have noticed sooner.

At about 2 weeks old I did notice she was not as active as her sister, I checked her out again and things seemed normal so I didn't worry about it. Then I would hear little cries from the goat yard.. pitiful little soft cries. Out the door to see and of course - nothing. I finally saw it.. the baby wouldn't lay her head over her body when she lay down.. or rather Couldn't and would cry each time she tried. I stood in the kitchen and watched. She was fine until she tried to relax her head and then she would lift it up and cry... Out the door to check her again. This time I noticed she held her head at a tilt, like a dog does with an ear infection...So, I checked her ears..nothing I could see.. cleaned them out and set her down.. she still held her head slightly tilted.

Armed with Penicillin and a syringe, she learned what "Just a little poke" meant. She Hated me for it.. and for the days following she learned to hate me even more. The 'ear' never got better, I did however notice a small lump forming on her neck- not quite under the chin but to the side ...Goiter? I never dealt with a goatie goiter so I looked up all the information I could and went back to catch her- Yes by this time she no longer came up to me in the goat yard.. she did not forget those shots. I felt it, I pushed on it.. I tried to 'see' with my eyes closed what it could be. No, not a goiter, about the size of a marble and rather hard, it didn't move and well.. it felt almost like another head that never formed. I had heard of deformities of sheep with two heads and I wondered if she wasn't a victim yet the head just never did form completely...yes this must be what it is. I kept an eye on it and her actions in the next months.. It grew with her but not out of proportion and she was less active than any of the other babies but not in pain or hindered except for laying with her head over her side she did everything the others did just a little slower and maybe not as coordinated.

Only a foot between the yard and my front porch I was close to watch, trying to see if she was getting knocked or if the new ground being a little uneven was hindering her stride.. I couldn't figure it.. Almost like she would just lose control of her legs and fall.. I also noticed her rumen didn't seem right.. she was thick around the middle and no real definition of a left-side rumen. The lump on her neck by this age was about the size of a ping-pong ball and her head had a bit more of a tilt. I went to her and tried to help her up.. she wanted to run from me but couldn't.. After standing her back up she would seem fine for a bit then Oops.. down again. She would go limp and fall so hard you could hear her head hit the ground.. I started looking for a vet.

In this small town of only 2900 people there is but one vet, so I stopped in one day and told the gal I had a goat I needed to bring in for Xrays to find out what in the world was wrong with her neck.. My appointment was for the following day. Arriving on time, me with BabyGirl in my arms as by this time she could no longer walk at all- or stand for that matter..She had been down now for a few weeks and it was up to me to make sure I stood her up many times a day to release gas from her rumen and try to give her legs some strength again.. being a small goat of maybe 40 pounds. it really wasn't a problem to carry her in. We went into the exam room and the vet came in refused to even 'touch' her.. after 3 minutes told me she had a broken neck. I told him it had been this way from birth and is getting worse.. told him I would like to have Xrays taken. Again he said that her neck was broken and Xrays would do no good.. I would have to put her down..

Well now.. this just wasn't an option at this point and even though she had been "down" for a week or so, I really wanted to know what I had been dealing with all this time. nope.. wouldn't do an Xray.. "just was waste of good money". Needless to say, I left there furious with BabyGirl in my arms! Started to call around the nearby towns in hopes of finding a vet who would take me seriously and do an Xray on her so I at least knew what I was dealing with.. I found one 40 miles away who on the phone claimed not to know much about goats.. (so what else is new?).. I explained the whole story and asked if he could do an Xray, even if we couldn't do anything to help her?.. I HAD to know now what was in there.. He really impressed me during our conversation, asking me questions like "How is her attitude?" and "How do her eyes look?" He wanted to know if she was giving up or if she had a desire to try.. I assured him her attitude was really good.. she had developed a small amount of trust in me and her eyes looked bright and happy in spite of the fact she could not stand up. My appointment was for 10am the following day.

Never having been to Gainesville in the 4 short weeks I lived here in MO, I left in plenty of time. Situated BabyGirl on my son's girfriend's lap for the ride and off we went.. not knowing what we would find out.. but at least in hopes of getting an Xray to 'see' in there. I had in the meantime found out the vet in town I had gone to refused to do an Xray because he had NO Xray machine.. now why didn't he tell me at the time.. or better yet why didn't the gal at the desk who had worked for him for year tell me when I made the appointment specifically for an Xray?.. Well, that was behind us now and we were off to find out things I wasn't sure I wanted to know.. 40 minutes of praying on the way.. we arrived at the Gainesville Vet Clinic a few minutes early. Weighed BabyGirl in at 41.5 pounds. Mind you, by now she had a pretty full coat of fiber and being she laid down all the time her urine was matting her hair on her back legs and on one side, she was matted and dirty from being on the ground and not able to stand and shake. She looked pretty pitiful actually. The gal behind the desk came around and petted her in spite of her looks.. and her first words were.."ahhh" in sorrow for her.. I burst into tears. Ten minutes late the new vet, Dr. Main, came through the door with "Goat Medicine" ,the goat vet bible, under his arm.. I was impressed!

Directly over to her to touch her neck and talk to her he started his exam.. Asked her weight and again wanted to know the details of what I thought happened or how this started.. did a fecal on her, asked about selenium, and a million other questions.. He determined her neck was 'fused' in the position it was in and he too wanted to look inside to see what it was.. somewhat perplexed we went to the Xray room. What he saw on the Xray was astonishing!

He came into the exam room with the Xrays and told me "If I showed this xray to another vet, he would tell me this goat was either dead or completely paralyzed". Two of the vertebrae in her neck were at a 90* angle to each other, and in his words: "I don't know how the spinal cord is going through that angle". He was amazed to say the least... and especially with her attitude. He tested her legs for strength and feeling, all were capable of feeling the needle test in her feet, and all of them had more strength than you would think.. Her tummy was hard and felt like there may be a baby developing inside. Her rumen had lost some elasticity and began stretching toward the right under the belly. He read, he thought and he asked more questions... he touched her, he talked to her and he smiled at her... exclaiming she was a pretty amazing little goat. He took blood tests to see if there was some difficiency and he did a urine test for possible kidney problems. Gave her a shot of lutylise in case she was pregnant so she would abort and wants to see her in 7 days. By then the blood work up would be done and he wanted to check her out again.. He spent 4 hours with us that day.. for a vet who claims he didn't know much about goats I think he did a pretty darn good job and certainly is not stingey with his time! Besides, he thought she was pretty cute and agreed with me that it wasn't her time.. her eyes were happy and bright.. the fact that he was thinking along those terms.. from her outlook, impressed me too.

A week later and no abortion no real change but a new thought crossed Dr Main's mind, he had been researching all week.. Oct 1st 1999...Back at the vet's. Dr. Main looked at her xrays again and was suspicious of maybe a damaged Vagas nerve..from her neck vertebra.. causing vagal indigestion which leads to an enlarged rumen and thinking he may have felt rumen contents that were harder than normal instead of a fetus.. (he had done a palpation but not really hard since we both figured she may be pregnant.. even though the Xray showed only a mass and not a skeleton) anyway.. he did another palpation.. outside on the grass.. (he's very, kind always thinking of the animal..it was easier for her to be on the grass eating oak leaves while he worked than stressed in a room on a table) anyway.. we lifted her up into a sit-up position a dog would take.. and he felt around the rumen to the right side.. and he feels her rumen has taken on the typical "L-shape" from having Vagal Indigestion.. this could also explain the odor from many of her burps. The Vagas nerve being high up in the cranial area.. the angle of the vertebra right there would indicate to him that pressure is being put on the nerve and causing her to ruminate less than normal.. the rumen gets flacid and extends shape to an L.. going to the right side more and becomes thinner walled.. less elasticity to bring up gas.. (very similar to hardware disease found in cattle) in any case.. the option now is to give her prednisone to help eleviate the swelling some and possibly reduce the pressure on the vagas nerve.. he had her on 20 mgs a day split into 2 doses.. hope this helps.. and her coordination in her legs he feels is also caused by the pressure on her spinal cord.. something to do with the signal that tells the brain where the limbs etc are..

She takes her meds hidden in a Fig Newton, and gets her probiotic paste and baking soda every day to make sure her rumen stays active, and we have even found a way she doesn't have to wet herself (which has been so demeaning for her).. she hollers to let us know she is ready to go.. and we run and get the sour cream container to put under her to catch the flow.. she stays dry and no mess.. I swear she even smiles afterwards.. Pleased she had trained us to be quick.. Oh I forgot to mention... she now spends much of her time in the house.. too cold outside except during the middle of the day... so I carry her out to her mom and sister for a few hours every day,

	She loves being outside with all the other goats!
	Her mama sure loves her! And she loves her mama..this is priceless!
	And her sister loves her and watches over her..Too cute!

Let me say now that if I thought for one minute she was in alot of pain and had lost her desire to live.. I would have had her put down.. but I will do what I can until "she' is done..and so far she isn't..

The walker was a good idea but we couldn't get one to work .. so I spend a few hours during the day to massage her little legs to try to keep them somewhat in muscle.. and because we have wood floors I have gotten a few of those throw rugs for her to lay on, she lays in the living room to watch TV with us and she 'does' watch too.. with her personal supply of hay in front of her..

The beginning of December brought changes, she was chewing on her feet alot, leaving me to believe that they were tingly- somewhat like when our foot goes to sleep and tingles.. so I asked the vet..He agreed and decided that she should lay on something soft because the hard floor even with the rug wasn't allowing for blood circulation.. this is when I decided to sleep her in the bed with me from now on.. all night in a water bed would do her good.

I waited and watched.. and thought.. hmmmm.. bribery now would be good.. I held a cookie and talked to her..she wanted that cookie so bad.. and couldn't reach it.. I teased her with it and she almost got up on her knees to get it!

Take a Look at her Big Day!

Stradling her and holding her back-end up between my knees and her front end under her chest with my hands we walked a few steps outside with mom and sis watching in disbelief.. By the end of that day she was standing on her own for the very first time in months leaned up against the fence for support.. then she did it.. she took her first unassisted steps with the fence holding her up.. 5 steps before she fell..!!!!!! I ran to help her up praising her the whole time.. "good girl" I hollered.. "what a good job!" More steps, then she ventured away from the fence.. took a few steps with no fence for support before she fell.. we all cried for her in happiness.. she was SO proud of herself.. and her mom and sis stood watching her and looking at us before mom came to me to nuzzle my arm, as if she were thanking me for not giving up on her daughter..
The days that followed she progressed each day.

She still came in at night, then back outside as soon as it warmed up a bit.. December 24th 1999 I called the vet office and asked the gal if Dr Main would be there in an hour still.. she promised me he would be.. He had to see this !!..
and it was the best gift I could give him.. We drove the 40 miles and while Trine stayed outside with BabyGirl, I went inside to talk to Dr Main and told him I just wanted to wish him a Merry Christmas..gave him a small gift and started to leave.. turned around to him and said.. "Oh., I almost forgot. There's something I wanted you to see" Opened the door to the office and there on the front lawn was BabyGirl.. walking to the steps to the office..and UP the steps.. I turned to him and there he was.. tears welling up in his eyes.. "I would have NEVER believed this if I hadn't seen it.myself!" He couldn't believe she was actually walking.. She really gave him a show.. He kept shaking his head and saying I really can't believe she is on her feet and walking. She even squatted to piddle for him.. being very proud of her regained ability.

He wanted to start trying to reduce the meds soon for fear they side effects would do more harm than good.. but we would wait until she go to the point that now new improvements had been made and she had maintained for awhile.. What a Christmas gift that was!!

January 22, 2000 she had her 2nd birthday and was feeling pretty spiffy, doing almost normal things in the goat yard, still sleeping in the house as it was so cold at night, but 2 days later she seemed down in the mouth.. I thought maybe she had got bonked hard by another goat so I kept a close eye on her..she seemed to bounce back just fine..

I prayed the whole way there.. by the time we got there she acted fine.. *s*.. he took a look at her and to reduce swelling that could interfere with her walking.. gave her dexamethasone.. brought her home and she was great that night.. by the next evening she would act as if she were in terrible pain in her belly.. and wasn't eating normally .. she would also act as if she stability was off again.. falling more now.. this went on and off for the whole week..

Ears feet and mouth were cold like ice inside.. by 5:30 that morning and not much urine or berries.. and lust less eyes.. no movement really she could walk but .. wasn't happy or comfortable..I had already made an appointment for morning..
she was acting shocky..I was so tired and upset..gave her some glucose and water.. and got her into bed with me under the down comforter.. and snuggled up to me "spoon style" so I could keep her warm.. and prayed.. she lay back and went totally relaxed.. and I could hardly feel her breathing.. very slow and shallow..hardly and heartbeat.. and she let out a couple pitiful cries.. soft and low.. I knew she wanted to be outside with her mom.. but it was 9 degrees..I thought I would be taking her to the vets as a necropsy for sure.. I tried not to cry.. but ... well... after all her work to finally walk and never giving up.. my BabyGirl had given up..
or so I thought..
This morning at 7:30 she woke me up.. cudding.. hadn't cudded all day yesterday.. her mouth was warm.. ears and feet warm.. So we kept the appointment.. he still says she couldn't have been that far down and bounced up to walking around his office like she was in that short of time..
well.. she did..
but he had also said any goat with a neck like that shouldn't be alive or if so would be paralyzed.. well.. the little angel acted like nothing was wrong.. He drew blood.. and put her on SMZ an oral antibiotic.. no more shots..
He feels she may have an ulcer due to the steroids she has been on for the swelling in her neck.. so we're treating her for that..

She hasn't given up yet.. bless her tiny heart..

Today..BabyGirl 'RAN' out with the other goaties this morning at feeding time..


good to see her bouncing her cute butt around again..thank you Lord.. for all I have to be happy for..

March 3 2000 After yet another trip to the vet...well.. we made it back around 5.. weather was coming in quick too..the van decided to run off the battery all the way back.. glad to make it home.. and all the kids here were fine.. man I hate leaving the house with no one here to watch them.. whew!

I have monitored this girl beyond reality here.. when she tinkles.. I catch it in a cup.. and gauge how much, how often, what color and what it smells like.. and just before she tinkles she hollers out.. now being that she is laying down again.. I know she doesn't want to get herself wet.. maybe that's why she hollers.. but it really looks like it hurts.. she really hollers.. you know mouth open and tongue hanging out hollering.. the whole bit.. That wasn't the strange part.. *s*.. (strange for you maybe but not for me..) this is strange ...
Well.. he needed to get a feces sample .. so on went the glove and lubricated his finger and in he went.. she was obviously uncomfortable and embarrassed.. but she dealt with it.. he got his sample..took some for the fecal float.. it was maybe about 2 minutes and she tinkled..and I mean ALOT.. (she has been putting out maybe a couple TBSP of very dark urine lately at a time.. ) this was probably about 3/4 cup and clear as water.. I have not seen her tinkle like that in over a month.. she had no water to drink this morning.. so you figure it out.. I wonder if he could have pushed on something that was stuck or turned or wrong somehow to make her go like this.. it was as normal as normal could be.. made me look like a fool.. *LOL* kids!
On the way home she laid in the passenger seat in the van.. and half way home she starts to holler.. and kick her feet around.. I knew she had to go.. so she did..not AS clear but a large amount again.. she did this twice coming home.. He started her on Baytril.. man alive 26.00 for 20 pills.. so he's stumped and so am I.. mostly I wonder about that urine.. weird!..

March 24th 2000 BabyGirl is trying to stand up again on her own.. she just doesn't give up easily, this girl.. a few steps one at a time, still wobbly but trying.. I talked to Dr. Frank Craddock Texas A&M University goat and sheep specialist.. and he thinks that she did NOT hurt her neck in the delivery as I thought.. He feels this is a birth defect..and the stomach problems may be a part of it..
His first question was .."Is she still alive?" and was shocked to hear she was.. and was improving some.. He was pretty amazed at the fact that she has done so well.. and in his words told me.."I don't know you have kept her alive..." which coming from him sure made me feel good..
Yesterday we had a storm and everyone was out in the barn.. I finally went in after it calmed down to get some coffee..
I guess BabyGirl got tired of being in the barn..I looked outside and there she was.. very wobbly walking all by herself from the barn almost to the front pen.. about 50 feet before she fell.. then got up.. soaking wet and muddy walked to the front pen to see her mama.. then fell again.. My son's girl friend went out to get her- helped her up on her feet.. opened the gate.. BabyGirl walked out the gate by herself.. saw me on the porch..walked up the steps.. around the dogs and into the house.. very unsteady and wobbly but on her own.. now go figure..

*S* she is something.. this little girl never gives up.. and happy as a lark.. her eyes just shine.. last night she got up a few times to go to the kitchen for hay..


which I keep for her under the table.. Now..I have sheared her fiber... and what did I notice?.. Her spine is curved alot.. from the shoulders to the tail.. (wish I had seen that before I talked to Dr Craddock). Do goats get scoliosis?..

I could find nothing in Goat Medicine about it.. She also now asks to go outside to tinkle.. goes to the kitchen door and talks to me.. out on the porch to tinkle and back inside.. and later when she gets tired.. goes into the bedroom and stands by the bed.. waiting.. so I pick her up and put her in bed.. she is really something.. Summer came and went and BabyGirl did fine all summer.. out in the pasture with the others walking carefully and sometimes falling, but picks herself up and brushes herself off and back at it again..

October 2000 She is off all medications now.. never did find out what the elevated blood count was.. I have a bottle of dexamethasone on hand for any times she has an accident and her neck swells.. I have watched her closely and it seems within a day or two after even the smallest strains on her neck, she starts to have problems with her motor skills.. and eventually her digestion.. So, she is closely monitored and gets a shot of dex after any accidents and within a day she is back to normal.. for her.. She doesn't walk straight, her head tilts all the time.. sometimes she loses her balance while tinkling, and sometimes she is fine.. her feet drag some and when she runs she does this cute little side wiggle thing.. her very own style.. She even takes the effort to "coo-coo" the boys and I might add they think she's pretty cute *S*


The girl is strong willed and a happy little face, getting anything she wants any time she wants it.. Why Not?.. she has more than deserved it.. Last year at this time she was flat out on her side watching the other goats chase falling leaves.. this year she can chase them too.. slow and carefully she will bend down to get one.. but gets them none-the-less.. She still shares my bed with me.. I wouldn't have it any other way..
She spends the days with her mom and sister..

and the evenings and nights with me.. I think that's pretty fair.. don't you?.. She is pretty well house broke.. asks to go outside.. even wakes me up in bed to go.. I do have to lift her off and on the bed.. but hey.. a small price to pay for little hoofies that can walk..
There have been many many answered prayers in this house, many tears and many smiles.. She has brought delight to anyone who has spent the time to know her..
with that BabyGirl tilt of hers..
She is a blessing to have around and I thank the Lord every day for giving her feet back to her.. for her.. not for me.. I would have carried her till the end if she needed me to.. but she feels good about herself and that's what counts to me.. she's happy.. her mom and sis are happy and that makes my heart smile..
She is The Most Precious Gift I could have ever asked for..
Until Next Time... goatie hugs goatlady

*A Quick update on BabyGirl- Feb 2 2001
She is doing very well.. has more good days than bad.
As long as we catch any accidents quick with the meds and watch her closely...things work out well.
She can steal your heart like no other!

I promise you that!