Mikhal’s Journey

2024
Please keep praying. Keep believing and keep having hope.
UPDATE 9-7 | 4 PM We spent the afternoon with Mikhal, and my goodness, he can’t help but fill your heart with so much love. We talked to the doctor earlier and his vet team, and while he’s a little bit nauseous from yesterday and grumbly—who can blame him after all he’s been through?—he stood on his own outside. For the first time since he’s been there, he noticed a squirrel. His eyes lit up, and he looked up at the team as if to say, “Hey, did you see that too?” It was the first time since we’ve had him that he remembered what it was like to be a dog.

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Resilience

Resilience:
the ability to adapt to and recover from difficult life experiences. It’s about being able to keep going, both physically and psychologically, after something bad happens. ~ wiki

The ability to recover.
The ability to adapt.

To overcome and to keep moving forward
….. if that’s not the exact definition of Mikhal I am not sure what is.

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Update from Phoenix VSS

Mikhal is making steady progress on Day 9 of his recovery!

A huge thank you to everyone who has donated food and supported his journey—your kindness is helping him get stronger every day.

#MikhalStrong #pvsskc #recovery

In this heartwarming update, we follow Mikhal, a beloved dog from Always & Furever, as he continues his journey to recovery at Phoenix Veterinary Surgical Specialists.

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A Literal Positive Step Forward

Update 9-6 1:45 pm:

Another day – another miracle. Mikhal is taking his first steps ON HIS OWN!!! Don’t even bother trying to hold your tears back, embrace them because this is absolutely amazing!!

The prayers have truly helped the impossible become possible for Mikhal as he continues to fight and push through this incredible battle that he has been up against for 2 WHOLE WEEKS now. The journey isn’t over yet, but this is a LITERAL positive step forward!!

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Meet & Greet

Today I had a VERY special meet n’ greet!
I found out Mikhal was very close to where I take my dogs to train so I asked if I could stop by & meet him.

Sigh. He is so very brave and just a heart stealer!
I didn’t stay long bc I know the vets & techs have their hands full. But, I got to give him some love and take some pictures.
He was getting fed through his tube when I was there. His presence is surrounded by a peaceful feeling – a feeling that he will pull through.
His eyes do the talking for him…he is a FIGHTER!
His eyes say he wants to live. His eyes told me he is full of love. I instantly fell in love.

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Our Miracle Mikhal

Update 9-5 2:22

Proof that miracles exist, love is healing, and God hears all our prayers.
Thank you all for believing in our miracle Mikhal and all the love and care his wonderful vet team has given him.
For three days, people at Wichita Animal Shelter and Kansas Humane Society and even a vet from KHS walked past his kennel, overlooked him, and left him suffering to die in a kill shelter. They said he “looked stable.” Now, one week later, he has the world praying for him and every single one of us fighting for him to live right alongside him. And he’s fighting with us.
Isn’t it amazing what love can do?

Mikhal making significant progress.

Update 9-5 12:50pm

Mikhal is making significant progress, and we’re incredibly proud of him.
His journey is far from over, but he’s meeting all our expectations. The recovery will be a long process, especially with the ongoing issues with his foot. The wound continues to ooze, and if it doesn’t start to heal soon, he may need to have a toe or two amputated. His paw is raw from the fluid, so we’re sending all our prayers for healing.
On the brighter side, his intestinal tract is improving, and we’re hopeful the JP drain can be removed by Monday.

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His journey is far from over.

Update: 9-5 12:50 PM

Mikhal is making significant progress, and we’re incredibly proud of him. His journey is far from over, but he’s meeting all our expectations. The recovery will be a long process, especially with the ongoing issues with his foot. The wound continues to ooze, and if it doesn’t start to heal soon, he may need to have a toe or two amputated. His paw is raw from the fluid, so we’re sending all our prayers for healing.

On the brighter side, his intestinal tract is improving, and we’re hopeful the JP drain can be removed by Monday.

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GET READY FOR YOUR HEART TO BURST

Update 9-5, 10 AM

I’m in complete tears right now. Look at this video—look at what Dr. Ralph has created. I’m ugly crying; I can’t believe how emotional this is. He is a true miracle.
Look at you go, baby boy! You got this!!!
Sometimes there really are no words. Just… Thank you.

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A Testament to Strength and Faith

Update 9-4 11:45 AM

Our brave boy is still with us, and he’s showing us every day just how strong he is.

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newest Kansas City Chiefs Fan

Update 9-3, 6:09 PM

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS — our miracle Mikhal is now one of your fans!! We cannot say thank you enough to the INCREDIBLE team at AcuteVet and Phoenix Veterinary Surgical Specialists — they are the reason this sweet soul is WALKING in the sun!

He is not out of the woods yet. His body is so frail, and he should be 60 lbs heavier. It really is one moment at a time, but every single moment, he is fighting to live.

He still has the feeding tube, catheter, and abdominal drain. They are starting steroids to help with the fluid, but he’s a WARRIOR, and with all his prayer warriors behind him, we KNOW God has guided him this far and is never leaving his side!

Thank you all for believing he is worth it

Heartwarming News

We have some heartwarming news to share about Mikhal!

It’s been six days since his emergency surgery, and he’s making incredible strides.

Mikhal is now able to walk with assistance and even wags his tail when people talk to him.

He’s getting stronger every day and is all set for the first game of the season, proudly sporting his jersey!

One single baby step at a time

Update 1:45 9-3

The sun is shining down on our boy!!!

After seeing the condition that he was in firsthand and how much effort it takes to keep him on this earth with us, we have a deeper appreciation for all the incredible work Dr. Millard and her team do for our boy. No doubt it takes a village, but it truly takes the right village of loving, caring, amazing people who pour their hearts and souls into all these beautiful animals and are committed to giving them the best chance possible.

Mikhal is fighting; he’s not giving up, and we won’t either. Baby steps, sweet boy, one single baby step at a time.

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Update after re-admission to ICU

9-3 10:20 AM Update After He Was Readmitted to the ICU

His Albumin levels have improved slightly, coming in at 1.8 (we were hoping for 2.2), but we’re taking every little win we can get.

He’s down in weight to 21 kg, so they’re increasing his food intake.

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Mikhal is really a miracle

I have to give very special thank you to Julie McMahan McNamara for not only opening up her home but her whole entire heart to help with Mikhal’s care. Right now his condition is still critical and it truly is moment by moment but she’s by his side no matter what during the 24 hours our vet is closed which means he is surrounded by love and the best care, for that I can’t thank you enough. He really is a miracle.

What a blessing of a whirlwind

9-3-2024 8:00 AM

Within the span of 24 hours of being with Mikhal, we witnessed a growing appetite, a decrease in some foot swelling, multiple tail wags and the lifting of his head to greet us, and an overall increase in this beautiful boy’s sense of peace.

Today, Mikhal will get some bloodwork (I am personally holding out hope for an Albumin of 2.2 or higher). There is talk of potentially starting steroids, then it will be continued assessments, and all the beautiful acts of care strung together to make up the day.

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Good Night for now

Update 6 pm 9-2

Be still my heart. He wants to live. He deserves to live. He deserves so much more than this life has given him. We promise whatever you need sweet boy we will fight along aside of you. Every. Single. Moment.

Good night for now. Time to rest. Sweet dreams my brave beautiful boy.

You have no idea how much we love you.

Tonight’s very special live with our boy
PLEASE SHARE: tonight’s very special live with our boy he just woke up after a super sound 3 hour nap. He has to be fed every four hours and shifted and helped to stand to help his circulation.
Left to suffer and die at a kill shelter for 3 days, overlooked by two organizations with an obstruction in his stomach. Starved and dying he found his way to us and we will love him until our last breath and fight with him. He is a miracle

What does Operation Be Brave mean to me? It’s what the Always & Furever team does every single day.

Operation Be Brave means looking into the eyes of a precious soul who has never known a kind word or a soft touch and telling them you are going to show them the good side of humanity—and then DOING what you promised—no matter what roadblocks stand in your way.

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Acts of Love
Little acts of love

That’s what every day consists of. Whether it’s passive range of motion, changing a dressing, administering a tube feeding, helping with position changes, or communicating peace with a gentle word—all acts of love.

When we take an entire day and fill it with little, intentional acts of love, we can move mountains—and we do.

Whether it be a prayer, a kind word, a gentle hand, or an extra belly rub—today, we can all move mountains. Take a moment, think of Mikhal, and spend your day stringing together intentional acts of love. These small acts—they multiply, they ripple—and that’s when miracles happen.

Thank you all for being a part of our miracle.

We will not give up

Update 9-2 1:30 pm

When he looks up into your eyes and wags his tail… I swear I didn’t think it was possible to love him more than I do but he keeps proving me wrong. Everything in him is fighting to live. We will not give up. #miraclesarereal #MikhalStrong #NeverGiveUp #ThroughGodAllThingsArePossible #LookWhatFaithCanDo

Look What Faith Can Do
We knew that we were going to have ups and downs. We knew it couldn’t always be up. But when I walked in the room, he wagged his tail. That in itself is a miracle—a wagging tail showing the spark of life and joy, even when the road is tough and life is painful. He’s not giving up. 
The trip was hard on his frail body, but he’s still here, showing so much bravery. He ate again, but there’s a worry that fluids are going to the wrong places, and it’s hard to stop that when he’s inactive. We’re going to reposition him, and while the activity does him good, it also hurts him. His body is working hard to digest, fight inflammation from the swelling, and recalibrate, but through it all, he’s fighting.

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Miracles in Motion
The Unstoppable Fight for Mikhal’s Life—Fueled by Love, Faith, and the Power of a Caring Community

We are so very thankful for Dr. Millard and her team, and one of the things that makes them as special as they are is that they care about their employees just as much as they care about the animals in their care. In respect to giving their staff time to be with their families and maintain their emotional well-being, they are closed for Labor Day.

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I will try again tomorrow.

9-1 3:45 PM Update

No updates really are GOOD updates. Mikhal is eating strong, and the vet team is monitoring him 24/7 to ensure he doesn’t get sick from the food due to his extreme starvation. Every moment, every update, every step forward—we thank God for how far he’s come, even though we know the journey ahead is still long.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, God. Mikhal’s frail body now rests on a soft bed, his tummy is full, his muscles are slowly but surely growing stronger each day, his incision is healing, and his soul is surrounded by love.

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