August 19, 2005

Dear Friends,

I want to thank you for the outpouring of prayers and support while Zach was in the hospital and during his recovery. We are back home and over the trauma that comes when one's small child has to go through such an ordeal at a young age. He has forgotten some of it now, and the hope we had had for the surgery did not turn out to be exactly as the doctors planned. Zach's pathway was located on top of the normal, or AV node. The surgeon tried her best without endangering Zach's well-being, but was not able to cryo-ablate the area due to thick instruments and location of his pathway that causes rapid heart rhythm. They were able to cryo-ablate one area for four minutes, and touched on two other areas. We are hanging on to our faith and our hope that the area was affected enough that Zach will never end up having another heart rhythm episode again. Nonetheless, he must remain on medication for one full year and if, after that time, he has no further episodes, we will try him without medication.

So... faith is important here!

I feel a bit hagard after this experience, and so does Craig. It has helped to get back into normal routine life and look ahead to school starting, while also hoping for good homes for these wonderful horses that have been sent our way.

We are happy to announce that the IHHA again came through with their $4,000 donation. This enabled us to pay our feed bill in full, which was piling up to $1,830. This does not include the hay we just acquired, so that bill will be astronomical. We can only pay bills by adopting out horses, and through donations that others send. It is important to remember us in your giving, and also keep in mind that all your donations are tax-deductible. We could not have done it this year without the help of those who sent flysprays, fly traps, and for Absorbine, who sent us an additional 100 masks this year to compliment the ones that were donated last year. This has helped keep our horses' eyes comfortable and fly-free. So many of you have sent lead ropes, halters, turnout blankets, and other equipment we have in great demand. I thank you all.

We are approaching Super Night and the Vernon County Fair in September. The USTA will be at the county fair and has asked that we are present as well. It is hard to be in two places at the same time (Super Night is the same weekend), so we are asking for volunteers to be at either place. I personally will attend Super Night, and we will have two tables set up there and we are looking forward to it! Elaine B. and her daughter will represent ASAP at the Northern IL Horse Fest in Belvidere next weekend. Hats off to Elaine for bringing Nick J. Cole and Delaney Rae to the horse fest there to show everyone what ASAP is all about and the types of horses we receive into our care. It will be a great event!

We have had a healthy summer - no illness here with horses and all looking rotund and happy (except poor Precious, who is still thin and struggling to feel as well as possible). We are looking forward to doing lots of riding now that it has cooled down a bit - and if any of you would like to meet and trail ride at either Yellow River in Iowa or Wildcat Mountain, let me know! It would be fun to get the horses together.

Until next time,
Susan