SMYRNA, Maine — A critically injured donkey who was aided by surgeons from California and New Hampshire recently suffered complications after undergoing an operation to repair a broken neck and other injuries.
The donkey, named Joy, belonged to A Life Line, a nonprofit organization in Smyrna that helps large farm animals who have been neglected. Luetta Goodall, co-founder of A Life Line, said Tuesday that the complications have forced Joy to undergo another surgery to correct a problem that developed with her leg after the last operation.
“We just heard today that a second surgery is her only option,” said Goodall.
The donkey’s problems first developed after vertebrae in its neck were damaged by a larger donkey when she was just a few days old.
When A Life Line acquired Joy from the previous owner, she also had abscesses on the side of her neck and the infection had spread deep into the vertebrae in her neck.
Officials of A Life Line took her to the New England Equine Medical and Surgical Center in Dover, New Hampshire, where multiple doctors performed surgery in September that entailed cutting open her neck to fix the vertebrae and remove shards of bones.
One of the surgeons was Dr. Barrie Grant, a board-certified surgical veterinarian specializing in equine wobblers and cervical stabilization, who flew in from California to treat the animal at his own expense.
Goodall said that the initial surgery went well and Joy was recovering nicely.
“Everything seemed to be going well,” she said. “She was eating well, her strength was improving, her coat was shiny, and she had a lot of energy.”
At the same time, Goodall and her daughter, Brandy Clark, who also is a co-founder of the organization, noticed that Joy’s left front leg was not working well. They opted to take her back to the New England Equine Medical and Surgical Center for a scan.
Goodall said that they just heard Tuesday that a second surgery would be needed to correct the problem.
“We have not yet heard what date it will take place,” said Goodall.
A Life Life continues to raise money to pay for Joy’s ongoing medical and surgical care.
For more information or to make donations, visit the organization’s web site at: http://alifeline.org/ or send donations to: A Life Line, 73 Smyrna Center Road, Smyrna, Maine 04780.
