Help Haku Run Again

On jan 10th Haku was hit by a car, which resulted in a severe break in his T13 vertebrae (middle of his spin). We are not sure the exact details of his accident, but we do know he made it all the way back home while enduring excruciating pain.

Haku was submitted to the UF vet hospital in Gainesville, FL. With the break in his spine and nerve damage, the doctors confirmed he was paralyzed and would not have the ability to use his back legs, use the bathroom, or get up on his own. For those of you who have met Haku, you can imagine the thought of this to be heartbreaking. The vet gave us two options; either euthanasia or surgery on his spine. We were told that the chance of Haku recovering was in the single digits. Our hearts were broken for our free-spirited boy. However, we knew if anyone could beat the odds, it would be Haku, so we decided to move forward with surgery.

The surgeons at UF collaborated with multiple surgeons and decided to proceed with the external fixator method rather than the invasive procedure of cutting him open and placing the pins on the inside of his back. Haku now has 8 rods and 4 pins connecting his spine back together. The vets are hopeful once his spine heals and is strong again, he will be able to have some mobility control. He has a long road ahead with the surgery and physical therapy; but Haku is tough as hell and I have the faith he will make a recovery and be able to run along the beaches, go on hikes, and be the goofball he naturally is.