Minor Surgery Ends Up in Amputation of Kiwi's Leg:

NEEDED: Organizations willing to help and An Attorney to Sue NCSU Vets in Raliegh, N.C. for damages incurred during a "Simple & Minot" leg surgery that ended up in amputation of the leg due to their neglience and incomptentancy.

I live in Greensboro, N.C. and am living on Disability. I am in need of an excellent Attorney who is willing to help me in sueing NCSU Vets. either pro-bono or for a percentage of the Law Suit Settlement. I am more than willing to let an Attorney have 60% of all of the winnings , should we win. Please, if anyone wants to take this case or any Organizations that could help with this or know of a good Attorney in this area, please let me know. My information is at the bottom. Thank you!
Deborah "Dusty" Debandi

Here is the run down on the "Kiwi Saga" in the order that it went down, from the beginning to the end.

Feb. 14th = Kiwi went to the NCSU Vet. Teaching Hospital to have Bilaterial Patella Fluxation Surgery that was effecting both back legs. She went into NCSU to have surgery on the worse leg- which was the right rear leg and then, depending on Kiwi's progress.....in about 10-12 weeks we were to return to have the same surgery done on the other leg.

Feb. 15th, 2011 = Kiwi has her surgery. I discussed in LENGTH with them that even if I had to pay the $40 fee per night for them to hold onto her a little longer to get her over the hump in her healing BEFORE she comes home because being disabled, not able to walk and being legally blind.....it would be extremly difficult for me to adequately take care of her.......but they were insistant on her coming on home to the point that they hand delivered Kiwi to my residency (Feb. 18th) four days earlier than I was going to go pick her up. (I have a witness to all of this as well).

Two days after she came home (Feb. 20th) she broke the leg that had had the surgery on it. Apparelty, according to them she had suffered a hair-line fracture at one of the screws attached to two of the pins that they put in, and did not catch it. OR, she suffered a fracture below the pin around the screw after the surgery. Not sure which way it went. Both my neighbor and I thought we understood them to say that, "she had suffered a hair-line fracture around the pin screw, but they didn't catch it". This was all being explained to my neighbor as they were showing Elizabeth Matthews (336-297-1047) the ex-rays of Kiwi's leg and explaining all of this to Elizabeth and I.

THEN, the lady who brought Kiwi to me from the NCSU Vet School- when getting out of the car, set Kiwi down on the Parking lot pavement OFF OF THE LEASH and turned around to get something out of her car. When the lady turned around, Kiwi bolted and ran some 30-50 feet to my door. Mind you now, I was told to keep Kiwi perfectly still and immobilized for up to three weeks - only letting her down on the grass to pee... but yet, this Vet. Tech. allowed Kiwi to get away from her and when Kiwi ran to my door - the hair-line fracture split further. Two days later, her leg just snapped completely into.

I then called NCSU (Feb.20th)to tell them that it looked like Kiwi had broke her leg (don't know how) and it then took four more days to get all of the paper work in order and some kind of Authorization done to allow Kiwi to have the surgery at a reduced rate. So finally four days later {Feb. 24th} Elizabeth Matthews and I were able to take Kiwi back once again to NCSU to now have her broken leg fixed and they performed the surgery on Fri. Feb. 25th. This time they put a plate in it and repaired the two origional pins that they had put into her leg during the first surgery on Feb.15th. I BEGGED them once again that being that this was now a more severe surgery and a lot more extensive would they please, please, please keep her longer and yes - I would pay the $40 extra per day to make sure that my Kiwi was safe. THIS time, they called me up and pushed the issue of me coming THREE days later on Monday Feb.28th to pick her up...even after me stressing that I wanted them to keep her longer and would pay. They wouldn't do it! I guess that the health of the animal AFTER surgery is not important to them.

On Mon. Feb.28th I ended up having a Katie Jackson (336-617-5021) drive me to Raliegh to NCSU to pick up Kiwi, and I stressed once again how upset I was that they would not keep her longer especially in lieu of what all has taken place and also, once again - hello, I am disabled and legally blind and need some added assistence here. I still ended up having to bring my Kiwi home that day inspite of how I felt about it and expressing my concern to them. I also confronted them while I was there and in front of Ms. Katie Jackson about their transporter allowing Kiwi to be off of the leash and to run to my house , which I felt contributed to the leg breaking (being that she was to be kept immobile for three weeks) and the lady stood right there and flat out lied by saying, "I never had that dog off of the leash nor was Kiwi allowed to ever run". I informed them then that was a flat out lie as two Neighbors (Elizabeth Matthews - A disable American Navy Vet.) and an elderly 72yr. old women retired Nurse (336-851-0908) had headed to the transporters car to help her with Kiwi and her belongings and her paper work and had witnessed her running. Also, I was standing in the doorway of my Apt. when Kiwi showed up first (by herself) and a few seconds later....the transporter, Elizabeth and Jean then showed up. Ms. Jackson withnesses the conversation between us and became aware that they did not want to deal with the issue and that they quickly shut me up.

When we got back home to my apartment (In the GardenGate Assisted Living Facility) after the almost two hour drive, Kiwi's bandage had started to come off of her. I called NCSU about this and they said that if it came off that would be okay as it was only there to absorb the ooz and blood and if it has stopped bleeding then just go ahead and leave it off. The women did say that she would relay the message to their surgeon to make sure that this was okay and that they would call me back to let me know for sure. They NEVER CALLED ME BACK ON THIS!

That night, sometime during the night, the bandage went ahead and fell completely off. The very next morning, March 1st, after bringing her home I felt a strange bump on her leg and called the neighbor (Elizabeth Matthews) to come to the house and look at it for me being that I can't see it myself. She said that there was something shiney but she couldn't make it out just what it was. She thought it might be a staple but wasn't sure. I then called the NCSU Vet and told them what my neighbor had said about the shiney thing and asked them if they had put staples into Kiwi's knee as well as stitches. They told me that all she had was stitches. They then proceeded to tell me that they would have to talk to a surgeon after they finished up in surgery and have one of them call me. I waited and waited for them to call as they had told me that they sometimes do not finish up until as late a 7pm and after five.....there's really not anyone there to answer the calls, as they are all back there with the animals feeding, watering , and whatever. I thought that was strange that front desk people would be taking care of the animals, but whatever. NOBODY EVER CALLED ME BACK ABOUT THIS.

The next day March 2nd, I called NCSU once again, but this time told them- that that shiny piece was a lot bigger now and my Neighbor seemed to think that it was a screw. You could see the head of it completely now. The person I talked with said that they seriously doubted that it was a screw but it might be one of the pins. I told them that my friend said it sure looked like a screw. Again, they said that they would have to talk with a surgeon about the situation and when they came out of surgery....one of them would call me. Again...........I waited all afternoon and evening and still, they NEVER CALLED ME BACK ON THIS.

Then on March 3rd I called them back again, but this time the shiny thing was sticking way out of her skin and you could definately tell then that it was a screw as you could also see the threds of the screw. I told them that I was really pissed off as I had called three days in a row about this situation and NOBODY HAD SO MUCH AS GIVEN ME THE RESPECT AND DECENCY OF EVEN RETURNING MY CALL (four times and four days in a row) - even after being told that they would have a surgeon call me. I told them that her leg was really bleeding and very pussy and the screw was sticking all the way out and that I was mad as hell as this could have been prevented had they had the decency of returning my call and we had gotten her there sooner.

This time, a surgeon did finally call me back late that night around 10:30pm on(March 3rd) and asked me to explain to them what was going on. When I explained to him everything....he said that I needed to bring her immediately in the first thing tomorrow Fri. March 4th as this was now a very serious situation here.

On March 4th, my my neighbor (Elizabeth Matthews) took me and Kiwi back to them and this time the "Dean" of the School talked with me and my neighbor. She asked me to explain to her the whole story and I did from beginning to end. They then took Kiwi to radiology and she (the Dean) said that she was going to have to have a conference with all the surgeons that had been involved in Kiwi's case and that would take about 2hrs. for everything. She told us that we could go ahead and go eat lunch somewhere as this would take approximately 2 hrs. before she would know anything.

After we arrived back to NCSU Vets., the Dean came back and talked with the both of us and told us that not only was the screw obviously protuding thru the skin but that two other screws that were in the pins were gone as well. We asked her what she meant by gone and she said they were not there at all, according to the exrays. We asked her where the screws were and she said that apparently they must have come out........even though there were no exit wounds or holes anywhere in her skin to back that theory up, just that one screw that was protuding out. I asked the DEAN if there wouldn't be some kinda holes somewhere where the screws came out, but she couldn't explain that one to us. I then asked her, "Did they ever even put the screws in to begin with, are they floating around in her body somewhere or what as none of this makes since". Once again, she could not answer me on that. The Dean did say that in leiu of all that has transpired that they would cover the full cost of Kiwi's amputation. Personally, I think that they ought to reimberse me for every penny spent on the other two surgeries as had they KEPT HER LONGER LIKE I ASKED AND PLEADED FOR THEM TO DO, and had they not noticed the crack in the bone before they realeased her to me, that the broken bone thing (complete break) would probably never have happened to begin with, not to mention that when the lady brought Kiwi to me she didn't supervise her very well and allowed her to run to my door which Kiwi was suppossed to be kept still. Incidently, the lady that delivered Kiwi stood there right in front of me and flat out lied and said that Kiwi was NEVER off of the leash and that Kiwi never ran to my door. I then told the Dean that that is a damn lie as I have two neighbor witnessess who saw her running to my door as they were out there offering to help the Vet. Tech with carrying things from her car and with Kiwi and the next thing I knew I heard them yelling, "Oh my God, Kiwi is running" and then Kiwi was at my door (no one else around yet) and a few seconds later my two neighbors as well as the Vet. Tech showed up at my door. The Vet Tech then laughingly said to me, "And whatever you do - do not allow Kiwi to run like just what happened...she is to be kept completely still". I told the Vet. Tech. that she was the one that allowed Kiwi to run. Kiwi's running to my house further broke the leg. Then the Vet. Tech. handed me Kiwi's leash (kiwi was in the house now) from her hand to mine. That really pissed me off that she would stand there and blatenly lie about it. I understand human err, I understand mis-judging a situation and unfortunately it was at the cost of my Kiwi's leg... but I am not going to stand there and tolerate them out right lying in front of my face. Because of the lie, (not all of the complications, err in judgement, not returning calls, etc.) but because they lied.......I AM NOW GOING TO SUE THEM....because of the lying about it all especially when I have two witnessess willing to testify. One, and honoray Navy Retired Soldier and the other person a 72yr. old Retired Nurse....not to mention Ms. Katie Jackson also who also works for the State.

I knew before I brought Kiwi there today (March 4th) that they were probably going to have to take her leg off. Too much has been done to her and her tiny little bones and I did not feel that another surgery would work and that I would probably end up coming right back in a few days with another emergency if I had them try to "fix" the leg and put even more pins and plates into her leg. And as I suspected......I was right. The Dean said that her leg would have to be amputated as her bones have become to weakened by all of the screws and the broken bones. Also, Kiwi had developed an severe infection and it was possible that she could get blood poising as well so they have to act fast. So they suppossedly called in their "TOP" Specialist in this area and set it up THAT SAME DAY (March 4th) to do emergency surgery on Kiwi's leg and amputate it.

REMEMBER NOW, Kiwi's other back leg was going to have to have surgery also but now that is not going to be possible and especially not there at NCSU. The amputation is now going to cause further undo stress and strain on the other back leg now and will effect her mobility and ability to walk as well as constant inflamation and pain. More pain than she would have had, had they fixed to other leg and took some of the pressure off of the other bad leg.

I need at this time to buy a "Therapy Cart" for Kiwi to use in order to eliminate more undo stress and strain on Kiwi's other leg, as she is now going to have to be overcompensating for the loss of the other leg putting more stress and strain on the other leg that is also requiring surgery.

The "Handicap Therapy Carts" run approximately $450 for which I do not have this kind of money and would not have to be purchasing had they done their job right to begin with. As far as her other leg goes that I was planning on having the surgery on in about 10-12 weeks.....I am going to now have to hold off on that for now until Kiwi completely recovers - not to mention that I do not have $2400 for another surgery, (that was already paid for and covered) thanks to NCSU Vets. neglience.

The Staff, Office workers, Techs. and Surgeons are completely incompetent and have handled this whole situation from beginning to end with much and repeated neglience to both my dog Kiwi and to myself.

All I wanted to do was to give my dog Kiwi a better quality of life and a less painful life and now, that has cost Kiwi her leg.....and crippled her.

I have many, many withnessess that can testify that before taking Kiwi to NCSU Vets- that I took Kiwi outside every day, twice a day to play ball - no matter what the weather was like. Rain, snow, sleet, sunshine or whatever as it was important to keep Kiwi's legs, muscles, tendons, joints and bones strong and I was addamint in providing this little pooch Kiwi with all of her needs. I never missed an appointment, I never missed her shots, a teeth cleaning, heart-worming, flea protection and can varify thru her Regular Vet. (Pointe Sount Animal Hospital - 336-495-3000) how well I took care of my dog for the entire time that I had her (8yrs.) as Point South has always been her vet. I even had Kiwi micro-chipped to prevent her from being loss and kept a name tag on her of who she belongs to as well.

I understand that NCSU Vets is a teaching hospital, but I was concerned that a student would be using MY dog Kiwi to perform educational surgery and not a Veternarian. I told them flat out that I DID NOT WANT ANY students operating on my animal. They assured me that no students would be performing Kiwi's surgery and that their top Veternarian would be performing Kiwi's surgery and that the Vet. Students would merely be "OBSERVING" the surgery. No hands on!

It appears that perhaps a student did perform this surgery as I could have done better myself. Just my thought and opinions on it. It is a shame to think that a "TOP NOTCH SURGEON" would have created the mess, neglience, pain & suffering, and incomptency that has gone on with my pup Kiwi, caused her amputation and crippled her for life.

There were many, many people that came forward & helped me in the raising of funds and donated towards Kiwi's surgeries. Inspite of how it all turned out....the point is, is that they all reached into their piggy banks out of the kindness, compassion and selflessness of their hearts to want to help a total stranger and her little doggie (partner) out and I will NEVER forget any of them for all that they did to help Kiwi and I out. Never!

These many, many donators now feel that their use of their money that went to Kiwi's surgery was abused and they are also very angry about this as well. They donated money to give Kiwi a better quality of life......not to cripple her and take Kiwi's life away from her.

Sincerely,

Deborah "Dusty" Debandi

3932-A WinterGarden Lane
Greensboro, N.C. 27407-6274
(336) 294-3630
dustydebandi@att.net (also PayPal account e-mail)

****These are all of the sites on www.care2.com that have been put up since Dec.23rd 2010 to raise money for Kiwi's Sugery. Several hundred people came forward to donate to Kiwi's Surgeries and to help this little puppy. All of these people that came together to help this little dog are now having to read about the maiming of this little dog thru the incompentancy, neglect, abuse, lack of communication which in the end.........this relatively simple surgery ended up costing this dog Kiwi her leg.
Kiwi's other back leg was to be also operated on but now do not even know if that is going to be possible for her. The stress and strain of overcompensating for the amputated leg will now present a far worse problem on the other leg that was also in need of surgery. The money had already been raised and sent directly to NCSU to perform the BOTH of these leg surgeries, but due to the broken leg happening......the money that was to be used for the surgery on the other leg....has now all been depleted. There is not any money now to fix the other leg anymore.

(CARE2 SITES THAT THE STORY OF KIWI HAD BEEN POSTED ON:)

1.) HELP FOR INDIVIDUALS IN NEED
http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/HELPFORINDIVIDUALS

2.) Dog Lovers Group
http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/doglovers

3.) Love4Animals
http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html? gpp=23136&pst=1197195&saved=1

4.) Worldwide - Legal Action 4 Animal Rights - (Look under, View All)
http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc_list.html?gpp=19683

5.) PAY IT FORWARD HELP OTHERS IN NEED
http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/philanthropy

6.) PROJECT ONE DOG AT A TIME 2(LUCKY Group) *****
http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/luckygroup


7.) Animal House 4-Ever Homes 4 The Voiceless
http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=28542&pst=1239436&saved=1


8.) URGENT PLEA!! Kiwi Needs Our Help
http://www.care2.com/news/member/281283763/2682800


9.) Care2's Own Dusty Debandi Needs Urgent Help For Her Dog Kiwi
http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/2700276


10.) Help Kiwi!
http://www.care2.com/news/member/914837849/2700574


11.) Kiwi broke her leg! ChipIn:
http://kiwineedshelp.chipin.com/kiwi-a-wonderful-dog-with-a-painful-health-problem-heart-warming-story

12.) Pup Kiwi Needs Our Help - UPDATE

http://www.care2.com/news/member/362859877/2707249


13.) Only A Few Hundred Dollars Are Now Needed To Help Kiwi:

http://www.care2.com/news/member/229345849/2711711

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