Iron Duke was to make his new home in North Carolina, that is once he was ready to go to his new home after 8 weeks or so. But God has a way of changing his own plans! All was well Duke was a very happy & healthy little puppy eating and growing from the first day he was born. That was until his fate changed things at the age of 6 weeks. He would be setting out to go where he was going to live in just 2 more weeks, or so we all thought. You see Duke was not only going to be a member of his new family he was going to be their new stud when he grew up.

Well back to when he was 6 weeks old he and lots of his brothers and sisters were getting their baths and all was going well, it was rinse time for everyone. When I was rinsing Duke the water went from perfectly warm to HOT! I did not know for a few seconds, but that was all it took. Duke's life was about to change forever!

It turns out that my husband tried to help by turn on the laundry to a second rinse. Little did he know that I was up stairs washing the dogs, and I did not know he was going to turn on the washer machine?

Who knew that 2 seconds was the beginning of Dukes new life and the end of his career as a stud. The next day was to start by noticing 1st & 2nd degree burns on his back. We took him to the vet right away! They gave him a boast antibiotic shot and liquid medicine; along with a salve to put on him, and said he should be just fine.

So, we took him home and started the treatment. And in the next couple of day he started to go downhill FAST! He lost all the fur on his back, and then he got very weak and could not walk! He started to drag his back legs, but you could see the fight he had in him. He would look at you with these eyes that looked right through you, as to say: I still love you! At this point we were feeling like "you stupid idiots" how could you do something like this! At this point we called the VET. Who told us to "bring him in" he has gone into shock! And by the time we rushed over to see the vet, Duke had gone totally paralyzed and wasn't even moving.

We told the vet that he was not eating or drinking on his own, and the vet could see how Duke had gone totally paralyzed. When the vet left the room, that's is when I said to Debbie "You Think We Are Going To Have To Put Him down?" Well I got this look from her that any husband hates to see! The "ICE LOOK"!!! And her reply was "Let's see what the vet has to say" The thing that kept running thru our heads was "He Was Totally Weaned Before This Happened, If I Had Just Know!"

At that point, the vet walked back into the room and said, "we need to run some tests" So, they took some blood, checked his Heart, Lungs and all his vitals. And said, "As We Held Our Breath!" You have a choice! "Now our hearts started to pump like he was going to tell us? "Put Him down now or Wait till He Dies!"

And he said: "He Is In Great Health!"

"WOW!" "What the Hell" I was thinking! Here is this "six week old" puppy that,
"Can not walk! Can not eat! Can not drink! And can hardy open its eyes!
Never Mind, looking like it is six feet under."
He has to be saying this to make us feel better?
And then he left the room and called the Vet-Tec out of the room with him.
And this time, they did not close the door?

Now the Vet Tec walk back in the room carrying some stuff, and Debbie has know this Vet-Tec for a long time. Debbie had been here a lot and this was my first time to this vet. Now you know why, I reacted the way I did. This vet was so cool and did not give me inkling to what was going on! It was as if Debbie had told them how I react to one of our dogs going into labor. That's right! "Go boil some Water"

She told Debbie to give him some fluids and special food by syringe "Little by little" And it would be 24-7 a-day! And told her that it would be! "And I never heard this part!" For As Long As It Would Take "OR" We Can Put Him Down NOW!

Debbie Said, "Heck I have raised baby parrots from eggs to adults 24-7. So I am up to the challenge and with Gods help I was going to do it!"
This is one more thing, I did not hear.

I think at this point, I was one of those; "I think, I Can" people?

So, off we went, home to our new venture, to take care of Duke.
Little did I know what "WE" or should I say "OUR" whole family was in for!

Dukes new home, "Terrell" and what was she thinking this whole time?
Well let her tell you, in her own words.

I first contacted Debbie and Dana Cousins by e-mail on 2/3/01 at 2:22 PM to inquiry about the availability of the handsome male puppy. They responded that indeed they had a puppy that would soon be ready for placement. However, I would need to furnish them with information about my family. I wanted to put my best foot forward and felt that if I could talk to someone on the telephone they would immediately know that I love Bichons. I explained that I was the owner Rosie of Parmele and she was just about perfect. Rosie had a litter the previous year and I gave all 6 puppies all of the love and attention that could be given to a litter. I did backgrounds on all of the owners and had placed puppies as far away as Atlanta, Georgia. Debbie and Dana quickly learned that my puppies would come to see me on a regular basis. These visits are expected and the new owners love to show off their baby.

Just 4 days later, Debbie informed her puppy that he had a new Mama and that he would be called Iron Duke. Debbie and I working on airline arrangements. I live in Wilmington, NC and all direct flights would need to go to Raleigh, NC or Myrtle Beach, SC. I quickly learned that you do not want to make reservations by your schedule but that you put your new "baby" first. Little did I know that my first reservations would need to be canceled and rebooked 7 times. I am sure the people at Delta Airlines learned very quickly that I would be booking my seat and that Iron Duke would need his place beside me in the cabin. I made sure to mention that he was a very small Bichon and that I must be sure he is safe.

I E-mailed Debbie and Dana every few days just to find out how the little fellow was doing and trying to make a rush trip to Boston to pick him up. My husband, Jim and I had already brought one of the carry on luggage pieces for him, a fuzzy blue blanket, numerous toys and an emergency kit for doggy travel. I had already packed these items along with some extra cash in case Boston had one of its famous blizzards and I got stuck somewhere. Everything was just like I wanted it to be. This bundle of joy called Iron Duke would be in our home soon!

Well...well.....just when you think you have the world by its tail you find out what it is to be humble again. By this time Debbie and I bonded and are spending some time finding out that we have some things in common and that we (women) know it all. So I quess that Dana gave her the chance to let me know that my little angel had been accidentally burned while getting his bath. She tried to break the bad news gently but I was having such a hard time understanding that it was so serious. I just knew that he would be ready the next week. But this was not the case. As the weeks passed and he had not made much progress. In fact Debbie prepared me for the worst. But I didn't want to believe it.

In the meantime 3/17, Holly of Parmele had 5 healthy males. Jim and I were very busy again as this was another 24/7. But we loved every minute of it. We still had Iron Duke's bag packed and our reservations were being changed constantly. I still thought that he would be home soon. Jim and I had purchased a small red coat with a fur hood....just in case we had to spend time in Boston due to weather conditions. We told everyone who would listen about our new friends in Boston and that we could get Iron Duke in just a week or so.

Debbie, Dana , Jim and I all said prayers that everything would be OK. I knew that if Duke's health was an issue that Debbie was the best nurse for him. Every few days I would call Debbie to find out if he could come home yet. She would again and again try to help me understand but end it on a positive note. "He is such a fighter" or "he had a taste of pizza today".

Around the first of April. Dana bit the bullet and called me because he wanted to be certain that I understood that Duke had been very sick. He was very specific about the details because he knew that he must be certain that I understood the situation. He felt that Duke should stay in his own environment and that Debbie still needed to monitor him very close. My response was,"ok" but when can I get him?" It took several calls before I could handle the fact that Duke would not be coming and that Duke would not be 100%. I told Debbie that I would still take him knowing the health situation if she found that it would be a good thing for Duke. Debbie and I had many discussions about how Duke responded to the many prayers to God asking for his healing hand.

We think of Duke constantly and still have Duke's suitcase packed just in case some event should bring him to us. I still think of myself as his Mom knowing that Debbie is his real Mom. She was the one to nurse him 24 hours a day. I would have been honored to nurse him to good health.

Dana, Debbie and Duke will be selecting another puppy for us in a couple of months. I will again be contacting Delta for reservations. When I arrive in Boston, I will look around to find Dana, Debbie, the new puppy and Iron Duke. I will hold for the first time the littlest angel that was born on January 7, 2001. I will be happy.

The Coaster

So what was about to lie ahead, we were not ready for. It was like an out-of-control Roller Coaster! We or should I say, Debbie didn't know how hard it would be or the many, many, times we almost lost little Duke. Or the many times he would revert back to the beginning of his illness. Just when you would think, "I Can Breath Now" Duke would start down another hill, just when you would see him take a bite of food or open his eyes.

Debbie would not give up! But what about Terrell? I keep asking Debbie!
Have you told her how bad Duke is? "YES" is all she keeps telling me!
I told her the whole truth about what happened to Duke, and I mean the whole truth.
We strive to be honest and open as we say on our homepage. But I was getting the feeling that Debbie was not telling her the fine little details. So I had to talk to Terrell myself!

Duke had a totally normal first six weeks of his life, just like his brothers and sisters did.
But, something was happing to him that Debbie the vet or I can not explain?
As duke went downhill he was so small, frail and weak and, that he had stopped growing. We were watching every day for him to start to show signs that he was getting better. At one point he was skin and bones, I mean you could see every bone in his body and only weighed 11 oz.

Debbie had been with Duke 24/7 and for that time, about one week Duke never gave up! He would give us some kind of sign that he was still with us. And then he hit bottom. Debbie had to run and do something's and the kids were at school. I was home all by myself, and when I went to check on Duke, He Was Dead. He would not move and he was so cold. When I picked his lifeless body up, he would not move! His eyes would not open and I could not feel him breathing! All I was thinking was WHY ME? Why after all the sleepless nights Debbie has spent keeping you alive?

Not believing that he was dead, I rubbed him one more time and called his name DUKE! NO DUKE!! Don't Die! I did not want to be the one who let him die? Why Me? Duke lay in my hands lifeless, when tears started to fill my eyes and my heart slowed! It moved. Did I See His Tail Move? I rubbed him again and at this point the tears were starting to play tricks. Did I see him move? "YES! HE MOVED!" He Is A Live!!!!

Now FEAR started to fill my head! He's so cold! Warm Him Up! Move Him! All I wanted to do was keep him alive. What to do? Heating blanket! Get his body temp up! Now fear is a friend, I have starred in the face many times! And now my mind was in overdrive! Were, is the blanket? Find it! A towel, I need a towel! Get him in the towel and on the heating pad! Were, Is Debbie? What is his temp? Do I put it on high? No, Low I do not want to burn him? Were, is the thermometer? THINK? What is his temp? Were, IS DEBBIE? Time, What Time is it? One of the kids will be home soon! "WERE IS DEBBIE???"

Well I got hold of my out of control mind and got my act in gear! And got Duke in the towel and on the heating pad. I took his temp and it was low! So talk to Duke! You remember everything you were taught in the Army, "Hypothermia" Think, Dana Think! Warm the body slowly! Rub the extremities! Talk to Duke! Duke, come on boy! Move! Fluids! I need to get fluids in him! Were is Debbie?

Well, then the door opened! Debbie? No, it's Mike! Mike, get over here! Help me! Well, let me tell you! Mike jumped right in! The next thing he told me sent me for a loop! Dad, "Calm Down" WHAT? I said, calm down! What are you talking about? Calm down! Duke was just dead! Mike knew something I did not?

Well, Debbie came home, and when I told her what happened, she looked at me like I had two heads! And said,
"Now You Know! What I Have Been Going Thru, for the Past Two Weeks, Every Day!"

As for Debbie in her words:
I would not trade one minute of it, because God has taught me patience, unconditional love, long suffering thru this experience. As I am writing this story Dana has been urging me to write. I am suddenly realizing how much I have learned because of our little miracle dog named IRON DUKE.
What a will he had to live and survive, he was burned, went paralyzed, went totally blind in both eyes and was brought back from death so many times.

Yet, God spared him and he is a true miracle to modern times!

So you are probably wondering what happened to the people who were getting him?
Terrell is getting a new puppy from us, out of the next litter.

And what is Dukes health and progress now! June 21, 2001

Now as for IRON DUKE, his fur has all grown back! And he is running around on all 4 legs like any other bichon and both his eyes have come back 100%. He can run, play, bark, jumps and sees perfect! The only permanent effect it had on him was, it stunted his growth! And the question is? Is he the smallest living Bichon Frise`?
At 6 months old he now weighs in at "1 pound 4 ounce"
That's right! Smaller then the tiny teacup's poodles!
And of course he won't be a stud. But Terrell will be getting one of the very best one we can give her!
But Little Iron Duke is now and forever, will be part of
D&D Bichon and the Bichons of Parmele Family and is as happy as can be!

He loves to go to the Drive-ins and loves to ride in the car, and even has gone to church! Everyone that meets him just falls instantly in love and sees that Gods miracles really do exist even in this day and age! And that's no fairy tale, no its Dukes tale.

One last comment, be ready and open for you never know when or where your miracle will come from? It can even come in a fluffy 1.4oz bundle of fur!

And remember, "Every Story, Has A Story to Tell"

This one is simple, When bathing a dog, Make sure no other water is turned on!
As something so simple can turn into a real nightmare.

And as for Iron Duke... This story is far from done! Stay Tuned for updates...

Thank You Terrell, for being so understanding, And God Bless you, Always!
This story is written with much love from:
Dana, Debbie, Terrell, Jim and of course the star "Little Iron Duke"
Special thanks to: Pepperell Veterinary Hospital (PVH)

^Duke^ sitting with his Dad ^Boomer^ August 2002
He is a very happy dog that is 7lbs even
And his best friend is "Good Old Dad"
The Vet. (PVH) has given him a clean bill of health.