ATTENTION

Dear readers,

I have switched to Wordpress. I will no longer be using this website. Instead, you can read all my old post and the new ones on www.inevetablefate.wordpress.com. I hope you like it, I sure do!

Sincerely,
Jameela Al-Nakkas 

Resurrecting the dead.

Hello dear readers,

I took a trip to Gold Coast a few days ago and I went to Sea World with my dad. One of the attractions was Dinosaur Discovery Centre on Dinosaur Island. It had different periods in which dinosaurs lived and all their characteristics and some super cool statues that moved and made weird dinosaur sounds which was pretty cool.
For those who know me well they know that I grew up watching Jurassic Park, all three parts! I watched the second one over a million times and I know every line in the movie. However, the thought of bringing dinosaurs back to life scares the hell out of me. I am dead scared of having them back, especially the raptors! Being in the Dino Discovery Centre brought up a debate between me and my dad about whether or not it is possible to bring them back from extinction. I strongly believe that it is possible and if ever did happen, I would jump off a bridge.

Yesterday as I was going through my Care2 Causes newsletter, I came across an article called Is It Worthwhile To Bring Extinct Species Back To Life?. The first thing that crossed my mind was, of course, dinosaurs! So in the article they mention examples of "de-extinction" such as bring back the Australian gastric-breeding frog and being able to get a duck to mate with a chicken and father chicks. Scientists are also planning on trying to bring back the dodo bird or the mammoth. Now any scientist or person who is concerned about endangered animals or those who have already died out would think that this is the best thing that could ever happen. The problem is, however, is that these animals may have the same DNA as their extinct ancestors, but they cannot be wild or "normal" because they will not be raised with or by other members of their own species. I also think that the "cloned" animals would have trouble reproducing and even if they did, their genetic pool would be so small that they would develop inherited diseases. Anyhow, if they do manage to bring back creatures from the dead, I hope no one goes crazy and does what John Hammond did, bring back dinosaurs!

I'll leave you with some pictures of Dinosaur Discover Centre and Dinosaur Island at Sea World Gold Coast.

Dino poop lol.

okay I'll be honest, I took this picture cause I liked that girl's GIR backpack.

my worst nightmare, Velociraptors!

the size a Tyrannosaurus rex would be if it was brought back to life O_O

Maali Salmeen: The crazy turtle lady!

You read the title, it is about an awesome lady called Maali who is well, 'obsessed' with turtles!
I can't remember how I came across her profile on Instagram (where all the magic happens, obviously) but I really enjoy the pictures and information she posts about reptiles and different breeds of turtles. She was also the person I first thought of when this little cutie (pictures below) came into the clinic when I was volunteering at RAH. She invited me over before I traveled but sadly I wasn't able to make it. I can't wait to get back to K-town to meet her and her unique family!

Maali blogs as the Crazy Turtle Lady, check out her blog here. If you love turtles or reptiles, you MUST read it!

Dog Beach!

Today I went on a trip to Gold Coast. It was ah-mazing! After taking in all the stunning scenery and playing games I took a walk by myself and I found an off-leash area for dogs!

I can tell you one thing, the dogs were happy! It was so fun to watch them bond with their owners and socialize with other dogs and people. As long as the poop was picked up, the dogs got to enjoy the beach! I think dogs in Kuwait deserve an area where they can enjoy swimming and socializing.

Here are some of the pictures!

Update about Achilles

Achilles has had his operation and is recovering at RAH, he will head home soon! Many thanks to everyone at RAH and especially Dr. Jill Mullen for taking some precious time to explain to me what was wrong and for the pictures and updates (and the homework!). I illustrated the x-ray taken for his hips and explained what the surgery procedure is.

The circle around his right hip shows how the normal hip should be, with the "head" fitting the socket. On the other hand, the long arrow shows how the hip was dislocated, is out of the socket (pointed out with an arrow head) and coming in contact with the pelvis bone which was causing him severe pain and he was not able to put any weight on his left hind leg. 

The vets at RAH could not get the joint to stay in place so they did an operation which is called Femoral Head and Neck excision (Femoral Head Ostectomy). FHO is the removal of the ball which is supposed to fit in the socket, leaving the joint supported by muscle. The bone is cut approximately at the red line shown in the picture below. Thankfully, Achilles is able to put his leg down correctly so there is no nerve damage. 

the bone removed from Achilles' hip

surgery wound

Achilles after his surgery

the old dog can stand!

More on Femoral Head Ostectomy on http://dcvets.org/surgical/fho.pdf

Achilles the great warrior

This morning I woke up from a terrible nightmare. I had a dream that I was walking on a sidewalk when I saw this mutt get hit by a car. It suddenly got crowded and I was trying to make my way through to the injured pup with a bone sticking out of his right hind leg. People were trying to see him and were blocking my way, so I was yelling that I am a vet and I can help him. I got to the puppy and as soon as I carried him he turned to a child (someone from the family I just can't tell who it is exactly) and I was looking for my family to help me take him to the hospital.

This was the nightmare I woke up from this morning, and today, my father arrives to Brisbane. All was great until father told me that Achilles was injured. Somehow, Achilles managed to get a chain around his right hind leg and dislocate it. He could not move at all. My heart broke. Achilles has been at Royal Animal Hospital where they tried to relocate his leg but with no success. Achilles, at almost nine years of age, had to undergo surgery. They probably pinned his leg using some metal pins, my family won't tell me details and I am still trying to contact Dr. Jill Mullen from RAH. There was a chance when they thought putting him down would be an option but hopefully it wasn't.

After the news I went to my classes and after about an hour I realized how serious this is. Achilles, the dog that had been with us for over eight years is now old and hurt. He is in a serious condition, and I'm not there for him. I want to be with him so bad. I know that it might not make any difference, and that grumpy, old mutt might hate to see my face but I just want to be there like he was there for me. I am scared of losing him, I know he is so stubborn and annoying but I love him to death. He is now recovering at RAH and will go home in a week. He might be named after a great warrior, and he lived up to his name many times, but we need all your prayers.

He loves car rides!

The day he scared me to death when he got allergic to the new rug and lost a patch of hair over night.

love his fluffy coat!

Shaved Achilles. After he was lost for a year we had to shave him and we found wound holes on his neck.

Chancey and Achilles

Achilles in his prime, at about four years old.

Achilles being groomed, he hates baths!

Achilles and Crazy Ruby.

His favorite time of the year.

He could play fetch for the whole day!

my sister handling Achilles at K's PATH Bark at the Park

Achilles and his savior, my baba<3

Achilles and my niece Susu.