04/15/2017  Animal was found floating near some docks in Lee County and was transported to the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel Island for triage.  The turtle is very emaciated, dehydrated, and has a moderate to heavy amount of fibropapilloma tumors.  The turtle was transported to Mote for rehabilitation.  Initial blood work revealed a very elevated white blood cell count and a low blood glucose level.  Grace was given subcutaneous fluids and injectable antibiotic and was put in a rehab. pool with a very low water level.  

04/16/2017  Animal foraged all food offered!

04/27/2017  Grace continues to forage all food offered and is much more active.  Tank depth was increased to 1/4 full.  Animal was started on iron injections due to anemia.  Plan to wait for blood work to stabilize and will then due surgery to remove the papilloma tumors.

05/22/2017  Grace had surgery today.  Mote's veterinarian used to CO2 laser to remove all of the fibropapilloma tumors present. 

06/03/2017  Tank depth is now half full.  Grace is doing very well post-surgery.  Eating well and actively swimming.

06/19/2017  Areas where tumors were removed are healing well, however the tumor in the right eye seems to be growing.  Tank is now at full depth.  

07/02/2017  Due to an increase in white blood cell count, Grace was switched from an oral antibiotic to a different type of injectable antibiotic.  

07/07/2017  Grace had a second surgery today.  Due to rapid tumor growth in right eye encompassing the cornea, the decision was made to surgically remove the eye.  

07/10/2017  Animal is recovering from surgery slowly - not as active as usual and eating slower, but is improving daily.

08/11/2017  Grace's behavior is much improved.  Animal is much more active and is eating well.  Monitoring white blood cell count, but animal is currently not on antibiotics.

08/19/2017  Grace was released by Mote Staff in Pine Island, Lee County.