[Ohio-talk] Deborah and Tuscan update

[COLLEEN Roth]

Hi Deborah,
I hope that Tuscan improves. If he doesn't, I hope you get through the loss so you can get another dog if you plan to do that.
I am sure you will miss him and that it will be a hard decision. It was hard for me when I had to put two of my cats to sleep.
I am glad you are not having as much pain.
It must be wonderful to walk and stand without dcomfort.
I hope you continue to improve.
You are in my prayers.
I also hope Tuscan is not suffering, I do not like to see any living being suffer.
Colleen Roth


----- Original Message -----
From: "Deborah Kendrick" <dkkendrick at earthlink.net>
To: "NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List" <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Date: Sunday, Mar 7, 2010 14:00:03
Subject: [Ohio-talk] Deborah and Tuscan update

>
>
> So many have been so kind, checking on recovery status of both Tuscan and me 
> that I'm sending a group message.
> 
> It will be 4 weeks tomorrow since my surgery, and I'm recovering well.  The 
> most amazing part is that the pain that accompanied every step I took for 
> the last few years is gone!  My walking is better every day — first a 
> walker, then a support cane, and now I use the support cane going up and 
> down stairs but not otherwise.  There have been some ongoing issues with 
> pain in my lower leg from a serious injury I had several weeks before 
> surgery and which was exacerbated by the rough handling that accompanies hip 
> replacement, but time and patience will probably take care of that.  My only 
> significant issue in recovering is stamina.  I had low blood pressure and 
> low blood counts throughout the hospital stay.  As of a few days ago, they 
> were still low, but I received blood while in the hospital and am taking 
> iron, so again, time and patience will probably return my energy.  I hope 
> so, because patience isn't actually my strong suit, if a suit at all.
> 
> Tuscan's story isn't as positive.
> 
> After months of various treatments and a multitude of tests, he still walks 
> on three legs.  What is known for sure is that it is a neurological problem, 
> in the brachial plexus, a group of nerves that affect the leg.  As Dr. 
> Williams at Guide Dogs explained it to me, this could have been caused by 
> infection, inflammation, or tumor.  There was no infection and the MRI 
> showed slight inflammation, so we treated him with steroids for 30 days.  No 
> improvement.  There was one more long-shot possibility that the neurologist 
> in Columbus came up with.  Again, although unlikely, there was the tiny 
> possibility that the steroids had actually helped, but that his leg wasn't 
> getting the message.  The test is to put him on medications that block the 
> pain center in the brain, and thus prevent his leg from getting the signal 
> that it still hurts.  If inflammation had been the problem and the 
> prednisone had fixed it, this new treatment would result in his using his 
> leg again.  Two out of three weeks of the treatment have passed and there is 
> no change.
> 
> Dr. Williams warned me that it was a tiny possibility and that both he and 
> the neurologist believe it is actually a tumor on the nerve sheath which was 
> too small to be seen on the MRI.  Bottom line: he advised me to make plans 
> to get back into class for another dog.  I finally filled out my application 
> online Friday night.
> 
> This is all so heartbreaking.  I've had Tuscan less than two years and he is 
> a fabulous dog.   Selfishly, I have been looking so forward to long serious 
> pleasure walks again and, of course, he can't do that or any other guiding. 
> And yet, he is still absolutely brimming with joy and animation.  He follows 
> me everywhere, constantly has a toy in his mouth and begs anyone who might 
> be willing to play with him.
> 
> There's still one more week of the pain-blocking medicine and I'm still 
> hoping that there might yet be a sudden change, but logic tells me it isn't 
> going to happen.
> 
> No one has any explanation for how this happened.  Of course, if it is 
> indeed a tumor, we will probably never know how it got there.  It is coming 
> up on two years since I lost Joni, my golden retriever, to a sudden and 
> pervasive cancer, so this is all pretty difficult.
> 
> Meanwhile, I am ever so grateful that I am stronger every day, looking 
> forward to walking without pain, and have the sweetest dog in the world who 
> thinks hanging out with me is a big fat privilege!
> 
> thank you so much for your concern and your prayers.  I'll keep you posted.
> 
> 
> 
> Deborah
> 
> 
> 
> 
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