[Ohio-talk] Deborah and Tuscan update

Sun Mar 7 23:50:43 UTC 2010

Colleen,
Thank you so much.  One thing I should explain is that he does not appear to 
be in pain at all.  He's happy, lively, eager to play.  They said that the 
tumor could even be a benign one.  The problem is that whether it is benign 
or malignant, if it is indeed a tumor, there is no treatment due to the 
location.  So there are still ssues to be sorted.
Thanks for prayers!
Deborah

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "COLLEEN Roth" <n8tnv at att.net>
To: <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 08, 2010 11:02 AM
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] Deborah and Tuscan update

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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