[Ohio-talk] Deborah and Tuscan update

Mon Mar 8 03:40:09 UTC 2010

Hi Deborah,
I know that some people retire their Dog Guide and keep it as a pet and get another god as their Dog Guide.
I do not know if you would want to do that. He seems so young.
Maybe you could find him a good home if he is not in pain. Maybe it could be somewhere you could visit him.
God Bless!

Colleen

----- Original Message -----
From: "Deborah Kendrick" <dkkendrick at earthlink.net>
To: "NFB OF Ohio Announcement and Discussion List" <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org>
Date: 2010/03/07 23:51:08
Subject: Re: [Ohio-talk] Deborah and Tuscan update

>
>
> 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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> 
> 
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