Update on Kimber

Today is Feb. 8th, 2010 and Kimber is currently 8 1/2 months post torn ACL. She has made a full recuperation WITHOUT SURGERY!!!! It pleases me to see how my very special girl has recuperated without the invasive surgeries my Trouble and Fly had for their torn ACLs.

This month's (Feb) edition of Whole Dog Journal features an article on Conservative Management that includes Kimber as well as other success stories. It's nice to know there's an option other than surgery that may help your canine companion heal from a torn ACL. Of course, every situation is different and not all dogs may be candidates for CM, but you won't know unless you try it.

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Kimber is doing REMARKABLY well! The scar tissue is forming. Kimber shows no sign of lameness, she's bearing full weight on her leg, and when she's outside with the brace on, she can run off leash. I am so pleased with her progress. I wish to God I would have known about stifle braces when Trouble and Fly had torn ACLs.... they would still be alive!!!!
Please scroll down to "older posts" so you can read Trouble's story concerning his "plate related cancer" and Sheba's story with degenerative myelopathy.

Conservative Management for Torn ACL

My beautiful girl, Kimber, also known as"Beauty Jr." (Fly's nickname was "Beauty"), tore her cruciate ligament a month after I had to let my beautiful Fly go. Because Trouble and Fly had developed osteosarcoma after having knee surgeries, I looked into conservative management to avoid surgery. I learned so much from a wonderful support group, the Conservative Management group at http://www.yahoo.groups.com/ and had a custom made stifle brace for Kimber. The brace supports the knee externally, just as surgery supports it internally. Kimber went from walking on three legs, to walking on four, bearing weight on her leg, and now swimming.

It is with extreme pain, sadness, and DISGUST that I announce the passing of my beautiful, innocent, Angel, Fly. Fly had developed osteosarcoma, the same cancer that took my beautiful Trouble's life after developing it from the the non medical grade metal implant that corroded in his body. Fly had the same implant in her.... her implant was corroded just like Trouble's. When Trouble was finally diagnosed correctly after having been misdiagnosed, I believed that chemo would end his life sooner, so I opted for alternative treatments in the hopes of stopping the cancer and enabling him to live a longer, quality life. Sadly, he died four months into his treatments. Because of dealing with this type of cancer and seeing its consequences, I listened to the medical doctors with Fly, who assured me chemo and radiation would give her at least 4-6 months to live, maybe 8 if we were lucky. After spending over $3,000.00 at the facility who made this assurance with my beloved Fly, she had died 35 days into her treatments. I am devastated, disgusted, and heartbroken. The pain with losing my beloved Fly, Trouble, and Jerry Lee within 12 months of each other is immeasurable.

What disgusts me the most, is I told the veterinarians that I believed Fly had osteosarcoma like Trouble.... I recognized the symptoms and she had the same implant Trouble had. (By the way... the specialist told me he quit using those implants when they found out they were associated with osteosarcoma.... not soon enough for Fly or Trouble.) The doctors and specialists kept telling me that Fly did not have cancer... she had arthritis only. Fly had been in pain.... it took a fifth doctor to admit to me that Fly had osteosarcoma.... as he could see the tumor on the original x-ray. Sounds like the others didn't want me to know the truth...what were they afraid of if they had done nothing wrong? I think we know the answer to this. I guess they figured if they kept telling me that Fly had arthritis (knowing I didn't know how to read an x-ray), I'd end up believing them.

Please, I can't stress this enough..... if your dog had a TPLO surgery and a few years later begins to become lame or is lame already, and your doctor tells you that your dog's source of lameness is arthritis, keep searching until you can find a doctor who knows how to read an x-ray properly. YOUR DOG'S LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!!!!!

My Shep/Malamute, Fly, has osteosarcoma!!!!! Please Help!!!!

My beautiful shep/malamute, Fly, was just diagnosed with osteosarcoma, bone cancer... the same cancer that took my Trouble's life. Treatments for this are very expensive but I will give her the best care she needs. You can help by scrolling down and purchasing any of the three songs on this site. All money made goes to Fly's care. You can listen to the songs by clicking on the little button to the left of each song. We appreciate your help.
UPDATE: Fly has had four treatments of radiation and two treatments of chemotherapy at Ohio State University. Because the tumor is in her L7 vertebrae and pushing into her spinal cord, it is inoperable. With treatments, they are giving her 4-6 months to live. I believe that with treatments, love, and perserverance, Fly can live longer with quality and happiness. You can help by visiting the fundraising site I have set up for her and by forwarding it to all you know who may be able to help her. We graciously appreciate all help. Thank you!