My name is Zara. Im am an American Akita. On my 6th birthday on July 25th, my Mom and I received news that my initial tests did not show any degenerative diseases or Tick borne diseases that would be causing my neurological problems of stumbling, lack of appetite, lethargy. We were informed that I would need an MRI to rule out something more severe such as an herniated disc or spinal tumor. The experts and Mom were hoping for a cervical herniated disc that could be fixed with surgery. On July 30th, Mom and our friend Mary Armstrong Louk took me to the neurologist to have my MRI. What the specialist found was a mystery. The needed the do a spinal tap, however, during the procedure, I stopped breathing. During this time Mom and Mary where out in the waiting room and Mom was telling Mary that it was taking too long. Something was not right. In the meantime, several neurologists, a team of emergency physicians and staff were working very hard to get me to breathe again. Not too many Akitas get to cross Rainbow Bridge, play with Akita sister, meet their creator, to be told to its not your time, return and cross back over to be with their owner. After all this, the doctors were not able to get the fluid they needed, it was just to great of a risk. After the MRI and attempted procedure, I awoke paralyzed from the neck down. What they found was a rare condition, one that no one has ever seen so far. It is not a breeding line problem but something congenital that went wrong during conception. I may be the first canine ever documented with this condition. We have to wait to see. Since there is no record of this condition, a cure or exact treatment plan is unknown. The ligaments that attach my head to my neck (just like in humans) are enlarged putting pressure on my spinal cord, cutting it off. During the spinal tap procedure and MRI, too much swelling occurred in my neck putting more pressure on my spinal cord causing paralysis. They believe this is temporary as I can already move my front limbs. My back legs are a little slow to catch up. I was in the hospital for days and my Mom would come visit me for hours and hours and just lay down with me so I could sleep. I couldnt sleep without her by my side. I cannot stand without assistance of sling support and have to be carried. I cannot walk. This is hard for me to accept as I used to hike 15 miles a day. I get frustrated and let out a big sigh at times and cry. On Saturday, August 2nd, I was able to come home. My friend Terrence Louk and his friend, Paul, helped my Mom bring me home from the hospital. Im so glad to be home with my Mom. She tells me shes here for me and get stronger so I can walk again. I am determined to walk again, I just need time to let my body get better. Today, I surprised my Mom and crawled with my front legs from the bedroom behind me in the last picture into the hallway. She was crying but said she was proud of me.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 21:21:56 +0000
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