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Likes: Daddy,Going bye, swimming, Daddy, camping, treats, playing with my brothers. Daddy
Pet-Peeves: Rabbits, squirrels and deer in my backyard. When mom tries to dress me up, Hey mom I don't wear clothes I have fur !!!
Favorite Toy: My brothers, I love to bullie them, I really don't play with toys to much I might carry a tennis ball around everyonce in a while then dad will take it and throw it and want me to go get it, now if he threw it I think he should go get it...
Favorite Food: Banana's, corn on the cob and whatever dads eating
Favorite Walk: In my own backyard, all 5 acres of it
Best Tricks: Belly up, speak ,shake and seeing how much of the bed I can take up before being kicked off
Arrival Story: My mom brought me a puppy (Hershey) for my birthday. We already had two and didn't think we needed another so I called our friends B and E and they came over and fell in love with him. They were going on vacation in two days and ask us if we would keep him till they got back. In that weeks time we fell in love with him but he wasn't ours anymore. I called my mom to ask her if there were any other puppies left from the litter. That weekend she brought three more, two black and one chocolate. I took the chocolate (Fancy) another friend took a black one (Frasier) and the third (Lady) went to a person I worked with. We see Hersh and Fraiser all the time, Don't know what happened to Lady.
Bio: Evans Syndrome (ES) is a combination of two conditions, one being Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA) and the other being Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia ((ITP). The immune system, normally the defense against foreign invaders, becomes defective and begins to attack the bodys own cells. In AIHA, it destroys the red blood cells which normally carry the all important oxygen through the body. ITP is a blood disease in which the platelets are destroyed by the dogs immune system. Platelets control the clotting capability of the blood and when they get too low, the dog, in the worst case scenario, can bleed to death. ES is a serious autoimmune condition that needs to be dealt with promptly and aggressively.
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Fancys problems began In May 2005 shortly after her Sixth birthday. She refused to eat one morning which was not like her at all, she had always been a good eater. Later that after noon we were packing up to go camping and she was not at all interested she was lethargic, and had trouble rising from her bed. Fancy was normally an active girl and something was definitely wrong. When I let her outside I noted that her stool was a brilliant orange in color, not normal. Her gums were pale with no pink evident. Our vet was closed at the time so we called another vet who a family member recommended, they told us to bring her in right away. When we walked in I could see the concern in their faces . They wanted to keep her over night and start IVs. we were told to go on our trip ( we was only going to be 40 mins away) and they would call us in the morning with the results. He took blood and the tests came back the next morning. Red blood cells were very low at 2.28 (normal is 5.5-8.5). Platelets were down to 55 (normal is 164-510). We came in from our trip to spend some time with Fancy. she was in a kennel with blankets and had 2 IVs hooked to her. She could barely raise her head and I sat down next to her and started stroking her she was a very sick girl.
They had started Fancy on Prednisonne, 80 mgs a day with Blood being drawn every 5 days but after 4 weeks her number were not improving. We were sent to a specialist who started fancy on the drug imuran 100mg a day and thats when it was discovered fancy also had Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia ((ITP).
Her blood numbers showed some improvement immediately, but it was to be over eight months before they moved into the normal range. By then, the goal was to reduce the drugs, which can have harmful side effects, as much as possible while keeping the red blood cells and platelets in the normal range. It was a delicate balancing act which required constant blood work. At first, she had twice weekly blood tests and as she got better those tests stretched to weekly and then twice a month.
Fancys march toward renewed health was not a smooth one. she developed side effects from the prescribed drugs. She was constantly panting and needed to frequently urinate. She had diarrhea from an overgrowth of bacteria in her intestinal tract which we treated with antibiotics. We began to home cook all of her food. After months on Prednisonne, she developed an ulcer and began vomiting. She became dehydrated and was placed on IVs this time, we were able to ease off the Pred and support her with medicines which protected her tummy.
After almost 3 years she was doing very well she was cut to 5mg of Prednisonne twice week and 5mg of Imuran twice a week.
In January of 2008 Fancy was getting Blood Tests (CBC) about every 6 weeks. Her counts were staying in the normal range and had been there for 18 weeks now. The specialist called and said to ahead and take Fancy off the pred she was only taking a ¼ of a 10mg tablet everyday. March 2008 Fancy had blood work and a following phone call saying everything looks Great !!
April 2008 , unexpectedly, she relapsed with AIHA again. I had noticed she didnt eat her food that morning and was panting and lethargic. I looked at her gums and knew exactly what was going on it was 9pm I called the office to page the vet and she met us there.
The gave her cortisone iv and drew blood that would be sent out the next morning and she was put back on 80mg of pred and 100mg of imuran a day. A call the next day confirmed she what we already knew.
We immediately ceased all vaccinations and flea meds and administered only the drugs needed to combat her diseases. Because her stomach and intestinal tract became sensitive, We again home cooked all of her food. We observed her closely for any signs of change in eating habits, pottying, energy levels, etc. These routines continue today.
Today December 2008 Fancy is doing well she is currently taking 5mgs of pred 3x week and 5mgs of imuran 2x a week. Her last 2 blood draws came back excellent and her muscles in her back legs are getting strong ( a side effect of the pred, loss of muscle mass)
Fancy is no invalid these days. Despite adversity, she has returned to her former outer beauty while always retaining the courage, bravery, and determination to live. In the course of her illness, she has taught me patience, strength, and the capacity to appreciate each day as it comes. If anything, her health problems have brought us closer and our hearts continue to beat as one! There are no guarantees of good health with AIHA & IPT
dogs and we may face relapse again, but I have come to believe in miracles for my Fancy is, indeed, a living, barking miracle!
Forums Motto: One day at a time
We went to see the vet person last Saturday I had to get a couple shots plus get my blood drawn to be sent off to the specialist. I was told that now I may need to think about losing some weight. HUH ME was she talking to me ???? Doesn’t she know i have been sick ??? well the results came back and my counts are, in her words ....WONDERUL !!!
So now mom has me on a DIET... UGGHHHHH.
She got me this diet food which really isn’t to bad but get this for treats I get CARROTS ?? BANANAS ?? BROCCOLI ?? I mean don’t get me wrong I love all that stuff but I like my Scooby snacks to geezzz mom.
Now if moms not here I can look at dad with my big brown eyes and he tosses me a cheese it or to but DO NOT tell mom. Even the birds food is starting to look good ........BOL
I also know that Reba is getting my share of Scooby snacks I just cant prove it yet. I hope she gets Fat .....BOL
Ok that’s all for now we don’t have to go back till Sept for blood work.
Mission statement:
Mica's IMHA Research Fund is dedicated to funding research that leads to effective diagnostic tools, treatments and a cure for immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) and to raise awareness of immune-mediated (IM) disease.
Mica’s IMHA Research Fund is a non-profit foundation and it's name represents it's mission. IMHA gave Mica her wings, and her quest for a cure left her a legacy. It would greatly please the wonderpup that in her memory others could join her and benefit in finding a cure. If these efforts on our behalf could save even one life, or spare one you love like we did Mica- the sheer indignity, pain and uncertainty of IMHA then it would be worth it.
We await tax-exempt status. We never handle funds directly, but do maintain all pertinent records for the trust. All information remains private. Our email address is: micabelgianred@yahoo.com
What we ask any patron of our charitable cause is to email your full name, mail address, date and amount of donation.
Please write MICA in the subject field if it is your first email. Please also indicate if you are interested in knowing what studies we support and result of study, if available to us. (Note that some studies go on a long time). Finally, if we can share your pup’s badge on Mica’s page as a supporter, (or later use their likeness and name on Mica's foundation website, please let us know which Dogster# pal you wish we display to represent the family. We apologize for the necessity of asking for a family representative, as space is a commodity.
We appreciate any donation. We accept as little as a dollar at-a-time. Honestly what pains us most other than one never giving a second thought to IMHA research, is that most people who make a donation feel that what they have to give is not enough. Please feel good that what you contribute IS good, and goes to cause not only near & dear to our hearts, but one that Many we have come to know (and LOVE) touched by this disease watch & wait for such a miracle [that] a cure would be, and none too soon.
We never feel a donation too small to graciously accept.
Until the launch of her foundation website, (which we will announce here) when PayPal will be a means of choice, one may send a check or money order to the credit union which manages the fund. One individual is responsible for Mica's Trust.
It looks odd, as written all run together, but it is correct.
Please make check or money order payable to:
Mica’s IMHA Research Fund
Address:
USAgencies attn: Jan D.
95 SW Taylor Street
Portland, Oregon 97205-3305
Many have been aware and asked recently again of another aspect of support for Mica's Cause. We wrote in Mica's diary awhile back, and a special mate drew our attention there.. here is an excerpt:
A corral may be a very special entitlement for some to give. We understand that. We also see that we have a rather unique situation in so much as for us it's a "plus" for research for the disease that took mica. It’s another dog altogether that is going out of their way to make the donation for a corral that a pal makes on our behalf. So, shameless or not, although I hope I am wrong and it is a popular thing to do, please consider that mate of ours who is wagging a tail today. We can hardly believe a full year has passed, only to hear of hundreds more diagnosed, and dozens upon dozens lost, in this short span of time.
If you can help us help others in mica's name, please, give us your best. It's all mica ever gave.
Another year has passed and countless others lost while many more face a sentence no dog or cat in their infinite gentleness should ever endure. We honestly wish we could but we can't do it alone.
Thank you for your consideration
Thank Dogster for their approval of our endeavor for the LOVE of dog
Mel, Mirra & Angel Mica-the wonderpup
IMHA/IMTP
18 August 2006
I am so humbled to be Dogsters Dog of the week. I want to thank each one of you for the special gifts you have left on my page and the sweet comments you left with them, each one means so much to me.
I want to thank my mom and dad for loving me enough to save my life…. twice. I love them so much and am the luckiest dog in the world that they picked me to be their fur kid. I want to thank all my administrators at Fancypants Café. I can say with great confidence that they are the GREATEST and without them there wouldn’t be a Café. And THANK YOU DOGSTER for picking me for this great
honor !!!!
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