"on 10 MAY 1997 my 'Adventure' litter was born @left: Sam, Xena, Frannie, Baron, Mica & Quixote. Baron & i left for the Bridge 1 week apart. Sam joined us 8 June 2008."
Gotcha Date: July 6th 1997 Birthday: May 10th 1997 Likes: after her people, snow!! Pet-Peeves: feral cats (but more likely the humans that create them)-she was a VERY smart dog afterall Favorite Toy: mica was like a puppy with any new toy, even at age 9.. but a tennis ball was always with her Favorite Food: cheese, then likely watermelon Arrival Story: Mica was a highly intelligent, fiercely loyal companion and service dog with a keen sense of humor. She had a winning smile and a willingness to give. She was a real inspiration and a joy to know and love.
MANY have written asking HOW TO DONATE to Mica's IMHA Research FUND.
To makes a donation, you may send a check or money order, or use PayPal.
Using PayPal, log in and click "SEND MONEY."
Enter the email address ecollageArt@centurytel.net with the amount you wish to donate, and select "PERSONAL."
Then click the reason for the payment.
Click "continue." Review the amount, the payment method and shipping address.
If you want to add a message, please do- then click "SEND MONEY."
As mentioned previously, you can contribute by mailing a check or money order to the credit union which manages the fund too. Please make your check or money order payable to Mica’s IMHA Research Fund and mail to the following address:
USAgencies Credit Union
attn: LAUREN
95 SW Taylor Street
Portland, Oregon 97205-3305
We appreciate any and all interest in our endeavor.
As a Dogster or Catster member, if you wish to join Mica's Team, we would be delighted to add your pet's badge to Mica's page, as well as our team photo- "The Many Faces of IMHA." The photo consists of those who have the disease, have lost their battle with IMHA, and those who have joined us to fight the war, to ultimately win by finding a cure! Bio: Our perfectly healthy and lovely 9 year old Belgian Tervuren was lost within 6 days of onset of 2 blood immune diseases, IMHA & IMTP: Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia & Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia. When present together, it is often called "Evans Syndrome."
IMHA occurs when the immune system attacks its own red blood cells (RBCs) prematurely & at a MUCH faster rate than new ones can be produced. It is life threatening & requires prompt, aggressive treatment. A lack of oxygen carrying RBCs may damage vital organs, while a high risk of death from blood clots occurs due to damaged RBCs. CAUSATION: It may be caused by an exposure to toxins, from cancer, an infection or even vaccines. Bee/wasp stings & tick-borne diseases (TBD) have also been implicated, as has the ingestion of ONIONS, GARLIC or PENNIES, or owner administration of Vitamin K and acetaminophen. It may be deemed IDIOPATHIC [id E-oh path ick] (no known cause) like Mica's, which is MOST often the case. IMTP adversely affects the blood platelets, which helps blood to clot normally accompanies IMHA in 50-70% of ALL IMHA cases. It can lead to excessive bleeding. PLEASE NOTE that bleeding can be interior and/or exterior in nature. For Mica it was the complications of IMHA that presented the greatest challenge.
Symptoms of IMHA can appear suddenly or be more gradual. Mica's onset was sudden, in less than 24 hours. Her energy level was down a bit one day, but she otherwise seemed well. After midnight she vomited once. By morning her breathing was labored and she was very weak. Later that day in ICU she became severely jaundiced. SIGNS TO WATCH FOR: Your pet may exhibit subtle weakness or lethargy. They may have an increase in heart & respiration rates (excessive panting) & have PALE GUMS or ears. They may vomit or stop eating altogether. With IMTP they may have unexplained bruising or bleeding.
EVERY SINGLE CASE is different with this illness, which is why treating it successfully is SO difficult. Supportive care comes 1st to try & stabilize a pet's condition. Next, immune suppression drugs try to stop the ongoing destruction of blood cells. Finding then treating the underlying cause IS critical. MICA'S ANEMIA BECAME SO SEVERE THAT SHE NEEDED CRITICAL LIFE-SUPPORT THAT INCLUDED THE HELP OF OTHER DOGS.
Did you know that dogs give blood, just like humans? If they didn't, there wouldn't be enough blood to provide the tens of thousands of transfusions dogs need every year. As with humans, blood must be readily available or a patient may die. THAT'S WHY CANINE BLOOD DONATION IS SO IMPORTANT.
Mica's condition improved significantly after multiple transfusions, & she fought valiantly-like the good Terv she was for nearly a week when complications of the IMHA finally took her from us.
PLEASE consider talking with your vet about involving your dog in a blood donation program. Blood transfusions like Mica received GREATLY increase a dogs chance of recovering from IMHA, IMTP & other illnesses or injuries.
IMHA & IMTP are devastating diseases. IMHA is the MOST common blood immune disorder in BOTH dogs & cats, and its mortality rate is staggering. At times it can be managed, but today there is no cure.
RESEARCH IS DESPERATELY NEEDED. Please consider Mica's IMHA Research Fund.. even a dollar at a time adds up! THANK you
This message is **HQ APPROVED**. Forums Motto: WILD AT HEART The Last Forum I Posted In: Diagnosed with Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia
Pawlease, furiends.. Pawray FUR mirra's sister, SUFI, who was just diagnosed after Christmas with IMHA. She is being treated in the San Francisco Bay area, and her mom is beside herself with worry.
Her current pvc is 17.. Poor Sufi is one sick dog.
we really do need a cure, because they still don't know what triggered it... Like so many we hear from this news hit us terribly hard.
Thank you FUR your pawrayers too mates.. We all need them. Pawlease know tht we have our loved ones in ours too.
May we all have good health in the New Year.
LOVE
Mirra, mel & Angel Mica
Five years ago this afternoon, our sweet angel earned her Heavenly wings. It was not what ANY dog deserved. A creature, as gentle and fearless, loving and fun as one comes. The diseases that took her often strike together, telling the body that your own blood cells should be sought out for destruction.. The worst of them, in the form of IMHA, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, takes your red blood cells, those that carry oxygen, and necessary for all life functions, and makes them explode, inside, until you are literally starved for air. The second, namely immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, attacks the platelets, so your blood literally cannot clot. If you get as simple as a bruise, you literally bleed to death. It doesn't need to leave the body either. You simply go into hypovolemic (meaning low volume) shock, and you are gone.
Couple that with multiple blood transfusions, so many drugs you almost lose track, and a dog you barely recognize anymore after five days of wasting away, unable to eat, so yellow from jaundice you can hardly see through the torrent of hot wet tears.. When you learn the drugs that are being used to keep her alive have caused a severe and life-threatening pancreatitis, and all you can do is force a morphine drip so once in awhile, through the drug-induced sleepiness you glimpse a small glimmer of the dog you love, the girl you recognize, the one that is still trying her best to fight her way back to you, is already gone, while it breaks your heart not knowing what is the right course of action to take is, and never knowing what caused an otherwise vibrant, healthy and in the prime of her life dog that you love with all you have to give..to have to suffer this much! Not knowing where in excess of ten grand in half that many number of days that have elapsed, will even come from and realizing right then and there that she never will come home..
five years later, the tears are still here, and we still need a cure. Lately I wonder why do I bother to do what we do, because it takes SO much time away from the ones I love, especially Mirra.. We Can't do it alone, and the shoulders that bear the weight with us also cannot do it on their own either, but we are not getting though folks. While we have your undivided, I would like to thank those who have given of themselves, on behalf of others, and how much those of you mean to me, who have tried to help us find what we can to help those who are literally dying for a cure.
I sincerely hope you never have to face it, because it may end up being someone you love, and by then, it may already be too late.
Five years ago today we awoke to a battle named IMHA.. Within six days, we lost our lovely and (up to this point) very healthy Belgian Tervuren named mica-the wonder pup! You have heard all of this before, and we know, like so many others, how hard times are.. I suppose I never really understood back then, how long finding answers might take, to solve this wretched disease, and get a handle of some kind, that might make a difference for those who are still being diagnosed. But five years later, we are still at it, and again, we come asking for your support. The most recent hardship we heard of is a lovely three year old girl named Annie, who, like mica, is fighting for her life. I miss my angel, and because ours sent us a miracle, in the form of "Mirra", that I might not have made it this far.. But we cannot win without others, and sadly, for all those who do face this tragedy, so few give back to help us try to help others. Please, get involved, if not with what we are trying to do, with something that makes a difference.
We get so little time with the creatures we love & adore in this life as it is.. To be taken away one day short of all they truly deserve is a tragedy and a sin. Hug your loved ones and do what you can. Thanks for your time.rnLove, mel, mirra and angel mica
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