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--Success
Story--
Rusty,
A Miracle of His Family’s Love
by
Deb Russell
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As I begin to tell you Rusty's story,
my husband, our “doggies,” and I are on
vacation. We’re sitting in a cabin in
front of the fireplace at Mahoney State Park
just west of Omaha, NE. My doggies,
Rusty (age 14), Simba (age 12), and my husband
are snoozing after a wonderful October
day. Life doesn’t get any more normal or
perfect than this. I cannot help but reflect
over the journey our family has been through
this past year and a half.
After Rusty's back problem on
Feb 22, 2009, I was advised by two different
veterinarians to put Rusty to sleep because of
his back issue. They said he would not
have "quality of life.” Obviously, I
never returned to their practice.
Since Rusty's back issue, I have
often pondered the meaning of "quality of
life." I am an avid walker, so I walk
daily by dogs that are in kennels, on chains,
or allowed to run loose
“24/7.” Oh yeah, they can
walk; but, do they have the "quality of life”
that Rusty has even though he cannot walk? I
have come to believe that "quality of life"
for animals or humans means having loved ones
who are there for you, no matter what
happens. Rusty has a great “quality of
life" because he has a family that loves him
as much as they would love any family member.
After the two veterinarians I
previously mentioned, we ended up at a
veterinarian college. They were very
helpful and never made me feel like keeping
Rusty going was wrong. However, I
usually saw someone new at every visit which
is not the ideal situation for someone like
Rusty. So I kept searching for someone
that would understand our situation. Dr.
Holland was recommended to me by a friend,
because of her experience with
dachshunds. After a very lengthy phone
conversation, I felt she would be someone that
could help us. During our initial
visit, she asked to see his Dodgerslist
success story webpage. The following is her
email response:
Deb, It was wonderful to meet you and the
amazing Rusty today! What a guy.
I can tell just from the few minutes he was
here that he has a very special spirit to
him; he is so lucky to have such a wonderful
family who values it so highly! His
attitude is inspiring to say the least! And
for having so many issues "on paper" he
looks great! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the
videos! I got goose bumps when I saw
him swimming - that's awesome! Keep up
the amazing work you guys are doing and let
me know if I can help in ANY way. I
feel lucky to know such a super star!
Dr. Holland
At my last visit at Iowa State
University Veterinary College, the young
veterinarian that walked into the room after
reading his medical history, exclaimed,
"My! Rusty is certainly a medical
miracle!!" What the people on
Dodgerslist don't know is just how true that
statement is regarding Rusty.
Most of the "Bright Outcomes"
stories begin when their dog's back injury
occurs. However, for you to really
understand Rusty's situation, I must tell you
his history. You see, Rusty had a
horrible accident as 5-month-old pup. He
fell from a cliff of about 40 feet to what
should have been his death. After
examination by a surgeon, we were told that
95% of all people would not have the surgery
to try and save him. We were told that
if they could fix him he probably wouldn't
live very long and that we may have to express
his bladder for the rest of his life.
Just one look into those big brown eyes was
all it took to know that I had to be one of
the 5% that tried. I had to give him a
chance for life. After almost 15 years
of loving and caring for him, I can
whole-heartedly say that saving him was one of
the best decisions I have ever made. He
has been such a blessing in my life. He
has given me more love and devotion than any
human is capable of giving. There hasn't
been a day that I haven't thanked my Heavenly
Father for giving me such a beautiful gift.
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Lake swimming is fun
A sunny day on the boat
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February 22, 2009, he was almost
13. When we came home from a movie and
discovered that something was horribly wrong
with Rusty, it was just another chapter in our
story of love for him. We didn't do
surgery because of his age and because of the
extensive surgery he had already undergone as
a pup. His chances to ever walk again,
with or without surgery because of his
previous injury, were very
slim. When his current
veterinarian told us to PTS, we just walked
away and kept looking for someone to help
us. We wanted to try for a few more
years of him being happy and pain free despite
his disability.
Thanks to Dodgerslist and some
very supportive people, Rusty is doing
great! Rusty does use his Eddie’s
Wheels, but he actually prefers getting around
by himself. He has taught himself to hop
around to get where he needs to be. We
live on a private lake and one of his very
favorite activities is to go boating.
One of my best memories of this past summer is
a day that we decided to take our doggies
boating. My husband took our lab down
the hill to our dock and boat. I was to
bring Rusty. I sat him down at the top
of the hill to potty and he saw Simba and
Daddy at the boat. Down the hill he
started hopping so fast that I couldn't catch
him -- his “Doxie” ears flapping and a ARP,
ARP, ARP (Doxie bark) all the way!! No
way was he going to get left out of this fun
time!
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Another very fond memory is last summer
is when we discovered for the first time that he could
still swim. We took both dogs on the boat and
stopped at the beach. My husband started
throwing a stick in the lake for our lab to
fetch. To our great surprise, Rusty started
barking and hopping towards the lake for his
stick! Rusty has been raised around labs so
swimming and fetching has been a part of his
life. My husband threw in a stick for him
- close to the shore. He got into the water and
started swimming just like the old Rusty. I
started crying and laughing at the same time!
As a family, we have a new normal.
Rusty's personality has returned and we spend more
time doing the things he really enjoys. Car
rides, boat rides, swimming, parks, napping by the
front window, barking at the deer (or as he knows
them, “big doggies”), and running them off our
property. He enjoys the belly rubs, tea parties with
my grand-daughter, treats, hanging out with and
bossing around Simba who, by the way, is a Black
Lab. In fact, everything he used to do, he
still does it in some way.
I have been told by so many people that
Rusty is lucky to have me, but that is not how I see
it. He has touched my life and soul on a very deep
level. Rusty's unconditional love has made me a
better person and my life so much fuller. I have
been richly blessed beyond words. Whatever I do
for him now is the very least I can do to repay his
love and devotion. Rusty has taught me so much
about life, love, and relationships. Even
through all the physical problems life has handed him,
Rusty has not spent one day or even one hour feeling
sorry for himself. He has more spirit and
determination to live happy than any human I
know. As I age, I can only pray that I do it
with as much courage and grace that Rusty has shown.
We have recently been given another sign
of encouragement. On his last visit to the
veterinary college, they changed his label from
"paralyzed” to "hind-limb paresis” which means he
still has motor skills; but, they are very weak.
When I asked the moderators on Dodgerslist if this
made a difference in miracles, here was their
response:
“HI Deb! Good to hear from you!! Yes ma'am,
paresis is technically considered slight or partial
paralysis and in that difference between slight or
partial paralysis and total paralysis is a world of
difference. And the miracle of healing can still be
taking place. Nerves can slowly and gradually keep
on healing. That is one reason why we always say,
"Never say Never" with our IVDD dogs. The body has a
miraculous ability to keep on healing itself and we
can never know just what level of healing can be
ultimately achieved. Only their bodies can reveal
the answer over time. This is great news! Of course,
for me the fact that he is sooo happy and pain free
is the ultimate definition of success in the first
place. Anything extra is really icing on the cake!”
Even though we are perfectly
happy with just how Rusty is today, happy and pain
free; as the moderators said, “Anything extra is the
icing on the cake!” However, it is my opinion
that he has always had some hind-limb motor skills;
but, they are very slowly becoming stronger even to
the point that the vet noticed he could move his
legs. As they say here on Dodgerslist, “NEVER
say NEVER” about our IVDD dogs. Rusty may have
just one more miracle up his beautiful “Doxie”
paw!
Original story:
I'm writing our story in hopes that you do not
give up on your Doxie. It will get easier and you
will find a new normal even if they don't regain
use of their back legs. You will find happiness
again with your beloved pet if you will give it
some time.
It happened on Feb 22, 2009. When my husband and I
returned home from a movie, something was horribly
wrong with Rusty. We rushed him to the vet; she
said it was his back. The next month was a
nightmare. We live in a small town and Rusty's
medical care was done by the only vet in the area.
She seem okay until this happened to Rusty. She
advised against surgery due to his age of 13. She
put him on Prednisone & Previcox with no
stomach protection, for 2 weeks. On day 4, he
started bleeding internally. She tried to convince
me to put him to sleep. I never went back...
A friend recommended her vet. I give him full
credit for saving his life because he immediately
took him off the drugs and put him on pepcid.
However, he gave me no hope of Rusty being able to
have any quality of life. He tried to convince me
to put him to sleep. I never went back there
either...
I decided to take him to Lloyd Veterinary Medical
Center, at Iowa State University . They
recommended crate rest, acupuncture, and water
therapy after crate rest; all the treatments that
Dodgerlist promotes. They told me not to give up
on Rusty. They said even without surgery, 60% of
these dogs eventually walk again. I knew he was in
the right place now. I promised Rusty that as long
as he wanted to fight for life; we would be there
fighting with him.
I love the dachshund breed so much that I do plan
to have future doxies. However, I have learned
that I will find a "safe vet" using the Dodgerlist
list of questions to select my vet. I will ask
lots of questions about how many IVDD cases they
have treated and the outcomes. What meds do they
use. How do they treat IVDD. What type of
prevention treatment do they recommend. I will ask
many more questions than I did with Rusty.
Over the past year, Rusty's loving personality has
returned. As a family, we have learned a new
normal. We have learned to genuinely value
everyday with him as a true gift. He is always so
happy when he wakes up each morning. He is my
sunshine. Even though he has not regained the use
of his back legs, he does have a good quality
life. He loves the park, car rides, boat rides,
swimming (yes, he can swim!) , belly rubs , his
family and treats!! Rusty just celebrated his 14th
birthday. Since a picture is worth a thousand
words, I created a video to share. Happy Birthday,
Rusty!
Update October 2011:
Rusty passed last Wednesday having lived
over 15 years with a wonderful and loving family who
devoted themselves to him and who felt blessed to have
been able to share his unconditional love. He left
them and us a living legacy of life lessons about
determination, courage, and the will to live.
We made so many good memories with him
even though he couldn't walk. In some way, I would
like those who are trying decide if they can live with
a IVDD family member to see what they might be
missing. Even though I totally loved him before his
back issue, our relationship went to a whole level
that sadly most humans will never experience. I
understood every bark & whine. I knew when he was
hungry, thirsty, sick, potty time, tired and "I need a
belly rub time". I never minded all of the extra care
that was needed for him. I would do it over again in a
minute or for another 5 years it had been possible. He
truly taught me unconditional love.
Happy Trails at the Rainbow Bridge
Rusty! I know you're running free with glee in your
eyes!
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