Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - Happy Holidays to all

Greetings to all, I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy holiday season and a blessed and joyful New Year. This has been a very busy year on this forum. We have seen lots of dogs who are doing well as well as lots of deaths. While my schedule now makes it impossible for me to post as much as I once did, I read each and every post and rejoice with those whose dogs are doing well and weep with those who have had losses. I am grateful for each and everyone of you who post on this forum and thankful for the support you give one another. I know just how important this support can be. When my dear Meisha was diagnosed with AIHA, in January 1992 it took me over 3 years to meet another person whose dog had the disease. Those were 3 of the most lonely frustrating years of my life. This was before the internet was available to most people in their homes. When I finally did get online a few years later I was determined that others who had a dog with AIHA/IMHA would not feel as isolated as I did, thus this forum and later the Meisha’s Hope Web site: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/ and still later the Meisha’s Hope AIHA/IMHA Fund #338 at MAF: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/newhope.htm http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/meisha which sponsors studies on Canine AIHA/IMHA. The many years since Meisha’s AIHA diagnosis and later her death have been filled with lots of experiences, both glad and sad, as well as lots of wonderful people who have come into my life. I am thankful for all these experiences and people because they helped me to grow as a person. To those of you who have a dog who is doing well, I am so very happy for you. I remember those wonderful days with Meisha. To those of you who have lost your dog to AIHA/IMHA or something else, know you are in my thoughts in prayers. In the last 8 years I have lost 3 dogs, the last one being my dear Maddie just a little over 4 months ago. While I still miss her so much I am determined to celebrate her life as well as the lives of both Meisha and Margo rather then grieve their loss. I am thrilled to now have Maggie and she and I wish you all a happy holiday and a blessed and joyful New Year. You can view our online holiday greeting at this URL: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/card.htm Hugs to all the Canine Kids from Maggie and me.

Joanne MN

Happy Holidays to you too Joanne! My goodness your Maggie looks like Meisha. I always look forward to your Christmas Cards!!! My Rocky will be celebrating his 14th Birthday on January 4th. Pretty good for a big boy! I sure miss my Jacob, still very hard around the holidays. I am just very thankful that I now have way more good days. It seems as soon as I shed a tear they are replaced with all the glorious years of memories I was blessed to spend with my boy! Hugs to you and your girl! Love, Teresa

Teresa va

Joanne, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done. Without this site for support and questions I don't know what I would have done. Your work in educating us has saved many of our pets lives. It's difficult to imagine what you must have gone through not being able to talk to another person whose dog had this disease. Happy Holidays to you and your family. Chris & Alex

Chris Pa

Happy Holidays to Joanne, David, Maggie, and all of our friends here. We love and appreciate Joanne and all of her dedication, and of course everyone here, who supports us and understands this roller coaster. Thank you for that adorable card, what a cutie that Maggie is! Here's our Holiday Card (minus our Winnie dog who's too old and grouchy to get in theere :) http://picasaweb.google.com/woofslc/HolidayDogs#5417763823067957202 With love, melissa, tiggs, adam, honey and winnie too!

melissa slc

Dear Joanne and everyone else on this forum, special mention to Brigitte who invited me to join after seeing me struggle on another forum with no responses to my questions. After Riley's diagnosis on 3 September, I did not know what to do as nobody else I knew had heard of this illness. Thank you also so much - and of course another extra special mention to Patrice who caringly shares her knowledge with all of us, and we feel so fortunate when Patrice posts in one of our threads - I dont know what I would do without being able to ask questions in here, and also moan and groan about my situation, and someone always has something supportive to say. It is an amazing forum, thank you Joanne, and also your site which I often visit for another piece of information I need. Im also amazed as to how much one can feel about people and dogs we dont know, share the ups and downs and also the hope, that one day our dogs can be well. Thank you all, and I wish you all a happy and safe Christmas and New Year, and all those sick doggies speedy recoveries and good health. Silka, Riley & Bonnie in Oz. :)

Silka Melbourne Australia

Oops forgot - beautiful photos Joanne and Melissa!

Silka Melbourne Australia

Happy Holidays to you too..

Pam Illinois

I think Silka said it best, "Im also amazed as to how much one can feel about people and dogs we dont know, share the ups and downs and also the hope, that one day our dogs can be well." That is what this site brings as well as Joanne's Meisha's Hope site. Where would we all have been without her dedication and her continuing efforts with Morris Animal Foundation to find better treatments and someday hopefully a cure. I like Brenda and I am sure there are more that have made it so easy for our friends and families to "buy" for us for birthdays and Christmas, we just have them make a donation to the Meisha's Hope #338 fund. Every single dollar helps fund more research. For all of you still in the fight know that there will always be someone here to cheer you on and for those like me that lost the fight we will always remember the people that shared our grief. May 2010 bring us all comfort. Love seeing all the pictures of the doggies! Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Joanne, I am eternally grateful for the effort you have put into this forum. My doxie, Liesl, was on the upside of DX when I discovered you. Luckily I had a vet who had treated AIHA before and his treatment was a complete success. We are in cautious remission at this time but continue to monitor this most precious site. Merry Christmas to all of you Moms, Dads, and Babies. From Nicky, Liesl, Hans

nicky gvaz

Happy Holidays to all! Thank you Joanne for all you have done for us.

Barb Ohio

Joanne, thank you for all the work that you do for the IMHA dogs. And thanks for the holiday card - great pic of you and sweetie Maggie. And to everyone on the forum, best wishes for the holiday season and for a peaceful, healthy new year. Cheers, Aden

Aden Jerusalem

Thank you so much Joanne for your site as i too struggled to find any information about this awful disease here in Australia. I remember coming home from the vet in March of this year and googling Belle's symptoms because at that early stage our Vet wasn't quite sure what was going on with her. I found your site then saw my Vet the very next day and discussed the possibility of Belle having AIHA. It took another 2 weeks after that for him and the specialists to confirm her disease. I have spent many early hours of those sad mornings combing through your site and reading everyones responses. I felt better informed. Sadly Belle didn't make it past three months battling AIHA but i have learn't so much from the lovely mums and dads on this forum. I wish you Joanne and everybody else on this forum along with their precious babies all the best for 2010. Effie and my newish puppies, Charlie and Daisy.

Effie Australia

Happy Holidays Joanne and everybody else out there.

Johnny

Joanne, You have been a great blessing to me and Hubby Tim and of course Ren. Merry CHRISTmas!!!!!!

Susie delaware

I repeat the same sentiments as everyone else "Happy Holidays" "Good health to you and your fur babies" and "Happy, Prosperous and Healthy New Year" to all.

Mardi Northern Calif

Joanne, Thank you for all you have done for us! Have a Merry Christmas and best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year! Brigitte & Kahlu

Brigitte BC Canada

Thanks Joanne & everyone on this site.. If i didnt find Meish's hope success stories and this forum when Madison was first diagnosed i think i would have never thought she could make it.. Jan 2010 will be 1 year since she was diagnosed and she is going great. Medication free since Sept 09, with one small set back... Madison had a Hematona on her neck which was drained a few months ago and then all fine. We have no idea how she got it, we think she must have missed a stair and whacked her neck - she has so much energy again that she gets so excited and doesnt watch what she is doing... Hope you all have a safe and Merry xmas and I will think of all the poor dogs that have not been as lucky as my Madison Samantha & Madison

Samantha Perth

Merry Christmas to you, too, Joanne! Love the picture of you and Maggie. She's a lucky puppy to have found you and David. You are truly a force of nature, and I'm so glad I've gotten to know you and to call you a friend. Enjoy all that lovely snow you're about to get for Christmas, and hugs to all of you from all of us! And to everyone here on the forum, Happy Holidays to all of you, too, and best wishes for a happy and healthy new year, for you and your puppies. Elizabeth

Elizabeth Baltimore

Joanne, thank you and Happy Holidays and a healthy new year for all of your fur babies and to everyone who tirelessly helps all of us Laurie and Wylie

Laurie CA

Joanne & David Happy Holidays to you too! Thanks for creating a website were we can go and get a wealth of information and GREAT support from this forum. May the Meisha's Hope Fund continue to grow to help provide the funds for the necessary research and treatment of AIHA. Gratefully, Cheryl & Ginger

Cheryl & Ginger Pineville PA

Wishing everyone peace paws and love this holiday season. Charlie is close to one year Since diagnosis... He is doing really well. I'm so grateful for this forum!! Carol and charlie doodle

carol

Joanne, Thank you from us and Holly for creating this board, where we have all become family! Happy Holidays to everyone!! Linda, Bill & Holly & Snitzell

Linda Sapphire

Joanne: Merry Christmas! Thank you for your dedication and determination to help others whose beloved dogs have been diagnosed with AIHA/IMHA. This site has made such a huge difference in so many lives, including ours. Thank you! We hope everyone has a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year! As always, we will keep all of you in our thoughts and prayers! Rita, Mike and Sheba

Rita IA

Dear Joanne, Thank-you for the support and advice you have given me and other newly diagnosed owners throughout the year. I could not have made it this far without that support and the Meisha's Hope website. Your dedication to this cause is inspirational. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Samantha & Millie.

Samantha Geelong

This thread was discussed between 21/12/2009 and 26/12/2009

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