Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - To all

Since it is just a couple of days before Christmas and Hanukkah ( I understand they both fall on the same day this year). I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Holiday no matter what holiday you celebrate. I know that many of you have had recent losses and feel you are in no shape to celebrate any holiday this year and let me assure you I truly do understand those feelings. During the many years my dear Meisha lived with AIHA, I experienced each and every feeling that those of you who read and contribute to this board have had or are now feeling. When Meisha was diagnosed with AIHA in January 1992, I had never ever heard of the disease and neither had anyone else I knew (expect her vet of course). This was before the Internet was available in our homes and I was overcome with fear and frustration wondering if Meisha could survive and if she did what quality of life she would have. I thought if I could just hear of one dog who had survived I was sure Meisha could as well. I did not find that surviving dog early on, but with the help and encouragement of my vet and husband we persisted and Meisha did survive and do well for many years. But there was more then one occasion when I came so very close to letting her go. Thankfully I did not. We went through the joy of recovery and pain of relapses. So I do know the highs and lows of the disease. And then on November 23, 2001, I had to give my dear gal back to her Creator. I was in shock for a full month and could not even shed a tear during that time, finally on Christmas Eve I had a complete and utter meltdown. The tears started and I thought they would never end. I felt my heart had been torn out of my body. But I came to realize over time it was not about me or even Meisha. Since I believe that all things happen in life for reason I started to look for that reason and found that I had been given a gift in Meisha and even her illness and that gift was to fight for answers to the many questions that surround AIHA/IMHA. By this time I had already been doing this forum for about 5 years and the Meisha’s Hope Web site for 3 years. It became apparent to me that the next step was to start a Fund to raise money to sponsor studies on the disease. That is when we contacted Morris Animal Foundation and started the Meisha’s Hope AIHA/IMHA Fund #338: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/newhope.htm http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/meisha Over the years since the creation of this Fund, it has sponsored several studies on AIHA/IMHA. I am totally convinced that this Fund will lead the way in finding answers to the disease. In the meantime I have been blessed by meeting more wonderful people including vets, MAF staffers, and owner/caregivers of AIHA/IMHA dogs then I could ever have imagined. There is still a hole in my life and heart since the death of Meisha but the pain is bearable. The pain is just enough to keep me fighting for answers to the disease. But I have joy as well as I recall all the wonderful times I was allowed to share with my dear gal. So no matter where you are in the AIHA/IMHA journey today: recent diagnosis, recovery, remission, relapse or loss, know that others have stood in your shoes before and have made it though. My husband David, Canine gal, Maddie and I wish you all a happy holiday and a blessed 2009. The following URL will take you to our holiday greeting: http://www.cloudnet.com/~jdickson/card.htm Hugs to all the canine kids and know you all are in our thoughts and prayers this holiday season.

Joanne MN

You know what? I thank GOD for you and Meisha. Reading your post, gosh, it almost brought me to tears but also provides hope. Meisha, I wish you had never had to get this stinking disease. I know your life had a purpose and I know you know this too. I hope you've met my bridge dogs as they would be honored to know you. To you and yours Joann, very merry Christmas or happy holidays or both! With much respect and gratefulness, Teresa

Teresa OK

I know what you mean about the hole in your heart- mine has never really healed from losing Tiger Lily in 2006, she was taken so quickly (three days) and so young (22 months). I had no idea what was happening and I have grieved ever since for her loss forever with the "what if's". When Lily passed, her mum had just had a litter of puppies eight days earlier - Billy was one of those pups. Although I still miss her terribly and am now nursing Billy through the same thing, I can't help but thank Lily because without her, I would never have known about AIHA and would not have known the early symptoms and warning signs and would not now be looking forward to another Christmas with Billy or his third birthday in January. I found your site too late for Lily but it has been a huge support to me and Billy. Everyone has a tale to tell and we can all gain knowledge through each other. So at this holiday time - raise a glass to all our babies and each other and I hope we will "see" each other in 2009. Please remember you never lose your best friend because you always find them in your heart. Steph

Steph Gloucestershire UK

Joanne, Thank you for everything you've done in helping us trudge through this illness. Your knowledge is invaluable. Your post brought me to tears - tears of happiness that you and Meisha have given us all hope to overcome this and have a future together with our four legged friends. Whenever I am on this site my husband alway seems to know as I am usually in tears. He'll say you're on that "site" again aren't you? I just laugh as I do tear up often - for others who have had hearts broken, for the animals who suffer, tears of joy for the good updates we read and for being so grateful for the support I get from this site. I just wanted to say thank you and happy holidays to you and to all on this forum (four legged friends included of course). Chris & Alex

Chris

Joanne, THANK YOU and happy holidays to you too! Without the knowledge of you and others here and this forum I am not sure my Molly would be here with me. I am not sure I would have followed the course I did without the advice of this forum and the info from Meisha's site so my eternal thanks. Amy

amy texas

Joanne, words cannot express the love and gratitude for everything you have done and continue to do to fight this terrible disease as well as give hope and bring comfort to those who mourn. You have given a life-line to all of us and our furkids. Whether we come to celebrate or share our pain, each of us finds somehting to hang on to. As the new year comes, Bob and I begin a new chapter in our lives and have our two new rescue pyrs to love. It was a scary committment after suffering so much, but the love we share with two sweet kids is the reward. Brandy is never far from our thoughts and now we talk about her almost every day and can think of her with thoughts of love and happy memories. Whenever I take the pix of the new kids, I always have a picture of her too. Without all of you none of this would have ever been possible. God Bless and a Merry Christmas and Happy New year to one and all and hugs and kisses to all our furbabies, both here and on the Rainbow Bridge. sharon, bob, angel brandy, frankie and sweetheart.

sharon pa

Joanne, David and Maddie I wish you all nothing but the best for 2009 and many years to come. I have just printed out a Meisha's Hope donation form to go along with the check made out to MAF a friend sent me for Christmas. I know Brenda has and I am sure there are more people who have informed relatives and friends that we no longer need birthday/christmas etc. presents please send a donation to Meisha's Hope instead. The possibility of a major break through on this awful disease could be just around the corner at any time and that I can help in any way will put a smile on my face that will last a lot longer than any store bought gift ever could. I have cheered and I have cried buckets on this board and I will always miss my dear Salome. Thank you for providing us all a place to fight the fight. Penny

Penny Lytle Creek Calif

Dear Joanne -- thanks for everything. I wish I had found the forum when Wiley was fighting, but at least I found it afterward. I don't know how I would have survived without a place where people understood what happened in our lives. And the Meisha's Hope Fund does give us hope -- we can contribute in memory of our dear beloved dogs who gave us so much and asked for so little and we can ensure that their lives continue, in a way, for a greater purpose. I so want to find a way to beat IMHA -- for Wiley, for Meisha, for Salome, for Stormie, for Buddy, for Brandy, for Tabitha, for Buster, for Bronwyn, for Nancy, for Lola, for Aiyana, for Clifford. The list goes on and on. And Chris, I'm with you, crying over my keyboard. And when some of our dogs get better, I smile over that same keyboard.

Brenda VA

Thanks so much Joanne for all you do and your support. I will never get over losing Stormie but I know where she is! Christmas is difficult as Stormie unwrapped her own presents...and everyone elses'. *grin* I too tear up when I read of another who has gone to the bridge...and rejoice when others beat this disease. My Tillie must wonder why I check her gums so often... Merry Christmas! Mrs. Gates

Mrs. Gates Michigan

Thank you Joanne for the forum. I has helped me immensely cope with losing my Scruffy who was only 9 months old. I too had never heard of IMHA but through this forum I have come to at least understand a bit of why. I wish a few Australian vets would read it too they just might learn something. I have asked several vet practices how often do they see this disease and they all say they get at least 2 to 3 cases a year.

Julie Australia.

Joanne, Thank you for all that you have done to educate people like myself and my husband. When Ren first came down with AIHA I had no idea what was happening. My first research took to your website, Meisha's hope. That website gave me encouragement and understanding of this disease. Reading the survival stories gave me hope that Ren could pull through this too. And of course she did! Through your efforts, and fellow caring people, I pray that a complete cure is found for AIHA. Again, thank you and God richly bless you.

Susie Delaware

Joanne and all of the IMHA, AIHA, and Meisha's Hope Family,I haven't posted for a while but you all, old members, new members, repeat members, two-legged, four-legged, and over the bridge alike have all remained in my thoughts...and in the list of blessings that I count when I think about the richness of my life.  My mourning for my Barkley remains in a protected place in my heart...one which I enter regularly when my tears have quiet moments to fall once again...and they are always just inside the door when I enter.  I found a wonderful clock on the web that has a photograph of a burning candle on its face and which is customized with the words "In Memory of My Precious Barkley" and it sits in the middle of the alter I have set up around his ashes.  There are also signs saying "Love is being owned by a Tibetan Terrier" and "Having A Tibetan Terrier...Priceless" along with a photo of Barkley, Jakie, and myself at agility class, Barkley and Jakie like bookends on the couch, and Barkley smiling up at me from his doggie bed...and a Meisha's Hope flyer.  I continue to contribute to the Meisha's Hope fund whenever I can and have also asked for donations rather than gifts whenever the opportunity presents.  I have approached a local theater about putting on the fundraiser show but did not get a warm reception.  The second theater that I approached seemed to be more open and I plan to follow up with them when the economy is a little more stable (hopefully in the not distant future) and the donations might be more likely.  In the meantime I keep trying to educate any dog owner I know as well as local pet shops and veterinary offices.  Barkley's loss has become harder again with the holidays, as I imagine it may have become for many of you...but I am not sad for that because it draws him close to me and lets me hug him with my heart as I cry.  My wish for us all, human, canine, feline, et al alike this holiday season is that we will gain the wisdom and the vision to release our divisions and join in the matters of the heart that are common to all...food and drink to nourish our bodies, health to walk through our lives, shelter to return to at the close of each day, and loved ones to fill our hearts and souls and make this journey called life worth living.  And an end to the IMHA plague that has brought us all together.Blessings to all of you and peace in this season of light.Cheryl, Jake (and always Barkley)

cheryl medford

Hi Joanne Merry Christmas to you too. Once again I can never express my thanks enought for this forum and your site. It helped me get through when Bertie was sick and Im not quite sure what i would have done if I had not been able to post on here at the time. Now you would never know he was so sick. My prayers and thoughts to everyone at this time of year. Hugs to all Lisa

Lisa West Aust

This thread was discussed between 22/12/2008 and 27/12/2008

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