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Success Stories....
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ROXANNE (ROXIE)
The beginning..... Roxie almost died early in January 2008, shortly after her diagnosis of Megaesophagus due to Myasthenia Gravis.
Competes in 2008 CPE Nationals....
Back to Reading (2008-2009)....
Competes in 2009 CPE Nationals....
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C-ATCH CT-ATCH U-AG1 U-CD Roxanne CGC TDIA ChFH ChJU TChSN TChFH |
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Coming soon……
Roxie's blog! Follow her latest activities with her mission.
Whether she's visiting elementary schools, a convalescent home,
competing in an agility competition or presenting the
Bailey Chair/vertical feeding process to veterinarians, she's
enjoying every minute of life.
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The beginning.....
Roxie Overcomes Myasthenia Gravis (MG) ~ & ~ Megaesophagus (ME)!
The comment has been made, “She’s a Walking Miracle!”
Yes, that's my girl, Roxanne. (Roxie).
Roxie is almost 12 years old and that in itself as a dog running agility would be notable.
However, Roxie almost died early January 2008, shortly after her diagnosis of Megaesophagus due to Myasthenia Gravis.
Roxie's esophagus no longer works due to the neuromuscular disease, Myasthenia Gravis.
Thus, food cannot travel through the esophagus to her stomach in the usual manner.
Two weeks after diagnosis, starving & dehydrated, Roxie was saved with the insertion of a feeding tube in her stomach.
This became her sole method of nourishment for 4 months. It also bought us time to learn of the Megaesophagus Yahoo Group and many management techniques, the most important being the vertical feeding process.
Roxie now sits in the "Bailey Chair" which could be equated to a baby high chair where she is fed a liquefied, low fat diet in a milkshake consistency that allows food to travel to her stomach via "gravity."
She eats 4 meals a day and sits in her chair for 20-25 minutes after each feeding. Medications are also used to control acid reflux and her Myasthenia Gravis.
I often tell people that the feeding tube saved her life, "but it's the "Bailey Chair" that gave Roxie back her quality of life!"
Less than one month after she started utilizing the chair to eat by mouth, Roxie ran in the 2008 CPE Agility National Championships. At that time, she still had the feeding tube in....a safety net for mom in case her condition regressed. She even amazed her veterinarian, Dr. John Wilson (Wilson Veterinary Hospital) with her enthusiasm and happiness both on and off the course. As her mom, I know that running gave her the will and strength to combat her illnesses. Since that time, Roxie has run in numerous competitions and earned her 2nd agility championship on 10/11/08. One quarter of this championship was earned after her diagnosis and the long road to recovery earlier this year.
Canine Performance Events Enthusiast Agility Trial Champion
October 11, 2008
Post Diagnosis!
I truly believe Roxie has lived for a reason far larger than running agility for ribbons. I believe she lived to educate veterinarians and the teaching universities that it is possible for a dog to live a happy life with these disorders. Currently, most veterinary schools are teaching that "there is nothing you can do" for MegaE and that the owner should end the dog's life. Or that one should try to elevate the dog's bowl for feeding/water. This is a certain road to death as the esophagus cannot process food at this angle, due to reduced or nil muscle tone (peristalsis) and often causes starvation or pneumonia.
While there is more care required for dogs with Megaesophagus, we believe that pet owners should be given the option in which they can then make an educated choice. Many veterinarians are totally unaware of the Bailey Chair and/or the vertical feeding process based on prior education. In addition to these advancements in management techniques, a current study is underway at UC-Davis for Myasthenia Gravis in dogs to identify pre-conditions that might alert an owner in the future of this disease. Thus, one might avoid the enlargement of the esophagus. Even the veterinarian working on this study couldn't believe Roxie was running agility with these disorders!
For further info visit UC Davis' website at: http://vetneuromuscular.ucsd.edu/cases/2008/Aug08.html
We believe that "seeing" is truly believing and the very best form of education. Roxie has overcome other obstacles in her life... another serious illness and injury, so there really is a reason that she is still here. Most of all, she is an inspiration to all that you can't ever give up, no matter how bad things look.
Submitted by: Debbie McDermott, January 2009
Back to Top of Page
Competes in 2008 CPE Nationals....
Megaesophagus dogs can still have fun as demonstrated by Roxie, CPE Agility Champion who also has Myasthenia Gravis. This video was made five months after Roxie was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis and Megaesophagus. Seeing is believing - check out her video to enjoy the 'medical miracle' that is Roxie's "case". And watch her successfully run her course with a gusto, complete with a victory lap! She knew she'd nailed it - what a thrill for this agility -loving champ! Go, Roxie, go!
Roxie on You Tube!!!
Roxie's eyes still light up each time she heads to the agility ring
Click above to check out Roxie in action at You Tube, but hurry on back (use your back button!), as you'll not want to miss reading the rest of her heartwarming story!
Roxie has been described as a "walking miracle" and has brought tears to other competitors' eyes while on the course. She may be the only dog ever to earn a major championship after diagnosis of both MG and ME and is currently the only identified dog in the U.S. who participates in agility competitively with both disorders.
The veterinary science community needs to know that, in many cases, "elevating the feeding bowl" may not be sufficient. Roxie's use of the Bailey Chair enabled her to keep her food down so that she could regain strength. This enabled her to go out and play once again! You should know that Roxie and her mom carefully decide when to run and in which events to run so that she doesn't get overly tired or stressed.
Back to Reading (2008-2009)....
"Roxie the Reading Dog" helps children over the ruff spots as part of the Tail Waggin' Tutor program at Buchanan Elementary school in Livonia, MI. Here she and mom, Debbie, listen to a student practicing his improved reading skills, thanks to the program and the tutorship of Roxie (who rocks!)
Photograph by Bill L. Bressler - Staff Photographer,
The Observer & Eccentric Newspapers -
www.hometownlife.com
Through all of this, Roxie has continued to make her therapy visits at a convalescent home and has visited the children at the local elementary school with her reading program.
With Roxie's return to health, she added two additional elementary schools, Rosedale and Cass, to her schedule in 2009. The teachers, learning specialists and principals coordinate her visits and select students based on varied needs. In addition, incentive programs provide time with Roxie as a reward. Overall, the program provides a non-judgmental ear for listening and a friendly face each visit.
Roxie is looking forward to the 2009-2010 school year. Reading and listening is fun!
Girls Just Want to Have Fun!!!
Roxie's Mega Mission ....
The 2009 Canine Performance Events (CPE) Agility National Championships were held June 5-7 in Greenfield, MA. And, with the help of a fundraiser coordinated by our Megaesophagus friends and a gift from one "special angel," Roxie was there to carry her message of hope and education to the field of entrants. This year's event featured 630+ dogs representing multiple breeds in an organization that lists over 15,000 members. At the age of 12, Roxie was one of the "senior" most entrants, not to mention a true representation of "the comeback kid!" (Her performance last year at the 2008 event in Mason, MI was nothing short of miraculous running 5 months post diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis/Megaesophagus.)
Over the past year, Roxie has educated many dog moms/dads and veterinarian personnel at local agility events just by her presence and her Bailey Chair. They've learned she's living proof that Megaesophagus doggies can have quality of life! And, while there are many ME dogs doing well with the same vertical feeding method, they aren't as visible as Roxie. Thus, Roxie's MEGA Mission: To make use of our unique opportunity and spread the word that dogs can live with quality of life despite the situation. We hope to carry this mission to those veterinary programs across the United States that are still unaware of the positive possibilities for dogs with Myasthenia Gravis and/or Megaesophagus.
Check out the fun and results of the 2009 CPE Agility Nationals below ....
May/June 2009
Competes in 2009 CPE Nationals....
After a 600+ mile drive to Massachusetts, set up of our tent area and a good night's sleep, Roxie was ready to go on the first day of competition. Debbie reported that she was crying all through the opening ceremony and National Anthem, thinking how cool it was to attend the event with her little furkid fighting the misconceptions of hopelessness some have for MG/ME dogs. Directly following, Roxie was the first dog on the line in one of six rings for her opening run, FullHouse-a point game with some required obstacles.
Photo by Barry Rosen |
31.72 seconds later, Roxie had proven once again that she could run
with the best of them! She ran in her second game of the day, Wildcard, shortly after lunch. (This game provides 3 areas on the course with a choice of two obstacles.) Another clean run and a time of 31.25 seconds! |
After the first day, Roxie had qualified in both events, running approximately 10 seconds faster than the allotted course time and placed second in each event. And, while the running was a blast, more important was the chance to carry the message of hope and pass knowledge on to the field of entrants. Our tent became an educational exhibit complete with multiple posters, picture tributes and Roxie's Bailey Chair. Among our first visitors were two competitors who experienced ME first hand and sadly had euthanized their fur kids, unaware of the Bailey Chair/vertical feeding; just a reminder of the importance of our mission.
| Day two found Roxie qualifying once again, this time in her favorite event, Jumpers- all jumps and tunnels! Her time of 42.11 seconds was once again a 2nd place, but less than half a second from 1st! She gave her best effort in Jackpot, a distance and point game, in the heat of the day but did not qualify-then again, only 30 dogs in the entire field of 630 did. It was a very tough challenge! |
Photo by Barry Rosen |
Day three brought two more events and Roxie "running amuck" early on in Snooker, an
event where control is mandatory. Her last event, Colors (a choice of 2 short nested courses)
found Roxie running the opposite course her mom had planned. While those events did not
result in placements, Roxie and her mom's happiness was abundant both on and off the
field the entire weekend. And, later on, while feeding Roxie in her Bailey Chair before
the awards ceremony, fellow competitors were amazed and commented repeatedly that they
would not have known she had a medical condition from watching her exuberant running
in the ring.
Nationals 2009 ended with 3 second place finishes/qualifications, huge smiles, great fun
and time shared with old and new friends across the country. But, more importantly,
Roxie and Debbie's quest to educate and spread the word to more people was a huge
success on the east coast. Roxie truly is living proof that dogs with Myasthenia Gravis
and Megaesophagus can live a quality life.
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| Photos by Barry Rosen -- www.barryrosen.com | |
Watch for Roxie's MEGA Mission in Kissimmee, FL at the 2010 CPE Agility Nationals in May 2010!
June 2009
Roxie in Dog Sport Magazine....
Look for Roxie's MEGA Mission in the September/October 2009 issue of Dog Sport Magazine!
We're excited to share Roxie's message of hope and education to the magazine's subscribers across the country. (Our thanks to Margaret Hendershot, a fellow agility enthusiast from Ohio, for this opportunity.)
Reserve your issue now by calling 1-800-947-7767, ext. 16. Or, visit www.DogSportMagazine.com and order online after subscriptions mail in early September. Don't delay as there are a limited number of single copies available.
As always, thanks to Denise Tarby and Adele Yunck of Northfield Dog Training for their great instruction and support over the years.
September, 2009
Roxie's MEGA mission visited two university veterinary programs at the end of 2009. In November, a demonstration was given of the Bailey Chair and the vertical feeding process for the Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Ohio State University veterinary school in Columbus, OH.
In December 2009, her mission traveled to the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing, Michigan. 50 veterinary students attended the event hosted by the Integrative Medicine Club but open to all veterinary students. Her veterinarian, Dr. John Wilson of Wilson Veterinary Hospital (www.wilsonvethospital.com) presented information on Megaesophagus and the causes of the condition. Additional information was given on Roxie's specific case, including Myasthenia Gravis. Roxie and her mom then gave a demonstration of the Bailey Chair and the vertical feeding process along with Megaesophagus management information. A question and answer period followed. The students promised to carry the information with them and to others throughout their careers.
While we're not yet close to our goal in which all 26 U.S. veterinary programs teach the vertical feeding concept/Bailey Chair for the management of Megaesophagus, we know that it's an attainable goal.
Look for Roxie on another collegiate campus in 2010!
To assist with Roxie's MEGA Mission, contact her mom at: k9megae@yahoo.com.
Where on the "web" is Roxie lately?....
Comparative Neuromuscular Laboratory at UC-San Diego
Roxie was selected as a case study of the month by Dr. Diane Shelton, DACVIM, Professor and Director of the Comparative Neuromuscular Laboratory, School of Medicine at UC-San Diego!
The Comparative Neuromuscular Laboratory at UC San Diego is the only laboratory in the world that processes the acetylcholine receptor antibody test for Myasthenia Gravis. This international lab is dedicated to the diagnosis and study of neuromuscular diseases in companion animals.
Visit: http://vetneuromuscular.ucsd.edu/cases/2009/Sept09.html
American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
You can also find Roxie on the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine's (ACVIM) Foundation website. Every small animal specialist in the United States and many from other countries belong to this organization. In addition, many non-specialists attend ACVIM conferences and read their journals each year.
Another great opportunity to share the news that Myasthenia Gravis and Megaesophagus dogs can have a great quality of life!
Visit her success story at:
www.acvimfoundation.org./owners/successes_roxie.html
To help with Roxie's MEGA Mission, please contact Roxie's mom at: k9megae@yahoo.com.