Nelson Memorial Day

Sunday, April 16. 2006. That was the day we stopped posting. It's the day we got a bad phone call in the early Easter morning, the day Nelson died. Nelson had borne his treatment well and, despite unclear diagnoses, had kept up good vitals. That changed, and we knew we had to take "care" of him for the last time. We did, and he did.

Today, one year later, we stoke the spirit of Nelson by walking his favorite trail in Rock Creek Park, behind the Italian embassy to the little Montrose beach. The creek was bank-full because of yesterday's rain, and we remembered how Nelson would only dive out to his knees. Not a swimmer, our boy. Loved splashing about, though!

No, Nelson was a trail dog, in adddition to possessing mad city skills, of course. No howler or jumper at fire sirens, engine brakes, or other loud noises, he! He really shone on the trails, however, edge-stepping his way along cuts and winding passes. He always stayed on point, about 20 yards ahead of us, looking back from time to time, making sure we were alright. He was a woods master.

We finished the day by giving one of Nelson's favorite toys to an old friend.

We took the picture below after a big snowstorm in December, 2003. Nothing Nelson loved more than a romp in the snow. What have you done today in the spirit of Nelson?

Tough Saturday

During our visit with Nelson today we noticed him a bit down, with less energy, and we've had reports of him vomiting throughout the day. His doctor has taken him off the IV antibiotic, as it's probably upsetting Nelson's stomach (there is now a near-zero chance he's got any kind of infection, anyway). He's also upping Nelson's steroid level, so we are hoping the pup will be feeling better soon. He really hasn't kept anything down since his lung biopsy. His diagnosis is still completely open--they are only treating him with an anti-inflammatory regimen of prednisone that, we are hoping, will reduce the inflamed nodes in his lungs and tame what must surely be some out-of-whack immune disorder. This interpretation comes mainly from Nelson's regular vet, Dr. Reines, who has been researching ailments like Nelson's at the NIH. Dr. Reines' thinks that Nelson's immune system may simply be attacking its own body, much as diseases like Crohn's and lupus do in humans. Pretty much the last of the infectious tests came back negative today, a sophisticated staining technique for fungus done on a piece of Nelson's lung biopsy. So, because there is no infectious agent, and no cancer, Dr. Reines' interpretation is the only one that makes sense. The immunosuppression therapy (steroids) that Nelson is receiving now seems to be the only way to go. We are also looking into other hormone/supplement treatments that sound promising.

Now, a bit of good news! Nelson is now oxygenating well on his own and has been off the oxygen line all day. Keep your fingers crossed that the steroid regimen is doing its job, and that Nelson will be able to keep some food down.

Today's pic? A fun visit from older cousin Barky, when Nelson was just 7 months old (notice that very good SIT!). Nelson taught Barky, also a rescued mutt, how to play with toys.

The Beginning of Greatness

Our solid friends Chris and Holly (who have a son, cousin Carter) sent out a letter on our behalf last week that updated people on Nelson's condition and provided them with an opportunity to help out with Nelson's already enormous and mounting vet bills. Sherrie, Nelson's beloved foster Mom from the Washington Humane Society, wrote back with a suggestion for fundraising and reminded me of Nelson's beginnings:

Subject: Nelson
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2006 07:20:19 -0400

Hey, NY:

I have an idea that may or may not be something you can do. How about having the Post or the City Paper do a story about Nelson; how he and his siblings were found in Fort DuPont Park after their mother had been captured by the WHS; how she led them back to her babies after a neighbor told WHS employees that she had pups; they took her back to the park on a leash and she took them right to her babies. I have a photo of the four of them standing at my back door staring through the security gate that is really cute. Maybe this would help with raising money. I had an email from my friend Melissa who used to work at WHS and she didn't think there would be much they could do. I haven't heard back from the two people I emailed yet but I'll let you know when I do. Anyway, just an idea.

Talk to you later.

Sherrie

We haven't contacted either newspaper yet, but we should soon. I'd love to see that picture of Nelson and his brothers. I love this story.

We wanted to put pictures of Nelson as a puppy (he was 7 weeks old when we got him, round, and only 8 lbs!), but they are all old skool photos that are not digitized. So instead here's a pic of Nelson on the new futon in our current apt on Harvard St. This photo was taken sometime in November 2005:

The Midnight Hour

I'll follow the doctors' model of narration (well, at least the doctors at VCA) -- first the good stuff, then the bad stuff. The best news so far was that the biopsy from his lungs was NOT cancer!!! Some fun news: John, one of the night ICU nurses who has been caring for Nelson, said when I called at 1 am, "Nelson is such a cutie!" He said Nelson fell asleep on the weighing machine so they let him stay there for 1/2 hour after giving him his treatments. All the nurses are starting to say that Nelson is beginning to get a little testy about being roused out of his hospital crate/cage, but that he's totally easy after he's been coaxed out; they all said that's understandable after being poked, prodded, and pricked for so long now. John said Nelson is so sweet and said that he's a "head-jammer," which we all knew. When John was giving Nelson his treatments, John said he jammed his head into his gut. John also said Nelson is a "woman's dog" because he really loves the lady doctors or nurses. We're skeptical. The boy plays both sides, likes everybody. He's a regular playa'. He'll lean on anyone, sit on anyone's feet. John said Nelson even went up to another vet tech giving treatments to another dog.

We'll miss John, who is moving to Illinois where his kids live. He said he's got rotties, so he loves Nelson's eyebrows.

Now the bad stuff. Last night was a rough one for Nelson. When I called at 5:15 am to see how he was doing, John said his vomiting and diarrhea has returned after chest surgery, and they are in full effect. I won't go into gory detail. When we visited today, Dr. Lippo said that he wasn't worried about it because it could be stress from being in the hospital or something else, but that it would resolve itself eventually. I think I'll remind him tomorrow that the boy has a sensitive tummy, and that he always had, and that he had diarrhea prior to coming to VCA.

The really bad stuff: all the doctors say that Nelson can't survive outside the hospital right now until they finally figure out what is wrong with him and begin the appropriate course of treatment. Dr. Lippo said it's a double-edged sword; on the one hand, we're hopeful that his diagnosis is still pending, but on the other hand, they said they may never find out what's wrong.

But now I will subvert the narrative, and tell you something good about Nelson that Dr. Lippo said. First, he said that all the doctors and pathologists are working together to figure out what is wrong with Nelson (as they should!!!). Second, he said that the pathologists can't believe Nelson is still breathing and has not suffocated himself based on the biopsy and that it's all over his lungs, so he therefore must be having some really good lung tissue still; they said that if he was an older dog, he would be in serious trouble and not be like Nelson who can walk outside okay and still be breathing on his own. However, that good lung tissue he has could be severely inflammed, too, we just don't know because we don't know what disease he has. Another great thing Dr. Lippo said was that Nelson is interested in drinking water, which is a very good sign.

Natty, an ICU nurse who works Mon-Thurs, asked us to bring puppy pictures of Nelson. She wasn't there today, but we showed them to Jeff and Carlos, and Dr. Lippo. So on a healthier and happier note, here's a photo of the pup during better days when we lived on 17th St. He loves his sea turtle. He puts the body between his paws and holds the head in his mouth; it's his pacifier and he often will zone out while suckling it. We brought one of his sea turtles to the hospital with him.

Ups and Downs

Nelson continues to look Fate in the eye and give it the middle digit. Today we received bad initial news from his lung biopsy: a pathology report with a finding of "chronic interstitial pneumonia," an untreatable and fatal scarring-over of the lung tissue. Nelson, of course, promptly said "F--- you" to that diagnosis and bounded out of his crate when we went to visit today. He was bright and alert and nearly ripped out all the tubes stuck into his body.

Yes, he's weak, and his lungs aren't getting the kind of oxygen to his tissues that they need, but he's not pissing all over himself like the other dogs in the ICU. Sure enough, we got a late-night phone call from his critical care vet, Dr. Stoneham, telling us that the untreatable pneumonia diagnosis, while not bogus, is probably not what's going on. She also told us that his lungs are not scarred over (or "fibrotic," the result of that kind of pneumonia), so Nelson is game for some more tests. He's going to start a low-dose steroid (prednisone) for his lung inflammation and a specialized IV antibiotic on the chance there's a funky, stealthy infection in there. He also may still have an equally stealthy cancer, histiocytosis, for which there is no cure/treatment and for which they will be testing him tomorrow (a bone-marrow tap--less painful/invasive in dogs than people, gratefully).

So, Nelson's lesson for today: kick ass 'cause there's room for hope, but look bad shit in the eye and say, "If something comes to eat me alive, I like to see its teeth."

Here's a pic of Nelson with a catfish from Uncle Jaeger that he attacked (from about 2 years ago or so); note the upright ear:

What have you done today in the spirit of Nelson?

We visited Nelson today in the ICU at the Gaithersburg VCA hospital. He is one day post-op from his lung biopsy and very tired but alert. He is on some pretty heavy pain meds but still willing to give Nolana a wink with those tan eyebrows and perk up his ears.

Nelson can do it; what have you done today to express your joy and love?