Jake's Birthday!

[Gentle Jacob's mom]

I've never been able to post a new topic under Success Stories, but I thought today was definitely a day to celebrate! We've had small victories over the last eight years, and believe me we've been so grateful for each one. But Jake is still considered refractory. He's occasionally made it past 30 days, and I think even 40 a couple of times, but usually falls around 21 these days. But the seizures are very mild and he has little or no post ictal. We're grateful for that! Seven years ago when he'd had a horrible seizure on Christmas morning I hugged him and said, "Mom and dad are going to move heaven and earth to make you a happy healthy puppy, and you're going to see your 10 birthday and beyond." I had no idea what I was promising him at the time. It has been heaven and hell on a level that I couldn't have comprehended then. But Jake has fought hard and here we are! He made to his 10th birthday! He's still a big goof ball and so far is a very happy and healthy pup. People always say that it's because of what Dave and I do, but I tell them that I'm so lucky to have found this amazing group of epi dog owners that have taught me so much over the years. And we are also so lucky to have an amazing vet who has guided us through it all, and has put up with me and my mood swings and has never complained. But most of all, it's Jake. He has never given up no matter what, and I'm so proud of him.
I want to thank all of you for helping me get him here. I couldn't have done it without you! Just knowing that there are people here that know what we're going through no matter what the time of day (usually night) it is, has helped so much.
If Jake could, I'm sure he'd lean against all of you and look at you with his big goofy smile. He's really more like Eeyore so he doesn't cause too much of a commotion.
I hope we all have a peaceful seizure free week.
Hugs to all of you.
Lynne

[MK's mom]

Happy Birthday Jake!!!

[ShilohsMom]

I can't begin to tell you how happy I am for all of you. It's so encouraging to hear stories that are going well.

Happy Birthday Jake!

[SpencerBhumi]

Happy birthday, Jake.
Happy success story, Lynne.

I hope you many more years of happiness together.

Trevor.

[cesullivan]

Happy 10th Birthday Jake...Happy you were able to post a success!!!

[Gentle Jacob's mom]

Thank you so much for the birthday wishes and support! We had a great day and broke just about every dietary rule he has. He loves pancakes so he had a small B-day pancake with his breakfast, he loves french fries, so we got him the best and a few other things that he usually doesn't have. Sometimes you just have to be bad! He knew something was up, and had his goofy happy Jake smile on all day. Somehow I gained weight. I wonder how that happened? Hmmm.
Thanks again,
Lynne

[MK's mom]

It's so nice to see the pups 'smile' when they've had to deal with so much. Jake is a lucky guy to have you, Lynne!

[cforecatsmeow]

Happy Birthday Jake! And congrats to you Lynne. What a courageous and wonderful Mom you are to your pup! And, btw, we all appreciate you too

[Gentle Jacob's mom]

Thanks everyone! You're all so sweet. I think we have an amazing group here. I want to mention Melynda. She lost her dog Gauge back in 2011. She's the member who posted about dosing Keppra 4x a day for dogs that metabolize it too quickly. Between Vivian posting about Clorazepate and the Keppra dosing information, that's what finally helped Jake's seizures improve. His seizures were between 1.5-2 minutes long with horrible post ictal and he was clustering. They were starting to happen every 10 days. After the change they dropped to 20-39 seconds and no post ictal, and so far the clusters haven't been a problem.
When I think about all of the support I've gotten here it's so humbling. I honestly couldn't have held myself up without you. You've helped us so much. I wanted to tell you all about this now because I like to thank people when things are going well. I know one day Jake will be gone (can't even go there) but for now I'm so grateful.
Here's to long and healthy lives for all of our pups!
Lynne

[MK's mom]

Yes, Lynne, we have and have had a wonderful group here over the years. Everyone can bring something to the table that just might help another dog, that is what it's all about. We appreciate and rejoice the days when our kids are doing well and we all cry together when a pup isn't doing well or when we've lost one.

I'm so happy for Jake, you and your husband that he's doing pretty well.

[ShilohsMom]

Tried to find something that looked like what I remember Jake looking like

[Gentle Jacob's mom]

Well Colleen, now you went and did it! I sat here and cried! That is so sweet! I wish Jake was a person so he could read how nice everyone here is.
This certainly has been a birthday that I will always remember. That does look so much like him!

Lynne

[ShilohsMom]

Well, I don't know about you, but I consider my hairy ones babies, so therefore they ARE people, most of them just can't read. I'm just so really happy that you've found a measure of success, especially around such a happy time as a birthday! Prayers for many more.

[Eley's Mom]

Happy birthday Jake!!

I wholeheartedly agree, this board has made this whole journey a little less scary..


Here's hoping to many more birthdays for him

[Gentle Jacob's mom]

Hi Colleen,
I love that you said that "most" of them can't read. Yes, our fur kiddos are our kids and there are many times that I'm quite sure that they not only know what we're saying, even when it has nothing to do with them, but that they know when vet appointments are coming up. Even when all we've done is hang the card on the fridge. So it wouldn't surprise me if they've been reading when we're not looking. That would explain the doggie treat cookbook, and bird identification guides (we have two cats) always being on the top of my piles of books:)

Lynne