Nimby is our miracle girl. She was the first puppy born is our first litter. Greg swore up and down there wouldn't be anything but red mals here. No gray dogs in my backyard, NOT IN MY BACKYARD! As you see, Nimby is not Red, she's sable, hence her name. She was on her way to being our first homebred champion when she started having a few problems. She was diagnosed with Diabetes Insipidus in which she would constantly need to drink water. Soon her coat fell apart and became pink tinged from drinking so much. She just wasn't right. We decided to spay her to see if it would help but before we had a chance he became terribly ill. We rushed her to the vet thinking she had pyometria. The vet did an emergency surgery and found not one but 2 ovarian tumors. She made it through surgery but after we brought her home she continued to be in pain and not well. Our vet wasn't hopeful. After a few days at the vet we made the difficult decision to let her go. I went to visit with her one last time, and she seemed better. My vet, who can be a pessimist, said' "You're not imagining it. She is better. We've done what we can. It's up to her to sink or swim. Take her home and give her the chance." Within a week she was a different dog. Her cancer had a high chance of spreading, but with the type it was if it were to spread it would be immediate. We would know within a few weeks most likely. If she made it 3 months, we could be fairly sure she was fine. If she made it six months, my vet said he would take me out to dinner as she would be considered cancer free. Well, 3+ years later he still owes me dinner! Nimby proved to us she has her mother's strength and courage. She now has a rich, beautiful full coat, no red spots and is full of energy. Her previous problems were related to the tumors and she is thought to be the first case of diabetes insipidus caused by an ovarian tumor. (Diabetes Insipidus in not the same as Diabetes Mellitus. It does not relate to blood sugars and while most causes of it are never known it can be caused by tumors, most commonly on the pituitary gland.)
Nimby is now 5 years old, and a Daddy's girl (remember the guy who only wanted a red mal?) She's happy, healthy pet and a working dog. She is close to finishing her pack dog title and her working sled dog title. She was pointed towards her championship she will never achieve but she is a champion in our hearts She is truly our miracle.
*Update* Sadly in July of 2005, at 6 years of age, Nimby lost her hard fought battle. The cancer she so strongly fought came back with a vengance. She was born into my hands and died in my arms. She is now free of pain and is running happily with her Mom and Uncle. We will miss you forever our sweet "funny colored" girl. |
