[Dan & Corinne]

We have posted this in response to another thread a few weeks ago but decided to start another link in case some of you may be going through the same experience we have been living with for over 8 months. This is the long version so please bear with us.

We have a 2-1/2 year old little girl who has been battling a life ending disease. Her neurologist believes she may have necrotizing encephalitis or GME (Granulomatous Meningoencephalitis). Basically, she has an infection in her brain that is spreading and terminal. There is no known cause or cure.


It all started on Mothers Day, 2005 when she had a cluster of seizures for the first time. Test after tests came back negative for anything our family vet thought might be causing the seizures so he referred us to a veterinary neurologist for an MRI and spinal tap. The MRI did not look good. Even to our untrained eyes, we could clearly see something was wrong. The neurologist gave us little hope and told us to be prepared to lose her in a few weeks, if she was strong maybe a month. He put her on prednisone to suppress the inflammation in her little tiny brain and potassium bromide to control her seizures. She was a true terrier, full of energy and attacking her toys like a true ratter. Soon she lost interest in toys, began to spend more and more time sleeping. Next she couldn’t jump up on the sofa, then slowly started to loose strength to a point she couldn’t stand up.

We reached out to various university veterinary schools to see if there were any doctors doing research on this disease, researched the net for any information useful to help her.

We don’t have any answers but we believe the changes we made in her diet and keeping a positive attitude around her has helped her. The 2-week death sentence is long past and after declining the suggestion to start chemotherapy we started to reduce the prednisone. She can now stand and run. She has beaten this disease for 8 months to date. Jewel is a TERRIER. She is tenacious and is not giving up. We know she will never recover to who she was.

We just want to let anyone else fighting the same battle to not give up. Feel free to PM us with questions. We want to share with you our experience, help you with the emotional rollercoaster and just be here for you and your baby.