[dawn27]

I realize that a specialist would be a great source of insight into Brandi's condition but to be honest I can not afford a specialist plane and simple! Does that mean that I don't love my dog or that I don't want what is best for her NO it does NOt. Even if I could afford it I honestly do not feel that going to a specialist will change the outcome. I am sorry if that seems irresponsible but that is the way it is. My family and I are prepared for the undividable. We know that one or both of these diseases will eventually take her life, we know that and it is a struggle every day to watch her and know that one day she will no longer be here. But I am doing everything humanly and financially possible within our means to get her the care that she needs.

My vet has done more intense research on Lupus since our initial visit and has also consulted with the senior vet in the office and she too is confident that she has Lupus. All of the symptoms are there, the blood work is consistent. We have finally got her to the correct dose of medication. We have had two outbreaks and twice I had to watch my baby suffer. Each time it took three weeks for her to completely recover. So you think that I like seeing her in pain, seeing her face swell up like a soft ball, her glands swell to the size of golf balls as she gasp for air, her lips so inflamed and full of puss, her throat swollen beet red to the point of blistering and oral ulcers. And that is not all, she cant eat her eye swell and fill with mucus. Meanwhile we have to increase the steroids dose to double just in order to help fight off the infection which is partly to blame for the issues she is having now. It would only take on missed dose and the infection would be back again.

I am sorry if some of you seem to think that I am not doing what is necessary to treat her but you would be wrong. I am the one seeing what is going on with her watching each day as she gets worse. I see how it is affecting her and I am doing my best to see to it that she is NOT SUFFING and I will continue to do so with the assistant of my vet and her colleagues weather you agree with me or my vets finding or not. So, please understand this in not easy for me and let me deal with these horrible life threatening illnesses without judgment.

Thank you to those of you who are praying for Brandi. I too pray that by some miracle she can recover from this but I know that wont happen. I will return if and when there is any further updates and until than your prayers are very much appreciated.