[marcismom]

and our 2.5lb, 8.5 yr. old little girl Marci is really starting to decline. I've done a search on these threads to find more information, but as you may already know, there's not a whole lot on the entire web regarding Yorkshire Hydrocephalus. We've hit a new low this weekend in dealing with her disease, and I'd like to ask your thoughts. Here's the situation:

Marci has been our one-and-only little one for the last 8.5 years (we got her from a breeder in WI when she was 7 weeks old and .6lbs). Through the many moves (WI to NC to Northern VA) and travels, we've had the best of care. When she was 4.5 yrs. old she was diagnosed with medial laxation of the patella in both back legs, and had wonderful orthopedic surgeons in NC to repair that condition. Well, Dec of 2003 brought a new shock.

We have a wonderful vet here in Alexandria who thought we were crazy when we brought her in, telling him we thought the knees were having issues again because she couldn't stand/walk without falling. After new x-rays to compare with the ones from the earlier surgery, he sent us to an orthopedic specialist for consultation. We had not been with the ortho for more than 10 minutes when he asked to take her and consult with the neurological surgeon on call at the practice. Three days later (and after 2 MRI scans at the Iams Pet Imaging Center), we were given the diagnosis of hyrocephalus and syringomyelia/hyromyelia--- a progressive condition which only seems to respond to prednisone. We were also only given a diagnosis of a couple of months for her to be with us. It was touch and go for a while--- kidney infections, etc. We have taken her in for routine (every three months or so) blood work and observation for the last year and a half (and yes, we know we're on borrowed time). No major organ damage yet from the steroids, but we have started to have seizures about once everyother month. Usually, within hours she has regained her "normal" (or what we now consider normal) behaviors. But, if you can relate at all to this story, you realize that normal now means something new everyday.

Yesterday she suffered a rather lenghty seizure, and really has not snapped back to Friday's "normal". She can't stand for any length of time without falling over, and seems to have more of a dazed/glazed look in her eyes than what we've come to deal with. Our thought is to take her in for the blood work this week and to have the vet observe her--- after lengthy discussion with us. We've always said that we'll know when it's time--- but now we're not sure. Is it time? Have any of you dealt with this diagnosis??

Thanks.

Pam, a.k.a. Marcismom