The
Princess ...
Ch SaeSi You've Got The
Look, JC - "PhaseYa"
May
12, 1998 - November 24, 2008; Bred
twice; CERF clear; BAER normal; Myostatin N/N (clear)
PhaseYa was truly special on so many levels. She was from my
first
litter and always a very spunky lass, lots of attitude, always trying
to figure things out (sometimes getting in to trouble in the process),
so very loving, a great show girl and an amazing mother. It went deeper
than just that though - this little 19 3/4", 27 lb girl had spirit like
few others. Let me take you back a few years to share how special she
reall was ...
To say PhaseYa was one in a million, or that she was a strong
determined spirit, is 
putting it mildly. She was from my first litter, she was my first
Champion, first Best of Breed winner, first Group placer ... I
experienced so many firsts with her. I learned so much with her leading
me through the lessons. As fun and special as all those shows, races,
coursing meets were, the most important lesson she taught was to always hold
on to hope.
She overcame a disease that no one felt she would, she fought the good
fight and won ... for six years. II was touched by an angel and I know
it.
In 2003 PhaseYa slipped into what I thought was depression
brought
on by the loss of her dam, Tara. While she was still chasing squirrels
and rabbits some, she just wasn't herself. She went off her feed, was
happy to just lay around, didn't sleep well (I wasn't either) and then
her gums became horribly pale. After having blood tests performed,
Phase was diagnosed with Severe Non-Regenerative Anemia. Her PCV
(Packed Cell Volume) was a mere 11%, the average whippet is 50 to 65%
... she was at death's door.
After tests, tests and more tests, days turned into weeks and still no
answers. After all other tests came back with no conclusion we opted
for a blood transfusion as she was dangerously low and a bone marrow
biopsy was preformed. The results came in the day before Thanksgiving
2003, the diagnosis was Idiopathic Myelofibrosis. Myelofibrosis is a fatal disease
where the bone marrow is replaced with connective tissue (scar tissue)
leaving the body unable to produce blood, and it usually is secondary
to other diseases (bone cancer, leukemia, toxic poisoning, estrogen
toxicity) which she did not have. The treatment - whole blood
transfusions as needed and high doses of prednisone and this merely
postpones the inevidable. Most canines only live about 6 months after
being diagnosed with this, humans are lucky to make it 10 years. She
was only 5 1/2 years old and we had no idea if she would see her 6th
birthday. PhaseYa taught me to live for the day, for the moment. (below
photo left to right: PhaseYa and her offspring, Fly, SaeSya, Monkey,
Beefcake, Ike and Choice taken Christmas 2003).
Phase
received two blood transfusions (one of which was from her son Choice
who was crossmatched) and received 40 mgs of prednisone daily - she was
again her bouncy, happy, squirrel chasing self. After a year we started
to slowly lower the dosage of pred until finally she was off of it
completely in June of 2005. While her muscle tone never returned like
it had been prior to the pred, it simply didn't matter. She was a
living miracle and that is what is most important.
After two years of total retirement, PhaseYa came back out to
the
ring a mere four times just for fun and brought home these very special
wins:
- Best Opposite Sex, Grand Rapids KC, judge Monica Canestrini
- 1st in Vet. Sweeps 7-10 years, AWC Midwest Specialty, judge Davin McAteer
- Best Vet/Best Opposite Sex, 2005 WRA Nat'l Match, judge Dottie Gammie
- 3rd place out of 15 in Veterans 7-10 years, AWC 2007
National, judge Claire Newcombe
The side effects of high dose long term prednisone can be just
as fatal as the disease 
we
were treating, among them are: liver
damage, kidney damage, Cushing's Disease,
Diabetes and others. Unfortunately in February of 2008 PhaseYa was
dignosed with CRF (Chronic Renal Failure - kidney disease/failure). She
was immedately put on a very specific all raw diet, traditional and
holistic meds, and we watched her blood counts. Her vet pointed out
that her time was limited, and asked that I try hard to not prevent her
from enjoying what life she had left, let her experience the sun, the
breeze, the grass beneath her feet.
March
23rd I allowed my princess to get her shot at finishing her Junior
Courser title. It was hard letting her go, but when I saw the joy on
her face, watched her stretch out and really RUN it made my heart leap
for joy. Thanks to Julie Poole for getting this shot of her that day,
it's truly priceless.
November of 2008 ... she was tired, getting her to eat or
drink was
nearly impossible. I stopped the fluid treatments and meds as they
weren't doing any good and only putting her through stress. Her last
night she slept with me holding her telling her how lucky I was, how
much I loved her and that it was ok for her to go.
Thank you to all who kept her in your thoughts over the years, I never
realized just how many lives this little lass touched. Every one of you
helped keep her going, helped to create a miracle and gave me six more
years against all odds. PhaseYa left this world as I held her in my
arms November 24th, 2008.
Highlights
The princess who wooed all she met
In addition to
- AKC Champion
- Best of Breed winner
- Group Placer
- Junior Courser
PhaseYa claims these accomplishments:
- Beating Myelofibrosis
- Dam to multiple Best of Breed winners
- Dam to AKC and UKC Champions
- Dam to multiple Group winners/placers
- Dam to the #7 UKC Champion 2006
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."
- Roger Caras