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Helen and her surgery to correct her blindness

Helen is a Chinese Crested Powder Puff who is not even two years old yet but has Juvenile Cataracts. She had an initial check up upon entering rescue and was referred to another vet clinic in Springfield , MO . On Tuesday Jan 22nd the diagnosis was confirmed. We have found a Veterinary Clinic who will perform the cataract removal surgery in Pennsylvania . Helen has been adopted by a wonderful family in Pennsylvania who will be able to transport her to and from the hospital and take care of all her follow up visits however the cost of this surgery is $1,900.00 which includes both eyes. We would like to help Helen get her site back and help defray the costs so that her adoptive family can tend to her needs and provide her follow up visits. Your tax deductible contribution will do just that. Please help us give Helen the gift of sight. We will provide updates so that you can see how your gift is opening up a whole new world to a special little dog. On behalf of Helen we thank you so much.

March 14^th was our visit to the eye doctor for Helen (now Kylie's) consultation re: her juvenile cataracts. I must confess I left there with mixed feelings. Re: her eyes - Her cataracts have started to correct themselves which sounds like a good thing, but it's really not as this means the fluid is leaking into the rest of her eye. At this point, there is no glaucoma and if they don't leak again there may not be. But the probability is there and she would remain blind and possibly get totally blind with no light at all.

If she has the surgery - there is a 90-95% success rate of restoring her sight IF there has been no damage to the retina. In order to check out retina - it would cost approximately another $600 on top of $1900 (plus 200 for ongoing meds and tests much later). And these tests would involve probable sedation. The Dr. was fine with decision to just go and do cataracts and hope for the best. BUT - then he discovered what he feels is a heart murmur quite close to the aorta. So now we must have her evaluated by a cardiologist before anyone gives her any type of anesthesia whether for tests or surgery.

I have scheduled an appointment with a cardiologist at the University of Pennsylvania and I will take her down there for her heart murmur evaluation. After that is completed we will make decision on her eyes. If all goes well, I think we will just do cataracts and take our chances with the retinas. We thank you again for your help and I will keep you up to date on her condition. Sincerely,

Grace Miller for Kylie

Thursday, July 18, 2002

Dear Friends,

Just wanted you to know that since Kylie’s heart exam turned out fine at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital a couple months ago; she is now scheduled for her cataract surgery with Dr. Glickstein in Langhorne on July 24^th. You have been so kind to contribute to her recovery and we appreciate it very much! I will let you know how things go afterwards. It should take about 2 months for the “final verdict” to be in.

Thank you again from Kylie, Dave and I.

Kylie will be coming home later this afternoon! She had her surgery yesterday AM but her cataracts were partially connected which caused difficulties for dr. He said the best scenarios are either totally connected or totally disconnected. There were some other problems also and therefore he had to go back this morning and anesthetize her again to do another procedure that has to do with injections. I will meet with him later this afternoon and he will go over everything with me. Her recovery will be a little more difficult and her sight chances are decreased. BUT - he said all in all she did good. I'm anxious to get up there, pick her up and hug her. He said they are medicating her for pain. I'll fill you in more, as I learn more. Pls. keep up the prayers! Grace

Yesterday we traveled to Langhorne (she was panting all the way but no carsick!) for our visit to Dr. He said that she is having some more problems than he'd like since she doesn't want to keep her eyes open, and her right eye tear duct isn't functioning properly, BUT - he says she can see something! He's increased frequency of meds and added some so will see how she does. Today doesn't seem good as she wants to keep her head in the dark and won't open eyes except when in back yard. So I will keep you informed - - Grace.

Dear Jean - Thanks for asking about Helen("Kylie"). I did make an unscheduled trip back to surgeon this past Monday and then again on Thursday as her right eye (which had so much surgery), clouded over and she wasn't opening her eyes as much as he wanted. But she is much better these past two days, opening both eyes and venturing into other areas. Previously she stayed curled up in a ball when she wasn't outside. Now she sleeps on her side and moves around throughout the level of the home I happen to be on. We're still on 4 types of eye drops and three meds several times a day, but I feel good about her progress. Dave and I have started to teach her to go down a step or two. She'll go up but not down. We're also experiencing accidents in the house and I'm not sure if it's behavior changes or due to prednisone she's on. I know the pred has caused her to drink more but she just wonders into another area when we're not looking and does it. Even went in our bedroom where she now sleeps uncrated on rug with others, yesterday before we got up. Yet, most times she's OK. Have to work on it more as eyes get better. Any suggestions are always appreciated. !

Dear Jean - were you able to open the attachments I sent? I will take some pics of her but I don't have digital so will have to be reg. film. Yes, she can see a lot out of left eye and he's not sure what she can see out of right so far. There's a lot of inflammation there but every day it seems a little clearer. When the dr. placed her on the floor of his office, it's obvious she can see some things. He says she will never have close up vision but will be OK for far away. We definitely see a difference with her here around the house also. She doesn't stay all curled up in front of the sofa all day like she used to. And pls. let me know the names of those I need to send thank you's to.

Grace Miller wishes to thank all who have donated to Helens surgery we raised over $200 so far.