There is only one way to describe the journey we have been on the past month and that is a roller coaster ride. Just when you think you have hope, you get knocked down again and somehow find hope once more. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.
Oscar returned to Columbus for his one month post-op visit. The surgeon removed his stitches and the incision is barely visible. Oscar's hair has almost completely grown back and he is starting to look like himself.
When Dr. Harrison tested his deep pain reflex, the reaction he was hoping for still wasn't there. However, Oscar did seem to show signs of discomfort although Dr. Harrison couldn't say for sure if he was actually feeling deep pain. As a result of this, Dr. Harrison told us to give Oscar another two weeks to show signs of recovery. He made sure to emphasize that until Oscar could feel deep pain, he had zero chance of recovery.
He went outside for a longer period of time when we got home to enjoy the warm weather. No blanket necessary today.
On a positive note, Oscar is starting to bear weight on his hind legs when we support his back end for balance. When he is in this position on all fours, Oscar's tail immediately begins to wag which is so exciting to see. He is so incredibly happy to be up instead of laying down or sitting.
I wanted to see if the tail wagging was an encouraging sign, so I began to "Google" this and came across an article from 2009 documenting a clinical trial done on a paralyzed dachshund in England.(Link to article) The clinical trial removed cells from the lining of the dog's nose and the cells were injected into his spinal cord eventually allowing him to walk again. I was so excited to find this article that I immediately began a search to locate the professors named in the article that conducted the clinical trial to see if they were still conducting similar trials or new of anyone that might be in the USA. I was able to track them down and sent each of them an email. Unfortunately, one was undeliverable and returned immediately. I went to bed without hope that the other email would go through. Afterall, the article was three years old.
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