In August we sent out a plea for funds for A Chance for Bliss Animal Sanctuary in Penryn, CA.  In the article I spoke to you about Murphy, the five-year old Boston Terrier with Megaesophagus (ME) that I foster.

Megaesophagus is “passive regurgitation.” For whatever reason, food is swallowed from the mouth, but never goes anywhere beyond that point – it sits in the esophagus until it simply falls out of the mouth again. Murphy’s megaesophagus does not create the neurologic reflex that causes muscle contraction to transport food into his stomach. His esophageal tissue is so damaged that he may quite possibly have nerve disease. Murphy must eat while standing, and must also be held in a standing position for 30 minutes after eating to help keep his food down. Yet, holding him for this amount of time still does not guarantee that he will be able to keep it down.

At the time of my last writing Murphy had been with me for only four weeks, and he slept for two of those weeks.  I was sure on the third day that his time had come.  I heard all of the water in his lungs, closed my eyes and with tears flowing from them, I asked “Have you come to me to die as well?” (Remembering my three canine companions that had passed in my care over the last 18 months.)  I held him close and we just rocked back and forth, praying for a blessing.

For the next six months Murphy lived on death’s doorstep.  Every day could have been his last.  The money we raised was enough to give Murphy his 12 appointments with Dr. Signe Beebe.  She was very instrumental in his care working with me on many fronts, including his nutrition.  It was trial and error until one day he responded so well to the rice congee with turkey and date combination, along with Chinese herbs and other supplements.  Signe had consulted with leading authorities on the herbs for Murphy, as his case was a very complex one.  There were two other dogs that had come in with ME at the same time as Murphy and they were responding fabulously to her treatments. 

With Murphy’s condition feeding him is the number one priority and it had become an event in itself.  I prepare the food and then hold the bowl as he eats from it.  After he is through eating he needs to sit for half an hour to give the food a chance to pass into his stomach using gravity.  He either sits in his chair or I hold him, depending on our moods and needs.  We use a baby walker for his chair and it has been a lifesaver on more than one occasion.   As long as Murphy can see me he will sit the required time and I can get ready for work in the mornings or do dishes if needed.  Having to feed him three times per day the process can easily take up to three hours daily.

With everything that we were doing for Murphy he continued to regurgitate.  He would go for five days not regurgitating and then two to three days regurgitating after every meal.  We looked at many aspects, every type of food he ate, how many times he ate, the amount he ate, the treats he got, the herbs he was taking, their effectiveness.  We stopped the acupuncture treatments, but continued with acupressure and craniosacral.  And although we never gave up on Murphy, my hope was growing thin. 

Then in mid October he began losing weight.  Murphy’s top weight of 19.1 lbs fell to 16.7.  Although his appetite remained strong, eating three cups of food a day (I know 75 lb. dogs that don’t eat that much and here my little Murphy was eating consistently but now he was losing weight, definitely not a good sign).  For six weeks his weight continued to fall. 

Then one day in early December I noticed that Murphy looked different.  How I describe it is that he looked more like a dog - a healthy dog - and that his energy somehow “shifted”.  Never experiencing a shift such as this and not wanting to trust my own intuition, I had it validated by both Amanda my roommate and by Dr. Beebe, who commented on our next visit that he looked different. 

Spending so much time with Murphy I realized that change of any kind was stressful for him.  Even going for a walk was stressful enough to make him regurgitate.  So when my partner Dan came to visit for three weeks I expected the worst.  But instead we received a miracle.  Murphy regurgitated only one time, the second day Dan was there and then not at all for the next four weeks.  Uncharacteristic of Murphy, he spent time snuggling close to Dan and playing with him.  It was then I began calling him my Miracle Dog, as he exhibited a renewed zest for life.

It’s a miracle and I have the privilege of being a part of his healing process.  He still has bad days, like yesterday, when he regurgitated a few times; however the volume and frequency have diminished greatly.  And when that happens I lovingly follow him around the house with my roll of paper towels and clean up after him.  He runs to greet me when I come home and is having fun playing with his pull toys.  My hope is renewed with the joy that he brings to my life. 

Thank you all for your continued prayers and well wishes. I know your love made a difference.

 Tamara Samsa is the Associate Director of Healing Arts Institute.

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