Latest Update from Dr. Haskins....

Good morning Dave,

I am very sorry that you (and I) were not kept in the loop about results so far on Koda.  I had assumed, since I was in Spain and now am in France, that the folks in the lab would have contacted you.  When I wrote to Dr. Giger, who is now also traveling, he responded that "We really do not have any major findings (yet) and the MPS spot test is much less positive (age related)."  Thus, at least from my distant vantage point, it appears the most interesting early finding, the very positive MPS spot test, may have been leading us astray.  The next step has been to send the sample to Germany for analysis to determine what the individual glycosaminoglycans are in the urine, which may lead us to possible enzyme tests or help confirm the positive spot test as a blind alley.  

As you know, the lack of typical clinical findings have diminished the probability of MPS, and with the MRI findings, which are also not typical for MPS, we are still at a loss to providing a definitive diagnosis.

Decipher this :)

Yesterday Koda went in to give his new samples for the U-Penn team.  They should receive them today.  They will be doing more in depth testing as well as some DNA.  Hopefully they have received the MRI by now and have started examining that as well.
Dr. Blackmer did another thorough examination of him yesterday and said other than being on the small side for a 6 month old Siberian he looked GREAT!
Hopefully we'll have some news in 5-7 days.  Send mega positive thoughts please!!!!

Happy Birthday to dear, sweet Koda.  He turns 6 months old today!!  One milestone under our belt. Woot!!

More samples being sent to U-Penn on Monday for our boy.  Here's hoping for a more detailed diagnosis and prognosis.  They are looking forward to viewing the MRI (should be there tomorrow) and giving us some feedback on that as well.
I just love this little guy....You would too if you met him :)

Check out Koda's vest!!

Koda will be stylin and profilin in his vest for the MPS walk next month.  Who's coming out to join us to raise money for a cure for this deadly disease in children and dogs??

I think it's time to get child proof  locks for the house.  It's frustrating and funny at the same time having to watch everything that Koda does.  We don't have small children in the house anymore so we aren't always "on guard".  Like when we open the oven door to check on dinner and he tries to stick his whole head in there. We're constantly pulling things out of his mouth because he doesn't have the best chewing skills and stuff gets stuck in there and he goes into these mini chewing frenzies.  It's hard to explain unless you can see it.  The other day he learned how to open the dog food container and being as clumsy and uncoordinated as he is, he got half of his body in there and was chomping away.
Yesterday, he opened up my jewelry armoire and was taking out everything in the drawer.  I really should have a mini camera on me at all times to catch this naughty boy in action!!

On a positive note, Koda has not pooped in the house in TWO days!!  Woot Woot.  He poops on the patio right outside the back door now.  His new favorite thing to do is play with the power washer every evening while daddy is cleaning his messes.

It's the little things...