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Mazi's Story

By Susan Toovell

Mazi's story began on November 01, 1999. We lived in Homestead, FL, South of Miami and just before the Florida Keys. My husband Morty had gone to a doctor's appointment in Miami. When he came home he told me a very sad story that would change our lives.

On his way to his appointment, he saw a big black dog trying to cross the street. He slowed down, but the man in the van on the right did not. The dog went flying! He got the tag number and went to the police. They said they only come for people, not for animals. He went to his appointment and on his way home he looked for the dog. He did not see the dog anywhere. He came home and told me the story. I was so saddened and upset that was all I could think about. That night I said a prayer, ever so deep, for help for that dog. In the prayer I was asked to make a commitment to care for a furry someone in need.

We were building a house in Boynton Beach, FL in a 55+ community. I knew there were rules and regulations concerning animals, however not the specifics. We already had twin kitties. I told God I would commit, but could not commit for my husband. My prayer ended and I went about my chores for the rest of the evening.

The next day, November 02, 1999 was a beautiful sunny day, with blue sky and white fluffy clouds. We went out to lunch and to the new Wal-Mart. When we came home, the truck was parked in the driveway. Morty had taken packages in the house through the garage. I was standing outside the truck with my head inside. He came out of the garage and said "look who's here!" There was a very sick, very scared little doggie. She had no collar or tag. She had a lot of fur missing and sores all over her. We gave her a can of kitty food and water. She ate it all up in no time. We called our then local vet, who was about three miles away.

It was 4:40 P.M. We said we had a stray and asked if we could bring her in. I was told to bring her in the morning. I said. "I don't know if she would make it till morning, and I don't know if she would even be here in the morning." Then I asked if she could spend the night. I was told to bring her over.

We put a towel on the driveway and managed to have her walk on to it. As I got into the truck, Morty wrapped her up and put her on my lap. All the way to the vet we talked to her in terms of mama and papa. I realized without a doubt, she was an answer to my prayer I had made just the day before. I had a passion for her and I knew I had to have her no matter what. When we got to the vet, the dog was scanned for a microchip, and there was none. Our vet asked if we wanted to keep her and my husband did not commit, and just said "give her what she needs." The staff said if we weren't going to keep her, they would have no trouble placing her. We were told that we needed to put signs up in the neighborhood, and ads in the paper. We did this, and got some calls, but I prayed no description would fit her, and my prayers were answered.

We went to walk her twice a day. We went to PetsMart and got a collar, leash, bed, toys, and food. Morty wondered how we were going to take care of her; that we knew nothing about dogs. I said, "If God wants us to have her, He will show us how to care for her." As sick as she was, with Sarcoptic Mange, and on IVs, she would sit up in her cage. She was ever so cute. She was in the hospital a week. Then we brought her home. She would be God's gift to us for nine years.

She came to us with a white heart on her forehead and an angel emblazoned on her chest; and silver curls on top of her head.
Her ears were shaped like angel wings, and when she would move them up and down they looked like angel wings. She was named Mazi for God's amazing grace. We would come to learn that she was a long hair, short legged Jack Russell Terrier. The vet thought she was five years old.

In 2001 we moved to Boynton Beach. Within the first year she developed mast cell tumors. We always needed to be on the lookout for what looked like a cyst. Over the next few years she had some needle biopsies for suspects. A few were, most were not. Thank God. One of my greatest fears was that Mazi would have cancer. Prior to changing vets, Mazi had a dental. Within two weeks after, she could not open her mouth more than 1/8 inch. We took her back to the vet who did the dental, he gave her ten days of pain medicine, which was fruitless. Then it was back again, and Mazi had to endure going under anesthesia once again to find out the problem. The outcome was that all her teeth looked okay. Mazi still was unable to open her mouth or chew.

I was aware of Dr. Jan Bellows in Weston, FL. He is one of a few dental vets in the US, and is a Diplomate to the American Veterinary Dental College. He researched her situation. He did this even while we waited. He suspected masticatory muscle myocytis; also referred to as MMM. He later would do biopsies on both sides of Mazi's head, with six stitches each. Her head and half of her face were shaved. The biopsies confirmed MMM. He put her on a steroid treatment program that did thank God make her jaws work once again. This disease manifests itself in a wasting of the muscles. So her little face did continue to shrink over time.

Mazi also had gingivitis and was treated with pulse therapies, which are antibiotics the first five days of the month. When Mazi started to have more problems in May 2007, we took her back to Dr. Bellows. There was more surgery, eight teeth extracted because of holes in her teeth. Prior to surgery, blood tests were done, one of which was exceptionally high, and Cushing's disease was suspect. We would ultimately find out, that there indeed was a problem, but it was not Cushing's.

In the fall of 2007, Mazi's back legs would start to collapse, and look like turtle legs. This occurred mostly when she was walking on the grass. There would be many days she was fine. From time to time this would happen without warning. And eventually she would not be able to sit on our tile floor without sliding backwards. For many months Mazi would have a "huffy" sound to her breathing. We thought it was due to the heat and exercise. We would later on learn it was due to myasthenia gravis, and mega esophagus. Mazi also had a heart murmur. During this time she also had lost her bark.

In December of 2007, Mazi totally collapsed outside on the grass. We took her to Dr. Burns who did X rays, and also blood work. The X rays showed aspirate pneumonia, and the blood chemistry showed sky high sugar, which three months before was normal. Dr. Burns made an excellent decision to refer us to Dr. Terry Carro in Miami, Diplomate of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, whom she had worked with before, and said that we would like her. She said that it would be worth the trip. We made an appointment before we left Dr. Burn's office for the next day, and took the X rays and blood report. I would come to believe that Dr. Carro was God's angel of mercy on earth.

Dr. Carro did more tests. She diagnosed Mazi with: aspirate pneumonia, diabetes mellitus, myasthenia gravis, and mega esophagus. She also had a mediastinal mass, possibly a thymoma. It took a few months to get Mazi's insulin regulated, and to clear her of the (second) occurrence of aspirate pneumonia. With the correct meds from Dr. Carro and a lot of effort and Mazi's tolerance we got her insulin correctly regulated and her rectal problem cleared up, her potty more normal, her bark back, her drinking normal, and the mucous stopped.

Mazi would become a new puppy, playing with her toys. She would go to her toy box and play by herself, and very often bring her favorite toys to her papa, or me, and ask us to play with her. God gave us our Mazi back.

From April 2008 thru the first days of October 2008, Mazi would be very playful and exceptionally loving. She would have periods of troubled breathing but was eager to walk, and walked well, and wanted so much to see her friends and visit with them along her walks. She also would frequently be seen running around the living room and back to the front door and back.

On September 15th I took Mazi outside for what I thought would be a quick trip to go to the bathroom, because we had to leave for an appointment. God had other plans. He gave Mazi the strength and determination to take me on a walk around our small circle, which is about 3/4 of a mile. She only stopped twice for seconds, at the end our block on the way back.

This would be one of the many gifts Mazi would leave with me. To go for walks because they are so important, and that she would always be my walking partner. There would be shorter walks up the street during September and October, with intermittent times when Mazi's back legs would collapse, she would get up and be okay, and other times we would carry her home.

Within the first few days of October, Mazi would start to try to clear her throat, and we didn't realize at the time that this was the beginning of another episode of myasthenia gravis attacks, that would ultimately turn into aspirate pneumonia.

Mazi was full of mucous and her congestion became worse; her symptoms continued to exacerbate. For a while she had been tending to drink a lot, and I knew her insulin was correct. We would come to learn that her mega esophagus was preventing swallowing and would only get worse, she ultimately would become dehydrated.

On October 8th we took Mazi back to visit Dr Burns for blood tests, and she conferred with Dr Carro. She prescribed more antibiotics. These medicines still did not provide the needed help. Dr. Carro said that Mazi has a mediastinal mass which could be pressing. She wanted to do an ultrasound to measure the mass if there was no improvement on the antibiotics. Mazi would steadily get worse. She still hacked and coughed, and was extremely full of mucous. She was spitting up mucous puddles often.

October 13th was Mazi's worst evening since she got sick. She managed to eat a little bit of dinner, and spit up a lot. We would come to understand this was due to the mega esophagus, and the myasthenia gravis.

October 15th was a beautiful day and Mazi spent most of the day on the patio which she loved, by the water bowls with her face in them. She was forever thirsty, which in time we would find out was because she was not able to swallow.

October 16th would be Mazi's last day home. She had not been able to eat for two days. And this A.M. she could not eat, drink (although she desperately tried), urinate or stand. We called Dr. Carro and took Mazi to her new South Miami office. This would be her last ride that she loved so much. When we got there Morty put her on the grass, she stood up and walked a few steps, and did urinate. I carried her in and shortly we were in an exam room, where I put Mazi in a kitty scale, she flopped down and stayed that way. She was down to 14 1/2 pounds, the least she ever weighed. I loved her up and talked to her and told her how much I loved her and always would and what a good girls she is.

When Dr. Carro came in we spoke, and she said that she thought she would be there about three days, which was a weekend. She said that we could come to see her on Sunday, or bring her home. She said, "I hope I can do it again." Never once did Dr. Carro express in any way giving up on our little Mazi.

She called us at 6:50 P.M. to give us an update, and it was encouraging. She said she got the Pyridostigmine in her, and her insulin, and that she was given IV fluids, and that she was able to get some water also in by mouth. She had offered her chicken. I don't think she ate any. She was going to be leaving, and would call us in the morning. Other doctors would be there.

On Friday, October 17 at 5:10 A.M. we got a call from Dr. Story, one of Dr. Carro's associates, telling us that Mazi had just passed away from cardiac arrest. Very sad news , indeed. Her suffering was ended which was a blessing.

Mazi was a fighter and loved life. She was passionate about everything she did. She would never give up. She had will, determination and endurance. She gave out. She was worn out. In retrospect, it was obvious that she was sick long before anyone knew it or any test showed it. Since her first vet thought she was five when she came to us, she would be fourteen when she left. And, a vet who knew her only briefly as a friend, on learning of her passing, called her "ancient", and asked, "What was she, eighteen?" She was a very determined little girl, with a smile that enveloped you.

She left us with life's lessons of will, determination, perseverance, forgiveness, laughter, unconditional love, never hold grudges, and enthusiasm. She was a happy playful joyful spirit. Mazi's eyes spoke that of a wise soul.

TO HAVE THE INSPIRATION AND BE TUNED IN

To see and process that which is seen.
To understand the connection and relationship between --
are essential and an especially important lesson in reducing the suffering that otherwise maybe.
Listen to their body language, they will tell you what they need.
Let that be a signal for you to heed.

My prayers are to always be aware
for with God's Grace I can spare
the little souls that have come to me
an easier path on their road to eternity.
Always be aware of what is there
so the babies will be spared;
to this their needs
there is no compare.

Who are we not to dare
to make a difference in their lives
so that they can see the light
and have a safe journey on their flight.
Look with a watchful eye -------
Listen and hear with an open ear
with an open ear so there will be no fear
and this will keep our babies near.
Listen and you will hear
the baby's plea for what it is they really need.

All too often
people do not heed the signs
to spare the suffering of the intent
of the Divine.

My heart cries out in pain you see
for that which maybe I missed
which was the intent to be.

FOR THOSE I LOVE

For those I love who love me too
Remembering you is what I do.
I will always be here with you.

I was very sick and old
and it was time for me to go.

It is sad I could not stay
to live and laugh and work and play.
It was such fun to laugh and play
to eat and comfort you each day.
When I could I saw my friends
along the walks I wish would never end.

I loved the sun and the rain
I loved the grass and all terrain.
The pavers were a comfort too
Wherever I could lay outside would do.

I loved to go for rides, I loved to visit friends.
I loved to be outside
And feel bad it has to end.

I was a very lucky girl
that mama prayed to help that dog
for which she had to promise God
to care for a furry someone in need.

In need I was that is for sure
and God sent me to her house to endure
all my suffering along the way
with mama's and papa's help each day.

For she became mama and there was papa too
and sister Daisy doggie and my Marcell and Monique
kitties chartreux.

I always had the best of care
Mama and papa were very rare
they were always there.
For me they went to whatever end
to make sure I had my needs to tend.

My doctors were always right on top
and be with me nonstop.
They always knew just what to do
to make sure I came through.
Loving and kind and patient you see
and I always felt the comfort for the love they had for me.
The nurses were nice and kind and caring too
with love and patience and skill too.
My doctors' office staffs' were the best
they were always happy to see me
they were kind, helpful and endearing.

Thank you ALL dear friends for loving me
and caring about me too
I will always love you.

Now it is time to say goodbye.
Farwell dear friends
I did not die.
My body got very sick and old,
and tired too
and I had to go.
But I am still alive and here with you.

For those I love who love me too
I will always be with you.
For those I love and hold so dear
I will always be here and near.

We are friends there is no end.

My mama named me for God's amazing grace
and mazel tov (good luck)

She said I was a HAPPY JOYFUL PLAYFUL SPIRIT

Love,

Mazi

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