Published: 08 August 2011 Barbara Ingram Hits: 8481
As told by his owner Brooke Kwasny
Romeo is my kitty, but really like my child and I could not tell this story without first emphasizing he is treated like my child and a member of our family. This is Romeo’s story.
I had Romeo since he was a kitten. I found him in a newspaper ad that had free kittens up for grabs. I went to the home and you could say Romeo and I chose each other at his young life of 3 months old. I took care of Romeo as one should, always taking him in for his annual vaccines and of course anytime there was even a slight chance he may not be feeling well. He led a healthy life until February 2008 and that was when our life was turned upside down.
I found a tumor on Romeo’s right side of his body. I immediately scheduled an appointment with a local vet. Of course my worst fears were that it could be the “C” word that no one wants to utter when faced with this. I took him to a vet and within just a few minutes the doctor had told me that she suspected my worst fears could be coming true. They thought it was cancer but before she could be positive, they did numerous tests. I went home and prayed and prayed and prayed some more. Then a few days later I got the call that took the wind out of me…Romeo had Feline Sarcoma. Not only is this a form of cancer, but it is very rare, very aggressive, and is caused from vaccines.
We scheduled surgery the next day. This type of cancer spreads very quickly and I was told even with the surgery, his prognosis was not good. His surgery was aggressive with the incision being 3 inches wide and 3 inches deep. Poor Romeo spent days at the vet's in recovery. The first day I took him home he had a reaction to one of the antibiotics he was on and ended up back at the vet's. When I went to pick him up, the vet advised me that she did not think they got all of the cancer out and gave him 3 months to live. I can’t explain the feeling that overwhelmed me when I was told this. He was only 5 years old and there was no way I was going to accept this. At the time I was living in Knoxville, TN. The vet suggested I take him to the University of Tennessee’s veterinarian center to receive chemo. The chemo consisted of him being dropped off Monday through Friday at 8am and picked up at 6pm. During this time he would receive very aggressive treatments. Side effects included loss of appetite, vomiting, and loss of hair to name a few. To summarize, he would be put through hell. On top of all this, the cost for this would be around $25,000. In addition, his body may not accept the chemo and he could end up worse. As if it couldn’t get any worse, the survival rate was only 35%. If he did make it, then the chance of him living past a year was 8%. His odds got worse as time went on. Obviously, this was not an option. I instantly started doing research as to what other options were out there. I started signing up on all different kinds of cat blogs and forums for help. Then one day someone on a forum mentioned holistic treatment and bloodroot or aka neoplasene. I started looking into many holistic vets all over the country. I tried some locally in Knoxville but no one gave me the answer that I was looking for…Romeo was treatable and he would be okay. By this point I was desperate and knew that time was against me. Then I found Franklin Road Animal Hospital.
I scheduled an appointment with Dr. Ingram right away. I drove the 3 hour trip from Knoxville to Nashville one day after a full day’s work. I walked into the office, plainly putting it, a mess. I met with one of the veterinarian techs and could barely even talk while crying hysterically. Then Dr. Ingram walked in. I continued crying through the whole visit. But this visit was different than the other holistic vets I had been to. He gave me what I had been searching for the whole time…hope. He was very understanding; the whole staff was for that matter. He was positive, but also realistic. He was very up front that we would have to attack this aggressively. Needless to say I was on board. I have to mention that after this first visit I went out to my car for my 3 hour journey back home at about 9pm to find I had a flat tire. Dr. Ingram and his wife Barbara did everything they could to help me get back on the road safely. I am so grateful for them.
This is where Romeo and my relationship began with Franklin Road Animal Hospital, but more importantly with Dr. Ingram and Barbara. Romeo was immediately put on a raw meat diet and many vitamins. We made visits to the vet every other week, sometimes once a week. And every time we made our visit, I would cry and cry and cry. But every member of the staff was amazing and listened to me sob every time.
Within about a month of treatment, Dr. Ingram felt that Romeo was in recovery and would pull through. I no longer had to make the trips every other week and eventually it turned into once a month. Then by May of that year I decided to move back to my hometown in Indiana. I was very nervous to be so far away in case Romeo took a turn for the worse, but I was able to order his medicines and Barbara was kind of enough to have them shipped to me. In addition, I could not have done it without the positive prognosis for Romeo and the re-assurance from Dr. Ingram that Romeo was very close to being completely healthy and cancer free.
I am more than proud to report that Romeo has been cancer free for three years now. He is completely healthy and has routine checkups to re-assure myself that he really is healthy. Sometimes it is hard to believe that he went from being so close to leaving us to being in perfect health. I thank God every day that I did not accept the first vet telling me that he had three months to live. I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and people are put in your life for a reason. I thank God every day that Romeo and I was so blessed to meet Dr. Ingram. There are not enough words to express how much gratitude I have towards Franklin Road Animal Hospital. I truly believe with everything I have inside of me, that with the combination of the fight Romeo and I have in us, the expertise and hope from Dr. Ingram, his caring staff, the holistic treatments, and of course by God’s good grace…Romeo is a real, walking, living, breathing, miracle.
Published: 03 June 2011 taylor Hits: 8862
Dear Dr. Ingram & Staff:
We're so glad to have a doctor who is holistic and believes in the natural way, as well as conventional medicine... I met my daughter there last Thursday evening with her boxer, Titan, and as usual, you spent over 2 hours with him and stayed late. I always learned something health-wise every visit and this time it wasn't even my own dog. It is very much appreciated your spending so much time with each client. I feel very blessed since becoming a client.
-- Gwen Sloan
Just wanted to thank all of you for the outstanding care and attention that you all gave to Houston. You are such a kind and caring group of people and the love that you have for animals truly shows. We thank you for all of the late night hours and extra attention that you dedicated to helping Houston get better. We truly feel that the Lord led us to your office. May the good Lord continue to bless you all, and thank you again for everything.
-- Sincerely, Brant and Sandra Jones & Family
Boo was diagnosed with an enlarged heart. I was told she had 6 months to live. Then I met Dr. Ingram and boo lived 10 more years under his care. Thank you Mark! To the rest of the posse; I salute you all. You are the kindest, most caring group of people I have ever encountered out of any vet office I've ever done business with. The world was a different place pre and post Boo. I spoiled that cat and loved doing it every step of the way. Boo gave me 20 years of fun and happiness and I love each and every one of you!
-- Regards, C. Yokely
Scott and I are so very grateful for all the "extra" time we had with Maynard that we never would have had without all of you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts... for all that you did and for being so patient and caring.
-- Love, Karen Baggett
David & I want you to know how very much we appreciate your kindness during the past few weeks. You have always gone "beyond the call of duty" and you helped make a difficult time for us a little easier. Thank you for your understanding and kind words.
-- Martha Baldwin
Just wanted to drop you a few lines to let you know that Misty's VOM worked wonders as usual. Each time she gets an adjustment she is very active, perky and feels great. After the neighbor's dog almost succeeded in making a rag doll out of her two years ago, we are committed to do everything we can to improve her health and well being. As you know, you are the only vet in this area that truly offers a holistic approach to the healing process. We have become so attached to Misty and believe that in most circumstances, the holistic approach is far better for everyone involved.
We often take for granted people, such as you and your staff, that do so much for our animal friends and seem to work miracles, Greg & I just wanted to take a moment and thank you for all the help you have given us in restoring Misty to her "old self". We, like so many other people, are very appreciative of all the services you and your staff have provided through the years.
-- Yours truly, Loretta & Greg Tripodes
Just a quick note to say thanks to you and all your staff for helping Stephi. You went outside the box and always gave us hope and I know we got to keep her a little longer because of your efforts. She was a special cat and we all feel that you're a special person for always going the extra mile with us. Keep doing God's work and we look forward to seeing you again soon.
-- Yours truly, Gracie, Sharon & Steve Glassmeyer
I am writing to thank you for the wonderful care you gave to Honcho. Because of you he lived an additional 1 year and 1/2, with quality of life, which as you know is very important to me. You also gave him dignity and compassion as he passed on. I will always remember your kindness and knowledge.
-- Sincerely, Eileen Littlefield
Thanks for treating us all like family. You're our most favorite place to be...ha! ha!
-- Always with love, Yvonne & Vic, Lucky, Molly, Jesse & Andee Means
Mark and Barbara,
My husband and I want to thank you soooooo much for the (Christmas) gift of $56.25 to zero our balance. This is such a welcome surprise and a great relief for us. This really means a lot to us. We want to thank you also for all your patience and understanding. It seems like every time we think we're getting on top of things financially, something always comes up to set us back even further. I guess that's where faith comes in. Without God, it would be impossible to get through all the trials we face. He's always there to pick us up when we are loaded down. I thank God for you both and this awesome blessing. It has definitely made our load a little lighter. Thanks for all your love and prayers!
-- May God bless you both! Sincerely yours, M. Ball
Thanks so much for your compassion and magnificent care of our "Min Pins." You are appreciated and loved by us and our "family."
-- The Newsoms (Michael, Kimberly, Butch, Trixie, Rocky, Karma, Ollie & Scooby)
Published: 14 March 2011 Barbara Ingram Hits: 24862
A little boy dropped Lanna on the concrete sidewalk when she was about six or eight weeks old. She cried, but seemed to be okay the next day. Little did we know at that time that when he dropped Lanna it caused some spine problems in her lower back.
I house trained her quickly by getting up several times during the night and taking her outside. She was playful and had a lot of energy and ate well. But then we noticed she had a leaking problem. The vets did not have an answer and would put her on antibiotics because the leaking caused chronic bladder infections.
Finally the vet said take her to the Dallas Vet Surgeons to have some tests. Well the Dallas vet told me right away I should put her down, because it would be a lifetime problem, but after already having her four months I could NOT do that. So after a few tests they could not find anything and suggested opening up her bladder to see if the tubes were in properly. After costing a fortune and putting Lanna through hell they found nothing.
She continued to leak and a few more years of constant vet bills and antibiotics and prion, etc. nothing stopped the leaking. So the vet suggested we take her to Texas A & M Vet Hospital. They could not find a problem, so they wanted us to leave Lanna with them for several days for extensive tests and surgery. We decided that Lanna had been through enough and we had already spent a fortune on her so we didn't want to continue with the research.
Several more years went by and over the years she would limp if she took long walks, and sometimes when she would be playing or someone grabbed her hip, she would yelp in pain. We figured it was all the surgeries she had.
Then we had a cyst removed from her paw and because she had to favor that paw it caused her to become crippled and finally lose total control of her back legs. As a result I was having to carry her outside to use the bathroom and hold up her hind end because she was totally paralyzed and by now had lost total control of her bladder. It was so bad she would pee right through her diaper and I would wake to puddles of pee on my hardwood floors.
So the vet said let me keep Lanna for about a week and see if I can get her walking...and like I knew...they couldn't and wanted me to take her to a surgeon to have BACK SURGERY! So I took Lanna to another vet to get a 2nd opinion and that vet said the same thing--Back Surgery with six weeks of rehab and recovery! YIKES! More money and more pain for me and Lanna.
Over the years I had turned to holistic--alternative medicine. So I thought, if it keeps me extremely healthy, I should find a holistic vet for Lanna. I found Dr. Mark Ingram at Franklin Road Animal Hospital, a holistic and chiropractic vet.
Right away Dr. Ingram said Lanna's lifetime of leaking was caused by misalignment of her hip and spine and allergies to some of her food, and that he could treat her and have her walking again and stop the leaking! That was music to my ears.
In no time at all Dr. Ingram had Lanna walking and the pain Lanna had in her back end is gone! After seven years of horror with the leaking she does not leak anymore! What a miracle! Lanna goes for regular chiropractic adjustments and is on a special diet and takes some fabulous vitamins.
When my neighbors see us taking walks they call her the miracle dog. I can honestly say Lanna has NEVER been so healthy and happy!
