Jone’s Healing Team*
Jones’ Healing Team
Jones, a 12 ½ year old cattle dog mix, was diagnosed with tumors attached to his spleen and at the base of his heart by our veterinarian. Jones’ only symptom was a cough, and an Xray revealed the terrible news. Knowing that all beings are healed on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels, I tapped into his existing healing team of practitioners and reached out to new ones to create a healing team that would address all levels of his being at this particular stage of his life. My goal was to provide the best care for Jones that I could, not knowing if the healing was going to turn the cancer around or help him on his journey. Jones’ team included his veterinarian, a holistic veterinarian, an acupuncturist, an animal communicator, and Reiki practitioners.
Biopuncture/ Homotoxicology
Dr. Michelle Danna Christian: During the first visit, I reviewed Jones’ Xrays, realizing the reason for the consistent deep cough was from many metastatic tumors wrapped around his main stem bronchi at the base of his trachea. My physical exam revealed internal bleeding within his abdomen, which indicated that that this was primary tumor, most likely a hemangiosarcoma, with a risk of rupturing. Jones also had tumors on his left front leg up to his shoulder.
The allopathic side of me imagined I would be back tomorrow to euthanize Jones; however the holistic side of me was hopeful. Heroics were not an option with Jones’ age and diagnosis, the goal was to give Jones a higher quality of life for a longer period of time. We charted out a treatment of Homotoxicology and Biopuncture, to support his immune system, stop the internal bleeding, and attempt to stop the growth of the tumors, hoping to reduce their size.
I saw Jones 72 hours after the first visit and what a different dog – the tumors on his left leg were 95% reduced, the fluid in his belly was significantly reduced, no longer bleeding, and the entire time I was there, he only coughed once. Jones continued to improve over the next few weeks, the only bad news was that once the fluid was gone from his belly, we could palpate the tumor confirming that it was attached to his spleen and the size of a small football. Regardless, we continued to treat Jones and see amazing results – the tumors on his legs had all but disappeared and the tumor in his abdomen also reduced. Unfortunately the tumor around his trachea was persistent and in week four, Jones’ cough started to get worse.
Acupuncture
Theresa Deramo: I had been treating Jones with acupuncture for his arthritis and general health and well being for over a year. Acupuncture is the insertion of fine needles along an energy pathway or meridian to access and change the flow of qi (energy), increase the blood flow and energy as a way to help the body maintain homeostatic balance. After the diagnosis, I believe it was important to continue with acupuncture to help keep Jones moving, his energy high and his spirit connected.
During our treatments, I offered more palliative care to aid in reducing the cough and keep Jones comfortable. I treated the lung, heart and pericardium meridians to open his chest and calm the cough. I treated the kidney meridian to aid the lung meridian in treating the cough and I treated the pericardium meridian because of its connection to the chest, wanting to unbind the chest as a way to help keep Jones comfortable. The heart meridian was treated from a spirit or constitutional level to calm the shen or the part of the heart and spirit that allows us to stay settled and connected to our hearts path or journey throughout our life. During my last visit, it was clear that Jones was running out of energy. During this session, I treated the heart one more time as a way to allow Jones to help figure out if he needed to stay or if it was getting near time to say goodbye.
Animal Communication
Terri Diener: I was new to Jones’ healing team, but it was very important to the family that they asked him what he knew about his health, how he was doing and what he wanted for treatment. I find it interesting that so often animals keep their illnesses from their pet parents, as was the case with Jones. During our conversations, Jones said he was very receptive to the biopuncture and homotoxicology and he mentioned that although he had pain now and then, the acupuncture and Reiki were managing his pain.
Jones knew that the cancer was going to cause his death, but as long as he still had joy in each day, he wanted to continue his life. As time went on, even though the tumors were reducing in size, the cancer was tiring him, his cough returned and he was losing energy. I encouraged the family to do a life review with Jones to let him know how much he has meant to them, as a way of letting him know it was okay if he wanted to go. On the last day, Jones’ had communicated to his family and his team that he was ready, and I confirmed his wishes and said my good byes.
Reiki
Kathleen Lester: As a Reiki Practitioner and Teacher, I wanted to offer as much healing on all levels of his being. When I first heard the news, I put in a request to my healing team of Reiki practitioners, who lovingly sent Jones much Reiki over the last month of his life. In addition, I attuned my husband and stepdaughter to Reiki, so they too could be part of Jones’ healing team.
Jones left us on his own terms, in his own way, because we were willing to hear what he had to say and what he wanted – no machines, no poisons, just natural remedies and as much time to experience joy in every moment. On his last day, Jones went for a walk and played a few rounds of ball in the yard (his absolute favorite sport). As Jones chewed on his marrow bone, we all gathered around him to say our good bye’s, including our dog, Althea, who came over and offered Jones’ one of his “stuffies” and said good bye too.
Jone’s team worked together with our family to offer him the care that he sought, not the care we desperately wanted -a cure. Sometimes the healing we seek, is not the healing we receive. In the case of Jones, I know he affected each member of his healing team, and we are all grateful that he shared his “joy” with us and we in turn will find our own joy in each day.
The Team
Michelle Dana-Christian, DVM— Relief Veterinary Services & Boston Street Animal Hospital. www.
Theresa Deramo, LAC— Human & Animal Acupuncturist. Essence of Wellness.www.essenceofwellness.net.
Terri Diener, M.S. Animal Communicator & Teacher —Pet Speak. www.petspeak.com.
Kathleen Lester, M.S. Animal Reiki Practitioner & Teacher. www.animalreikialliance.com
*As published in the Animal Reiki Alliance News, Volume III, Issue 1, January 2013.
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