RELAPSE - JUNE 30, 2007 - SMOKEY STILL FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE - EPM

Smokey has been doing super great for the past 6 weeks; no signs of EPM; laminitis foot almost grown out, and for the past two weeks, sound at the trot. Smokey was getting turned out in the arena 3x a week for the past 2 weeks. He enjoyed rolling in the sand, sniffing around, eating grass weeds under the fence, cantering, trotting even sometimes with his head low, showing off his stuff to the young stallion who lives at the other end of the arena -- no lameness or unbalance -- just old age and stall rest stiffness -- AND looking absolutely breathtaking gorgeous.

Saturday, June 30, at 3 p.m., my little 9 mo-old grandson was petting Smokey in his stall and everything was good. Smokey loved the little guy's attention and delight with him. Every time little Mason quickly, and lightly touched Smokey's face, Mason smiled big and drew his hands back fast, as if to say, I can't believe a touched an animal that big -- it's scary but I was brave. Smokey kept his head still and several times licked little Mason's legs (My son was holding Mason, wearing shorts, up to Smokey's face.)

Then a few hours later, at feeding time, we saw Smokey looking as beautiful and alert as always, but staggering around and having difficulty using his hind legs. When he turns, he turns on the forehand and his hind legs just twist around each other. Then he makes a great effort to untangle his hind legs and move one of them -- off balance. Several times I honestly thought he was going to fall on me or wanted to lean on me. I can't stand it -- my heart is feeling broken. Don said maybe it's time to say goodbye. I was crying my eyes out, but I told Don, I am not giving up until Smokey gives up, no matter what --even if we have to remortgage our little ranch. The vet came out late last night and gave him an anti-inflammatory shot, but there was nothing else she could do.

I was frantic - we have no more Marquis EPM meds left. Smokey has already had 9 tubes of it (twice the recommended treatment), ending 30 days ago. I gave Smokey a few pureed up carrots with lots of highly concentrated olive leaf extract oil (a whole dropper bottle for humans), half bottle of horse APF -- about 15 x dose (chinese herb thing invented by a veterinarian), and added some real maple syrup to ensure that he ate this expensive potion. It was just an act of desperation. Don was annoyed with me pouring all this stuff into Smokey's carrots. I had to do something other than say goodbye to him. I am not giving up until Smokey gives up.

Then I spent hours comforting him, kissing his face and nostrils, rubbing his belly, and telling him how handsome he is and how I am so proud of him . . . and how he has been my truest best friend for the past 24 years. He has never let me down.

I reminded Smokey that last March when he was laying in his stall and two vets were telling me I should euthanize him, he told me that he is not ready and that he plans to be on the planet another 5 or 6 years -- and to count on it. After I said that, Smokey reached over and put his mouth ever so gently on my face for a few seconds.

The next day, Smokey was slightly better in that he didn't look like he is going to fall down, but he is still off balance behind. He is in good spirits and not looking so worried like he was last night. Every time he thinks he wants to lay down in his deep shavings, he changes his mind, and quickly reverses his downward direction and straightens up his front knees to stand. I am sure he remembers March 13th when he could not get up on his own, down for 16 hours, hauled away in a stretcher to the horse hospital.

I am being told by friends experienced with EPM, that the Marquis and other conventional treatments never really kill the EPM protozoa because they don't cross over the blood-brain barrier where the protozoa is doing its thing, and that Smokey is having a relapse and that this will happen from time to time until it finally kills him. I just can't stand it. I know he is not in pain, but I can tell that he is worried about his condition.

We are going to start major alternative treatment -- making Colloidal Silver and start giving it to him and, hopefully, can get rid of the EPM protozoa once and for all -- and before it moves from his spinal cord to his brain and causes permanent damage.

It is not time for Smokey to go.

Best to you . . .those who are following Smokey's journey.
Laura Wiener-Smolka




Barely 3-yr old McKenna and 5-yr old Jessica with Smokey.






Myfascial Release Therapy


Me on Smokey in his stall --both of us feeling much better.





Go to August update