-- by Mike Murray

As Thanksgiving Day drew near, Pam and I found ourselves wondering: What medical drama awaited Janna this year? She had, after all, survived holiday-season scares in both 2008 and 2009. In each case, a tentative diagnosis hinted strongly at the presence of an aggressive, life-threatening form of cancer. As a consequence, my wife and I spent anxious days (and sleepless nights) waiting on lab results.

But we were twice relieved, as test reports revised preliminary diagnoses and removed the risk of death. In '08, it was the presence of substantial inflammation that led to a suspicion of bone cancer. (The inflammation turned out to be associated with an ACL tear -- a tear that was subsequently repaired via surgery.) In '09, a growth that appeared to be malignant was removed, and was ultimately found to be benign.

The experiences of the previous two years -- coupled with Janna's advanced age (we estimate it to be 12 and 1/2 years) -- instilled in me a feeling of dread as the middle of November approached. Metaphorically speaking, I waited for (yet) another shoe to drop.

The week before Thanksgiving, it did. While out meandering in the backyard, Janna slipped on some leaves and began to limp. Within a few strides, however, she regained a normal gait. I was relieved, believing that no serious harm had been done. But later that day (while out walking through the neighborhood with Pam), Janna re-aggravated the leg and began limping again.

Still, I wasn't too alarmed. Janna had, after all, similarly slipped while we were on vacation last summer. And, although she gimped around for a few days, she seemingly recovered completely within a week or so.

This time was different. After several days passed without much (if any) discernible improvement, it was time for a trip to the orthopedic surgeon. The diagnosis: As she had two years ago, Janna had severely torn an anterior cruciate ligament in a rear leg (the left one in '08; the right one this year).

And so, two days before Thanksgiving, Janna underwent her second TPLO procedure (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy ). I don't really understand all that is involved, but I do know it includes bone-shaving and the insertion of metal support material. I also know it is supposed to be a "gold-standard" procedure -- one that, while pricey, leads to relatively quick recovery and good long-term results. (Certainly, such was the case with Janna's other leg.)

Janna is now in Day Six of her recovery, and she seems to be healing properly. Still, things are going a little harder for her this time around. Her medications did a somewhat poorer job of controlling post-op pain, and she has been a little slower to put weight on the repaired leg than she was in '08. I suspect that her advanced age is a factor. All things considered, she's probably doing as well as can be expected.

Three holiday seasons, three medical situations. In that respect, it seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same for Janna. No doubt, she has been through a lot. She has given her human "parents" plenty about which to be anxious, too. But, because Janna has consistently returned to good health, there has also been much to celebrate -- for the three of us.

Copyright © 2010 Michael F. Murray -- All rights reserved.