Shadow's Story

Shadow

Shortly before Paul and Colette got together, Paul was in a car accident in which Shadow suffered a head injury. Her head, now sore to the touch after the accident, was placed on an antibiotic treatment by her vet. After her second round of treatments showed no improvement, Colette recommended the homeopathic route. She has been holistic and homeopathic for over 20 years. Finding their current Vet, who practices both allopathic and homeopathic remedies, was a blessing, but Shadow's headache turned into a pea size bump that would soon grow to the size of a grapefruit.

The vet recommended a CT scan to find out what the problem might be. On September 16, 2008, the day before Paul's 49th. birthday, Shadow was diagnosed with an inoperable, incurable, soft tissue sarcoma originating in her sinus further invading her skull, her cheekbone and was crushing her right eye. They gave her about a month or two to live and offered to put her down right then and there. Paul told them to bring him his wolf and he brought her home, crying all the way.

The months that followed are all well documented both on paper and video and will soon be a documentary about Shadow, her struggle and the love and strength of the pack as together they took on this challenge and never once doubted Shadow's full recovery.

What follows is an edited, partial version of this amazing story.

Luckily, Colette, with her holistic and spiritual background believes that there is a Universal antidote to every Universal condition and set out to find a cure. After weeks of research she discovered Dr. Tulio Simoncini, an Oncologist from Rome, Italy who has been eliminating cancer in his patients using sodium bicarbonate. It took nearly seven weeks to find the supplies and the team to implement the treatment. Using this, along with several immune boosters' she was surviving.

Allie was a beautiful champion, holding down the fort, by herself while Shadow went for her treatments. They were unable to bring her with them to the Vet. Being the Beta and responsible for keeping the pack intact, this created great anxiety for her. Never having been alone before, she had to make many adjustments and sacrifices for Shadow's sake and she lived up to it with grace and generosity.

As the sodium bicarbonate treatments continued, it became clear that something else had to be done. Although the treatments were working, as we would later learn, imaging equipment would have been necessary to get deep enough to stop the cancer at its source. Enter Dr. Withrow, DVM, Diplomate ACVS, ACVIM (Oncology) from Colorado State University Animal Cancer Center, his brilliant and wonderful oncology team headed by Dr. Sue LaRue, DVM, Ph.D., Diplomate ACVS, ACVR (Radiation Oncology) and their 4 million dollar, state of the arts, Stereotactic Radio Surgery System called Trilogy

But Colorado would have to wait. The economic shift that hit our country plus the financial crisis and rising unemployment rate in the State of California hit Tree King pretty hard. Nonetheless, Paul would come home from work every day, kiss the ever growing cancer on Shadow's head and tell her, "We're going to Colorado. We're going to fix your bump. "

By now the cancer which was lovingly referred to as "her bump" was the size of a grapefruit. Her right eye was completely shut and although she never, ever once complained, she had to have been in a great deal of pain.

On Valentine's Day, there was a call from the Sanctuary that new pups had arrived. Thinking that Shadow had already passed away, he thought Paul would want another. Carefully considering the addition and Shadow's condition, Paul and Colette decided to sleep on it. The following morning, Shadow's nose began to bleed. This was not good. Knowing that wolves live for their pack, especially pups, the decision to go get the pup was solidified as long as it was another girl.

Well, the pack chose a little guy instead and named him Takoda, Native American Sioux meaning friend to everyone. Later he may be referred to as Noshi, meaning Father in Algonquin. He was 15 days old, born February 1st, just like Shadow. As predicted, Shadow became a surrogate mother to Takoda. They began an incomparable love affair that most assuredly was instrumental in lifting Shadow's spirit.

One week later, with a leap of faith, the pack headed to Ft. Collins, without the necessary funds, but knew it just had to work out somehow or they would lose her.

Shadow's spirit, love and courage serve to inspire us all to live... really live life to the fullest.

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