Bailey the MG Super Dog

12/03/2024

Dear Moose

Our freckle face, our Moosie Bear, our Moose-Moose. Who is going to litter our floor with soft bright fur now? Who will interrupt mommy's meetings for treats? 9 and a half years with you was not enough. Your puppy spirit and face brought life to this house. Your cuddles were, and always will be, legendary.

Please give Bailey and Bia all our love. Enjoy running with them, because now the cancer cannot hurt you anymore.

We love you so so so much, and we always will 🩵

Love, mommy, daddy and Grayson

03/03/2024

02/03/2024

Fundraising Target R250 000 Raised to date: R6 450.00 2.6% Elizabeth was born in 2002 in Flora Clinic, Roodepoort JHB. From the day she was born she had to battle […]

29/02/2024

Hi friends, Bailey here all the way from the Rainbow kingdom with a special message!!

Today, as someone who lived a full life with a rare disease, and had access to the medicine I needed my whole life, I come to you to share the story of another girl with a rare disease who cannot get the medicine she desperately needs.

If you can and want to, please read her story and share it far and wide, just as you all shared mine!!! And if you have the means, please donate 💗

https://breathtakingfundraising.co.za/o2-for-beth-too/

Fundraising Target R250 000 Raised to date: R6 450.00 2.6% Elizabeth was born in 2002 in Flora Clinic, Roodepoort JHB. From the day she was born she had to battle […]

19/01/2024

Words fail me. Thank you Heidi. You have magically captured the essence of each of them perfectly.

17/01/2024

Lately. Lots of cuddles. And cheese. And treats.

15/12/2023

Moose's "give me cheese please" face.

14/12/2023

Freckle-faced cutie 🐶

11/11/2023

Waiting patiently for the snow. The snow always reminds us of Bailey since it was her favourite thing 💗.

03/11/2023

Beautiful boy 🐶💙

17/08/2023

My neighbour drew me a birthday card for my 9th birthday 💙🧁

14/07/2023

Dad look, a saint bernard sized food bowl. Too bad it contains lettuce.

04/07/2023

When the late sunset keeps you awake, you find a way 😄

30/06/2023

Bailey here, dropping in for a special closing post for MG Awareness month. Do you know why my mom called me Bailey the MG Super Dog? Was it because I was super smart? I did have a PhD in Barkology, but that wasn't it. Or was it that I was able to get myself in and out of trouble in record time? That's true as well, my puppy eyes managed to make dad forgive me even after destroying multiple expensive things over the years. Maybe it was my ability to fly? I did fly oversees two times. But it wasn't any of my super powers that made her call me Super Dog. She said it was because I never gave up. Not even once. Sure there were times when the effort felt like too much to handle. And sometimes it felt like my MG was bigger than me (and I was quite big). But every time that the sun came up on a new day, I knew it was another day I could kick MG's butt.

Friends, whatever your equivalent is of my MG, you can be super too. You only have to fight.

My friends on the other side are calling me. Time for me to head home. I love you all. Thank you to all the friends that were there for my family when they had to say goodbye to me. Mom says it made a very hard time a little more bearable, because she knows my life made a difference.

P.S. Heaven is amazing!

29/06/2023

Day 29 of MG Awareness month brought to you by Bailey's friend, Karen Nahley:

Day 29 of MG Awareness: Yes, I can still enjoy a peaceful walk on the beach!

I believe the key to living with MG, is to educate yourself. Be an active participant in your treatment. Take time to find out what the new normal is for you. No two days will be the same. Join an MG Support group. This is where I found out about Bailey The MG Super Dog. There is so much information available. Learn to be patient with yourself and the one's who love you. This disease is also new to them, and it's hard to understand. Sometimes MG is hard to see. You may look healthy (normal), but your body is telling you that you can't lift your legs to dress yourself. Most of all BE KIND TO YOURSELF!!!!!!!! This is a continuous learning process, my sweet Snowflakes.

28/06/2023

Looks like Moose agrees with the below:

Day 28 of MG Awareness: Bailey The MG Super Dog says It's Nap Time

Are you aware of the sleeping disorders that are linked to MG? Along with constant extreme tiredness, due to Myasthenia Gravis, many experience trouble sleeping. Listed are a few of the common sleep disorders: excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), insomnia, restless leg syndrome (RLS), and sleep apnea. I was surprised about RLS being connected to MG. You can find more about this on the following link: Myasthenia Gravis and Sleep Disorders (myasthenia-gravis.com).

28/06/2023

When you are temperature sensitive due to your , you don't take chances with heat or cold.

27/06/2023

Day 27 of MG Awareness: We can all do with a little patience and kindness!

Did you know that emotional stress and excitement affects your MG? Bailey's friend, Karen, found some behavioral tips that can help you to reduce stress, and hopefully become a little happier. Since there are quite a number of tips, I have included the place where I found the information. "STRESS AND MYASTHENIA GRAVIS (mgawpa.org)" This was at the end of the page of tips. I hope you enjoy it as much and I did.

Blessed are you, who take the time to listen to difficult speech,
For you help me to know that if I persevere, I can be understood.
Blessed are you, who never bid be to “hurry up” or take my tasks from me and to them for me
For often I need time rather than help
Blessed are you , who stand beside me as I venture new and untried ventures,
For my failures will be outweighed by the times I surprise myself and you.
Blessed are you, who asked for my help, for my greatest need is to be needed.
Blessed are you, who understand that it is difficult for me to put thoughts into words.
Blessed are you, who with a smile, encourage me try once more.
Blessed are you, who never remind me that today I asked the same question twice.
Blessed are you who respect me and love me…
JUST AS I AM!!
By Judith Schiffbauer, MS

25/06/2023

Day 25 of MG Awareness: Bailey is interested in something good on the table.

MG can weaken your lips, tongue, jaw and throat. If your MG is making swallowing food and beverage difficult for you, I found these tips on a MG site:

**Moisten solid foods with gravy, sauce, broth, butter, mayonnaise, sour cream or yogurt.
**Choose chicken or fish instead of tougher meats.
**Avoid dry crumbly food such as crackers, rice, cookies, nuts, chips or popcorn.
**Avoid bread products such as sandwiches, bagels and muffins.
**Focus on the swallow. Hold your head in a different position to try a different swallow pathway.

*Post created by our friend Karen Nahley.

24/06/2023

23/06/2023

Posted by Bailey's and our good friend, who also has MG:

Day 23 of MG Awareness: Bailey The MG Super Dog, said to take time to smell the flowers and enjoy that big treat that your Dad gave to you.

Although MG was first diagnosed in 1672, there is still much to learn about this rare disease. While I couldn't find information on how many pets have MG, fewer than 50,000 people in the U.S. are known to have this disease. Without too much detail, a new treatment has been approved by the FDA. This is for adult Generalized MG patients, who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive. It's called Vyvgart Hytrulo, and is given as a single injection for 4 weeks. It will be administered by a healthcare professional. This will make it an easier option than the IVIG Infusions. It will also give us more time to do the things we like.

22/06/2023

21/06/2023

Bailey was a water lover 🐳💦. Her favourite thing to do was playing with a water sprinkler. She liked to swim occasionally, but swimming tired her out quite quickly. When she got older, even long walks were risky. What is your way of keeping healthy : active while still managing your MG?

20/06/2023

Missing this girl so much. We were so lucky to have her for so long!

19/06/2023

I'd love to hear your thoughts on food and MG. Have you ever experienced any food having an influence either on your MG symptoms or on the medication you take for MG?

18/06/2023

She sure did 💗

17/06/2023

Auto-immune diseases: where there is one, look for more. In these photos you'll see that Bailey did not only have , she also had DLE, Discoid Lupus Erythematosus and Hyperkeratosis of her paw pads. DLE is an auto-immune disease that affects the top of the nose and causes lesions that eventually develops ulcers. It is exacerbated by sunlight. Hyperkeratosis causes thickening of the paw pads. The pads become very rough and dry and can sometimes crack and cause discomfort and bleeding.

16/06/2023

I was wondering if you ever experienced something similar. When Bailey's was still newly diagnosed, and she still had more ups and downs, we would often notice in her voice when she was having a bad day. Her bark would either sound hoarse or squeaky.