Healthy Living

How a Puppy and a Children’s Book Helped This Woman Cope with Multiple Sclerosis

Photo credit: CBC News

During one weekend in the summer of 2005, when Tammy “Mimi” Duchesne and her husband JP went camping, Mimi noticed double vision in her left eye. A few years later, her vision become blurry. Being a nurse, she realized that she needed to see a doctor right away to discuss her symptoms. A year later, although feeling as if something was wrong all along, she was not prepared for the diagnosis she received – multiple sclerosis (MS). “I’d always remember the day when she told me the results of that doctor’s appointment. I didn’t go with her because I didn’t know if at that point if we were really thinking it was anything severe,” recalled her husband, JP. “We were just parked on the street and then she said the doctor said it could be MS. She would rarely cry – I think it was the only time I’d seen her cry at that point in time – but she just broke down,” he added.

In 2010, Mimi received an official MS diagnosis – secondary progressive MS. Over the next few years, her symptoms progressed rather quickly. Being an active couple who enjoyed being outdoors, Mimi and JP tried as much as they could to travel; however, eventually even walking proved to be a challenge for Mimi. Pretty soon, Mimi was confined to a wheelchair and she even lost her ability to speak properly. “It’s such a slow progressing disease and it’s different to something like cancer, where cancer has to kind of be dealt with now and there’s some sort of predictability and there’s a fight you can win. But with MS, it’s just slowly going to take things away and there’s no cure. You just don’t know if it’s going to be quick or if it’s not,” said JP.

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How MS encouraged a new book

MS presented several challenges for the couple and altered Mimi’s life forever. However, it also became a source of inspiration for JP, who authored the children’s book – Why Mimi Got a Puppy. “It’s really a tribute to Mimi’s personality and her attitude about the disease. It’s inspiring to me and encouraging to others – so I wanted to pay tribute to that in a way” said JP. He gave his wife an early version of the book as a Christmas present. “It also helped with our relationship. Tammy's just tickled about the book” he said.

Why Mimi Got a Puppy details a precious moment in the couple’s life when JP gives Mimi a puppy for her 40th birthday. “That reaction itself was just so genuinely shocked and thrilled. She cried a little bit as she was looking at this dog for the first time,” recalled JP. The puppy, named Phoenix, would bring great joy and therapy for Mimi, helping her and her husband during hard times. “She had always wanted a puppy. We had cats but we never got a dog because of the extra time commitment involved,” said JP. “Tammy has to spend chunks of her day alone waiting for a caregiver to arrive or after a caregiver has left for me to come home. I thought it was a good time for her to have companionship,” he added.

Puppy therapy

The book also comes with QR codes that can be scanned with a phone so that the reader is able to listen or watch real videos of Mimi from some of the couple’s most treasured memories, including the moment when Mimi met Phoenix. “This disease has progressed so fast for Mimi and you never know what could happen – it could ultimately take her life in some way or another. Phoenix is a way to enrich her life from day-to-day. She continues to progress and she’s losing the ability to speak and struggles with swallowing and things like that, but just having the dog around has that therapeutic effect of having a pet. She just loves the dog,” said JP.

While each individual’s experience with MS is different, JP hopes that readers will get a better understanding of the disease and he hopes to inspire others to live their lives to the fullest. “I think if it can encourage somebody who thinks they’re spending a little bit too much time on their problems it can show them there’s a lot to be grateful for. I think it helps to change people’s perspective and attitude,” he said. The book is not only a tribute to his wife, but JP also said that it has helped him to cope with his wife’s condition and the changes in their lives. “I think it's helped me to work through my own experience with Tammy's disability. It helped me to reflect … on what it is we do have and to be grateful,” he said. Why Mimi Got a Puppy can be purchased at: http://www.mimiandphoenix.com.

How pets can help those with a chronic disease

It has been determined that pets can help individuals cope with illnesses, injuries, and emotional stress. In fact, several studies have shown that a pet can lower your blood pressure, calm your heart, reduce anxiety, and boost your mood. Typically, MS can make performing some daily tasks quite challenging. For this reason, some individuals with MS choose to get a service dog to help guide, alert, and support them in responding to changes – both physical and mental.

Others merely consider pets as companions. If you are considering getting a pet or you are curious as to how a pet can help you in your journey with MS, here are some proven ways:

Pets are fun to play with and they can help alleviate your stress by calming your nerves.
Pets, especially dogs, require regular daily walks and they can help you stay active (do some research on what type of animal is right for you. If your condition is more progressive, you may want to consider a cat above a dog because cats tend to be more relaxed in their physical activity).
Pets, especially service animals, are trained to help you perform daily tasks, thus improving your mobility. They are also trained to calm you down if you experience an anxiety attack.

“I’ve had MS for 11 years, and the ups and downs have been hard. My husband is in the Army, so sometimes he’s here and other times he’s not. We have two beautiful girls who love and keep me company, but my baby Chief is a comfort like no other. He knows when I’m feeling down: he pushes his nose into my hand so that I can pet him. He’s there to calm me down when I experience panic or anxiety attacks: he puts his head on my chest. If I have a relapse, he’s my bed buddy. He stays with me until my husband or friends come over to help me and let him out. I love him dearly. My life has not been the same since I got him,” stated Karen on Pet Therapy: People and Their Pets Coping with MS on healthline.com.

From fish and parrots to cats and dogs, different pets have different needs and different energy levels. If you have MS, owning a pet can help you deal with the disease in several different ways, but it is your decision and it depends on your own perception of the animal’s value to your health and well-being.