One year ago, the week before Christmas, my Boxer Lincoln had 9 seizures out of nowhere. I rushed him to an emergency vet who was just going to do bloodwork as a start for my regular vet. While there he had yet another seizure, they literally dragged him out of the room to the back. Came back out and said they gave him something to briefly control his seizure and told me it only lasts about 15 minutes and that I needed to get him to Pinnacle Vet Hospital. About 20 minutes later they loaded him into my front seat for the 25-minute ride up the highway in rush hour.  When I arrived, he was put on a gurney and again taken away from me. I finally got to see him in the back room to say goodnight to him. 

I mustered up the thousands of dollars needed to leave him there overnight. 

The next day he was seen by neurology, and I was told he had a quickly growing brain tumor and my options were to take him home on anti-seizure meds.  We were told of a few colleges that might be doing clinical trials.

We decided that if our boy was going to die it would be with us and not on some cold table being poked and prodded by students. 

This was a devastating blow. 

Lincoln keeps my father-in-law alive. He is in poor health and he and Lincoln developed a special bond. They are what keep each other alive. 

I called my sister hysterical about our baby.

She also had a dog who had cancer, and I was aware she had found the most wonderful holistic vet Dr. Deva Khalsa. She reached out to on my behalf and connected us. 

That was the beginning of our miracle. Dr. Khalsa discussed various treatments, and she worked with us and our local holistic vet on the best course of action.

We had discussed an experimental treatment with a renowned MD in California. It would be very expensive as Lincoln would have to be flown out to him.  This MD was having great success with gliomas in humans. We all realized after looking into the travel that it would not be an option for Lincoln.

We got word that Dr. Todd would be making a special SONG laser for Dr. Khalsa in PA. We had to wait for it to be built,  but once it was received it came to light that this particular procedure would not be able to yield the results needed as the treatment was done with special photoluminescent dyes and a dye that was absorbed well in humans [Methylene Blue] was not being absorbed by dogs. With this new understanding, Lincoln would need to be treated with a different dye [called Indocyanine Green] and with a different laser and there was only one of these lasers for the Green dye in the whole world. Dr. Todd, a genius with lasers, had that laser 2000 miles away in California. None of these lasers are like any laser you or I would be familiar with.

Lincoln proceeded to have clusters of seizures requiring his medications to be increased which make him not feel good and confused.

The Miracle Occurred

Then the miracle happened.  Larry and Korin Korman were to fly Dr. Todd in from California to Dr. Khalsa in Bucks County to treat their dog, Shilo. They were more than happy to handle all the finances for Lincoln’s medication and there would be no cost to us from Dr. Khalsa or Dr. Todd for his treatment.  Dr. Todd was to stay at one of the Korman Suite Hotels in Rittenhouse Square.  The Korman's family’s love for animals results in a great deal of philanthropy from them for the betterment of the animal kingdom.  The Korman Communities believes companies have a responsibility to give back to the communities in which they operate! 

We had prayed and prayed for months for this day to happen. We found out the week before the definite date the doctor would arrive. That week, as we waited, Lincoln had clusters of seizures. He was no longer able to climb onto my father-in-law’s lap despite trying to and he couldn’t even get up on the couch anymore.  The anti-seizure medications weren’t even helping.

I was praying dear God, “Not now, he’s so close to this treatment. Please let him make it to the weekend for his treatment so we can say we tried everything.” 

He made it to the weekend! 

LIncoln would first need an IV dose of Indocyanine Green Dye, for which I am grateful to the Korman family.

Lincoln came back the next day for his laser treatment.

I have my Lincoln back.

Lincoln came home a new dog. That week I sent Dr Khalsa a video of him playing and pictures of him in my father-in-law’s lap again. He would climb into his lap without effort..... so very proud of himself! 

Lincoln had not played since getting diagnosed last year,  December of  2023. He was now rough housing with his sister boxer that we had adopted when he was 2. I know she was happy to have her playmate back.

We have since added a  VSEL stem cell treatment to boost his immune system and work with his laser treatment. He truly is a new dog after each visit with Dr. Khalsa.

He’s so active that he has been throwing his spine out. He has had 1 seizure after his stem cell treatment.  Once adjusted by Dr. Khalsa he’s back to a new dog again.

It’s been about 5 weeks since his last seizure I just took him in for an adjustment as he was having a head tilt. I emailed Dr Khalsa, and she fit us in on Sunday. We drive up and back in the snow storm but we made it down her drive!  His spine was out the whole thing - ribs and all. He was so happy to see her as he knows she makes him feel better. He got adjusted, Acupuncture, electric stimulation, injections for his muscle knots, another final adjustment and he’s again a new dog.

This experimental laser treatment gave us our dog back.

Throughout this whole ordeal Dr Khalsa has been honest and upfront with us wanting us to spend our money wisely guiding us along this journey always having what’s best for Lincoln and how to help us achieve it without breaking the bank unlike a lot of corporate vet clinics.

I am satisfied that it worked as Lincoln has been like a new dog since getting the treatment.

Sorry for rambling but I am ecstatic and eternally grateful to the Korman family for allowing Lincoln the chance to participate in the treatment, thankful to Dr. Todd for agreeing to treat Lincoln as part of his trip to PA and to Dr. Khalsa for caring so deeply and getting him the chance.

Every year that Lincoln lives is another year for my father-in-law . They keep each other alive. “Pop” usually goes to all Lincoln’s appointments with me when I take him to Dr Khalsa with exception of the last one during the storm. Pop was thrilled to see Lincoln return on Sunday again climbing onto his lap.

The Korman family and ours are forever bonded through our pets.

Lincoln will turn 9 on March 13th and we look forward to many more years (his dad was about 15 before he passed) this past year has truly been a miracle.

Thank you Dr. Khalsa, Dr. Todd and my other new family