January 6, 2018
A note from Maik’s mom, Rebecca Clinton:
Thank you again for the generous donation to Maik. We recently purchased a toe-up device to help with the knuckling while in his cart and this helped offset the cost!
I’ve included a picture again of my daughter with him. We had just gotten off a hike on a cold day! They were warming up in the back of the car.
I hope the holidays found you well!
Best wishes for 2018 and thank you for your support!
November 29, 2017
A note from Maik’s mom, Rebecca Clinton:
Maik is doing well, but still struggling to get his good leg to work! When we received your donor’s generous donation we were in the process of purchasing a “toe-up” device and battling a UTI. (Apparently it is common in amputees to not be able to fully empty their bladder due to positioning, so a UTI can be frequent this is our second one and the antibiotics are $200 each, thankfully because of your donation we didn’t have to delay the toe-up device and were able to purchase another full month of rehab.
Thank you again!
September 25, 2017
A note from Maik’s mom, Rebecca Clinton:
“The newest chapter in Maik’s story. Two weeks ago Maik got another wound in his leg. We cultured as we normally do. However, last Monday we got the culture back and it was MRSA. Not the dog MRSA but the big bad mama jama human MRSA and it was resistant to all but two antibiotics.
We had been dealing with Maik’s leg since February and when we started this journey amputation was an option but the last option due to cervical disk disease. So here we were, Monday afternoon, me, my 6 month old son, and two vets sitting on the floor with Maik at Fort Carson Vet Clinic thinking what’s next… and we made the very difficult decision to amputate. We amputated on Friday. The surgery went well. The bone above the injury looks very healthy. Then today, as I am struggling getting Maik in and out of the house to relieve himself my doorbell rings. And there I stood in tears.
The timing of your gift is serendipitous.
I’ve included a few pictures. One is of Maik and the other is of my daughter, Emerson with Maik and the check. You are free to use her photo with him.
Thank you again.
God bless you and your Foundation.
Please Meet “Maik Clinton!”
Maik is an 8 year old German Shepard who suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon while exiting an armored vehicle during a 2010 deployment to Iraq. His handler, TSgt Kenneth Clinton and his wife Rebecca, adopted Maik in late 2012 after his extensive surgery and rehabilitation.
In 2012 he began to expel sutures from the surgery site requiring exploratory surgery every 6-8 months. He has reached the point in treatment where he has no healthy bone and tendons left due to multiple infections, including MRSA and Staph and multiple surgeries to do reconstruction.
Here’s more of his story:
I am retired MWD Maik M758. I was whelped on May 1, 2007. I served beside my best friend and handler at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. Sadly, I was retired in Nov. 2010 after sustaining a ruptured Achilles tendon while exiting an armored vehicle in Iraq. Since retirement, my momma certified me as a therapy dog and I visit hospice patients providing pet therapy to many veterans in their final moments. I have enjoyed hearing these veterans’ stories of their time with MWD’s like me.
Over the past three to four years, I have endured multiple surgeries as my body begins to reject sutures that were put in place to hold the Achilles repair together, I faced an arthrodesis or amputation as the entire repair has failed.
On Friday March 10, 2017, referred by Lt Col Cabano from Ft. Carson, and under the care of Dr. Frank and Dr. Duerr with Colorado State University Veterinary Hospital, I underwent a wound debridement procedure where they removed all remaining sutures and a portion of my bone in attempts to save my leg. On April 14th under the care of Dr. Duerr, Dr. Frank, and Dr. Webb at CSU Vet Hospital, I underwent an arthrodesis, or in my terms, a fusion.
I love my family and that I can continue to serve the community I live in through hospice visits. I have a 5 year old sister who I am always vigilant over and Mommy tells me I will have a newborn baby brother by this summer!
