A Trip to Paris to Mend a Broken Cavalier Heart

(Daisy, 2018)

This post is a love story. But it’s not the ordinary kind about romantic love. It’s the extraordinary kind about Roger and Sharon Hawkins and their unconditional love and devotion to their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Daisy. For any Cavalier owner, especially those who have pups with Mitral Valve Disease (MVD), this story will surely hit home and hopefully serve as a source of inspiration.

Hello Daisy

Sharon Hawkins loved to window shop a Florida-based retail puppy store. She was at a point in her life when she really wanted a dog and just needed to find the right pup for her family which included Tonk, her favorite cat. It didn’t take long for Sharon to find the perfect match. Daisy the Cavalier -all 4 pounds of her - had Sharon at “hello.” According to Sharon, this pup filled her with joy and taught her how to love again after a family heartbreak. While she wouldn’t trade Daisy for the world, Sharon did mention that she wouldn’t purchase a dog from a pet shop again.

The Petals Began Falling at Seven Years

Daisy was a happy and healthy Cav until seven years of age, when a heart murmur was first detected by Sharon’s regular veterinarian. Knowing that the breed was known to have MVD, an acquired disease responsible for 75% of all canine heart disease, Sharon wasted no time contacting a canine cardiologist. Daisy was diagnosed with a Grade 3 murmur in January, 2016. No medications were recommended at that time. Within six months, however, Daisy’s heart murmur had progressed to a point where she needed Vetmedin, Enalapril and eventually 4 other medications. The poor pup was on 13 pills a day and needed to wear diapers.

(Daisy in diapers)

By May, 2017 – a little over a year since the murmur was first detected – Daisy was coughing, panting, and sadly beginning to decline. Her Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), a blood test that measures levels of a protein called BPN that is made by a dog’s heart and blood vessels, indicated heart failure. Daisy’s BNP was over 4,500. A healthy dog would register in the teens. This news was devastating to Roger and Sharon who were searching and hoping for a miracle.

A Race Against Time

Through their cardiologist, the Hawkins learned of a surgical procedure that repaired the hearts of MVD afflicted dogs. The operation, however, was only successfully being performed by the team of Dr. Masoni Uechi and Dr. Sabine and Jean-Hugues Bozon in Japan and France. With Daisy’s Grade 5/6, Stage C/D murmur, a quick decision needed to be made. The Hawkins read about the team and procedure through the Mighty Heart Project, an organization founded by owners of MVD dogs who have benefited from surgical intervention. The success rate of the surgery was 85 – 90% and they knew that Daisy’s chance of survival would otherwise be zero.

Sharon and Roger didn’t think twice. All paperwork was sent to France and the Hawkins applied for passports as they had never been out of the country. The first available opening was September, 2017. Dr. Sabine didn’t think that Daisy would make it until then. At the end of June, Sharon received an email saying there was an opening on July 4, 2017 and Daisy could be scheduled as an emergency patient. The money was wired. The plane tickets were booked. Sharon, Roger, and precious Daisy were off to France.

Daisy underwent the 5-hour open heart surgery on July 5, 2017. The very next day her tail was wagging! The doctors said that Daisy’s prognosis was good. All-in-all, it was a 15-day ordeal for the Hawkins and their beloved pup. For more specific information on the MVD repair surgery, click here.

(Daisy post-op)

(Daisy the day after surgery!)

Daisy is Blossoming!

According to her mom, Daisy seemed “back to normal” by the time they arrived home. Other than some limited restrictions on physical activity, Daisy is expected to live a normal life with a Grade 3, Stage B heart murmur. It shouldn’t progress nor impede the fur baby’s ability to lead a happy, healthy life. The Hawkins have no regrets about their decision despite the steep cost of more than $50,000. (Note that Japan is a less expensive option but there is a 7-month quarantine period)

While many Cavalier families may not be able to go to Paris and afford the significant financial investment, there is good news! Sharon said that there have been some attempts already to bring the surgery and experienced team of doctors to the United States. Dr. Simon Swift at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida is working on an MVD surgical intervention. Dr. Pelosi of North American Veterinary Heart Center in Jupiter, Florida is doing the same. Hopefully, it’s only a matter of time before this life saving procedure is being done routinely in the U.S. and everything is coming up Daisies for Cavaliers with MVD.

(Daisy's first day home from France)