Annie and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Copyright 1992. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Muskegon Chronicle.

Several years ago, someone shared this story of Annie and her dog Wolfie's bout with Lyme disease with us. We often thought about their story, and wanted to share it with you. This story is presented with Annie's (and Wolfie's!) permission, along with an update that Annie thoughtfully gave us on their progress since 1992.

Annie Leach and her dog, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, have a special relationship. They became severely disabled with what was eventually diagnosed as Lyme disease. They suffered for a long time before their conditions were  identified and treated. They made good recoveries.

Leach, 37, of Muskegon is an art teacher at Michigan Dunes Montessori in Norton Shores. She was stricken a year ago by a puzzling, debilitating condition. She wondered if she would be able to continue working. Unable to drive, unable to walk without assistance, suffering excruciating joint pain and headaches,  the vision in her left eye impaired, Leach was at the end of her rope.

She had been battling an unidentified, worsening illness for more than a year. A host of doctors had tested and treated her for mononucleosis, strep throat, muscle-attacking viruses, migraine head-aches, sinus problems, mold allergies, infectious bronchitis, lupus, a nose polyp, thyroid disease and stress. Her medicine cabinet was over-flowing, but she wasn't getting better.

When a physician suggested that she take tranquilizers, Leach remembers thinking that she might be losing her mind. "I was really scared. I was getting this big psychological thing. I thought maybe I was just grasping at straws."

While Leach battled her illness her dog, a Jack Russell terrier, had been showing some of the same symptoms: listlessness, neck stiffness, lack of appetite. In late summer of 1991, a Newaygo veterinarian decided to treat the animal for Lyme disease, even though blood tests had not confirmed the Lyme bacterium's presence. "In a way." Leach recalled. ''the dog's problem helped me think about my situation. Our problems were very similar."

Leach's dog was named after Mozart because of his habit of hiding behind  the piano when  he wasn't feeling well. However, after several weeks of veterinary-prescribed  antibiotics,  "Wolfie" came out of his hiding place and began to behave in his usual playful manner. Inspired by her dog's recovery, Leach demanded a Lyme test for herself. To her disappointment, the test was negative. Desperate for a treatment, Leach turned to a medical practice in Saginaw she had heard about where patients suffering the symptoms of Lyme disease are often treated in the absence of blood-test confirmation.

By the time she visited one of the doctors at the Saginaw clinic in October, she had reached the weakened stage where "all I could do is stand in a doctor's office and cry. Someone had to hold onto me." The physicians "listened to me," Leach said. "They didn't try to pass it off and just prescribe medicine. They were really nice." A new series of blood tests and physical examinations, including magnetic resonance imaging, hinted that she might have Lyme disease, but the tests didn't confirm its presence. Undeterred, her physicians prescribed a series of drugs that began to reverse her illness. "It happened in stages," Leach said. "At first I got sicker, but then I started feeling better. I still wasn't feeling well, but I could see an improvement."

In January, Leach resumed driving, and she began having more and more "good days." She continued teaching and credits family and friends with helping her to continue her life. "They saved me from psychiatric treatment: the doctors (at first) kept saying I didn't have (Lyme disease)," she said.  Leach still takes medicine to combat her symptoms, and visits the Saginaw clinic once a month. When she has had two consecutive symptom-free months, her medication will be reduced or discontinued.

Lyme disease has been in the medical literature since the 19th century. It is transmitted most often by the bacterial organism borrelia burgdorferi in the body of a comma-size tick called Ixodes dammini. The tick, most often found in Wisconsin, Minnesota and eastern coastal states, lives on animal hosts, particularly the white-footed field mouse and deer. It is often called the "deer" tick.

Update from Annie:  In the summer of 1992, when the article appeared about Wolfgang and myself, I thought I was not only on the road to recovery, I thought I was there. I did not know what I was in for. I had been on Suprax since October of 1991, and could drive myself to work. During this time, I continued to teach part time. My students were very supportive, helping set up chairs and art supplies for me. It was a wonderful lesson for them in listening and learning from verbal instruction. My dog Wolfie often accompanied me to school and slept in the corner. During the summer I rested and slept a lot. Along with the antibiotics I took twenty-five acidopholus a day, and lots of vitamins.

In September after returning to work my symptoms worsened. I was put on Biaxin; that seemed to help. My condition was like a seesaw. I would feel great and then the symptoms would flare up. Basically, I worked and slept. During this time, Jeff, a CNA, moved into our home. In exchange for room and board, he took care of feeding me and caring for me. This was a great blessing. (If you live near a college, it might be an option for you, too.) Wolfie continued to receive cortisone shots. I went to a chiropractor. As many of you know, with Lyme disease, combining traditional and alternative medicines is a path to take - if you can find the right doctor!

R elying on my husband, George, as well as Jeff and some friends, I made it through the school year, but it was obvious my symptoms were worsening. It was decided that I would go on IV antibiotics as soon as school let out in June. I figured that this would give me summer to kick this thing! Wrong!!! In the fall, I went back to school with the IV still in. In the late fall, my dosage was doubled to twice a day. I began to gain back my strength, and on December 31 had the IV removed. During this time, Dr. Natole was a lifesaver. Somehow, he knows every little change in a patient's condition. It must be from treating so many people successfully.

After going off the IV, I was put back on oral antibiotics, and I continued to improve. This was not the dramatic improvement that occurred after treatment first started. It was very gradual, and many changes were so slight that no one could tell but me. At this time we had Wolfgang vaccinated, and he continued to improve. I continued on my regime of acidophilus, vitamins and rest. Over the next year-and-a-half, my progress was slow but improving.

In October of 1995, after six weeks of no symptoms I was taken off the antibiotics. In preparation for this I had researched, and found a doctor that believed in Lyme who would take me on as a patient, and who practiced homeopathic medicine along with traditional. Along with  the acidophilus, I was given drops to take to cleanse my system of parasites. My goal was to stay off the antibiotics. Best of all, Dr. Ruth treats me as I know what I am talking about, and lets me make decisions.

Since October of 1995, I have been back to my stubborn Irish self. I'm back to work, and have even started working in an art gallery. Working around children and being exposed to many illnesses, I did not get sick. In the past several weeks, I went on antibiotics for a severe ear infection. I became extremely sick, so I went off them. That was about two weeks ago, and I am feeling better now. I believe that the bacteria are still in my system. For now though, I am blessed to be able to live, and do more than I thought I would ever be able to do. Wolfie receives his Lyme vaccine once a year, and we have found a vet that is just superb. There is hope - just take one day at a time

For more information on Lyme disease see: Lots Of Links On Lyme Disease

Last updated on 29 December 2000 by
Art Doherty
Lompoc, California
doherty@utech.net

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