This is the story of an amazing puppy with incredible spirit. An American Akita who doesn't let his physical handicap stand in his way. He has touched the hearts of many Akita lovers, but to me and my children he's our youngest and silliest family member. Kenta is an inspiration well deserving of the name "Kenta", Japanese for big, strong, and healthy - the 3 things he was farthest from at birth but is determined enough to grow up to become. 

At 2:40am on October 14, 2012, Baby Kenta came into the world. With no brothers or sisters, he was sure to have everyone’s attention and capture everyone’s hearts. His right front leg was laying flat along his side, crooked angles at all the joints. At just 8 hours old, he had his first x-rays which showed no breaks or fractures. That was the first time amputation was mentioned.

Since I had lost my job the night before Kenta was born, I did amateur physical therapy and massage therapy every day and night, trying to help move his leg into place.

At 10 days old, Kenta went back to the vet for more x-rays and a radiology specialist consultation. The diagnosis: a malformed scapula. Once again, amputation was discussed.

The next couple weeks, progress was slow, and by the 2-week mark when "normal" puppies start walking, Kenta was still scooting himself around on his belly. Because of the delay in getting himself up on his feet, his other legs splayed out to the sides like swimmer's legs, and his chest and lungs flattened, causing labored breathing. I worried more often than I let on that he wasn't breathing well enough to survive. And I thought surely this poor little pup would never walk. Never did I let Kenta see my tears or my worry. I never told him there was anything different about him.

At 4 weeks old, Kenta was able to move his bad leg away from his side and straight out to the side. At 1 month old, he began walking. He was very unsteady, working hard to get his 3 good legs under him. One step at a time. Within days the magical Kenta was running. He was quite clumsy, taking 2 strides and falling, 2 more strides, falling again. But he always got right back up to try again.

Over the next 2 months, Kenta continued to improve his walking and running skills. He had a very obvious limp and sometimes fell over, but he became a very active and mischievous boy who loved to play. At 3 1/2 months, he had more x-rays, this time of his shoulder and wrist. The images showed shoulder bones that never fused together the way they should have. They also showed a large mass in front of his shoulder, and there are no spaces around his wrist growth plate, giving him no way to move his paw. That explained why he never has been able to put his paw flat on the ground. His humerus is also deformed, and his muscles are too taut. Basically, his ulna is the only normal part of his leg.

At 4 1/2 months Kenta went to see the orthopedic surgeons. I was told he has arthritis and is likely experiencing chronic pain. My brave boy rarely ever lets me know he's in pain. We were given 2 options: The doctors can amputate his leg, freeing him of pain, arthritis, and further problems with all of the bones, joints and muscles in his leg as he grows, or they can remove the mass in front of his shoulder and try to correct the growth plate and bone in his shoulder. Doing this would give him a chance of his leg possibly straightening out, and maybe even the muscles stretching and other joints correcting themselves. A lot of maybes, followed by several other surgeries and extensive physical therapy. So I've scheduled his amputation for early May. He'll be 6 1/2 months old at that time, so I'm sure he will do well. He has overcome some pretty big obstacles already in his 5 months. 

So that's Kenta's story... Mentally I'm on board since this has been discussed since day 1. Now that it's scheduled it's much more real, so emotionally, well, I'm getting there. I know his age works in his favor, and I also know that since this was a birth defect he is already used to having less than full function of his leg, making his recovery potentially easier than others. It also is not an emergency situation as in the case with osteosarcomas, so I've been fortunate to have the gift of time on my side to sort this all out. But that also means I've had time to work up my worry.