The Wembley Lehman Degenerative Myelopathy Research Fund and Support Group

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas to all furry pawrents!

12/24/2025

Friends if still in need of year end donations I highly recommend donating to my girl’s memorial research fund at Mizzou! Please help us to put and end to this horrid disease.

Approximately 3 + years ago my baby, Wembley, a German Shepherd, was diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy (DM). DM is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that results in paralysis of the pelvic limbs with ultimate progression to all limbs. DM presents similar to ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. There is no cure for this horrible disease.

I was able to enroll Wembley in a clinical trial at University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine with the assistance of the wonderful Dr. Joan Coates, Professor of Neurology and Neurosurgery. Through Dr. Coates research and these clinical trials, Dr. Coates and team are able to evaluate promising new drugs as a treatment for DM with the hope to slow the progression of this disease.

My Wembley passed away at home, in my arms, on April 10, 2022. She was completely paralyzed, incontinent of bowel and bladder with manual expression of bladder the only way to empty same. At early stages of the disease, we tried water therapy, laser treatments, acupuncture and chiropractic treatments. My good friend and dog walker, Steve Lieneke and I began by using a harness to assist with walking then moved to custom made wheels by Eddie’s Wheel’s. We used Hempworx 750 mg. CBD oil for inflammation, a constant regime of antibiotics to prevent recurrent UTI’s and pain medication to keep my girl comfortable.

I ask for your financial support now to help discover a cure for DM. I have created the Wembley Lehman DM Research Fund. This fund is managed/administered by Dr. Joan Coates and the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. To make a gift, click on this link:

https://securelb.imodules.com/s/1002/20/interior.aspx?sid=1002&gid=165&pgid=5006&cid=9137

Once there, you will be asked the gift amount, payment options, then under “designations” select “other”, then “save” the selection and type in the Wembley Lehman DM Research Fund.

Please help me put an end to this fatal disease. I thank you so very kindly for your consideration and financial support.

08/21/2025

Happy birthday to my dear Wembley in heaven! The disease took her life way too young but she sure was an angel on this earth.

07/17/2025

05/27/2025

An oldie of my kids many many years ago. Wembley just a few years old.

04/21/2025

Today would have been our dear Wembley’s birthday. Her gotcha day was today back in 2011.

The disease just ravaged her body yet she fought on. She had the strength of warrior.
I miss this girl horribly!

04/10/2025

Missing my dear Wembley, who passed on this day three years ago!

12/24/2024

Merry Christmas!

12/22/2024

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

12/20/2024

Good Morning!
Has your baby been diagnosed with degenerative myopathy? What challenges are you facing today?

Wembley is pictured in the photo below in earlier days when walking was still possible.