If you asked us after the ceremonial start of Iditarod who was going to be on our team, Krum wouldn’t have been on the list. Krum had been suffering from chronic wrist problems since mid-February and despite our best efforts, we just couldn’t seem to get Krum back to 100%.
Travis fretted. “I need her,” he said to me — hoping I could work some magic that would put her back on the team even though the official start was now two days away. I couldn’t, but fortunately for Travis, our good friend Patty Chase could.
Patty specializes in myofascial trigger point release therapy in humans and came to the ceremonial start of the race with her my cousin Andy. When she saw Travis fretting about his dog after the ceremonial start, she decided to lend a hand.
“I’ve never worked on dogs,” she told us, “But let me see what I can do.”
That night, although we were supposed to drive to Fairbanks, Patty generously offered to let us stay with her so she could help Krum. Using gentle touch and her knowledge, Patty was able to achieve impressive results with Krum. For someone who had never worked with sled dogs, she sure gave Travis and I an excellent education! Her results were beyond impressive. We watched Krum’s wrist which had had about 70% mobility up until that point, fully recover.
After two short sessions with Patty on Saturday and then again on Sunday morning before we drove north, Krum was spry, chipper, and she was walking on air.
“I’m going to take her,” Travis said.
Krum made it to the starting line and, more importantly, she made it to the finish line in Nome.
Krum is a small, nimble dog with a lot of heart. She is a sweet dog who we’ve enjoyed having as part of our kennel.
