So sorry to hear he is in such discomfort. Wishing the best for the change in treatment. Last year around this time, my DD's good friend was going thru the same thing and due to an infection while her system was so low, we almost lost her. Many people on this forum were wonderful in their support at that time and I really believe all the positive energy helped her pull thru. She is now back at school (part time) and talking about taking part in a 24 hour relay fundraiser for cancer in the spring. Life is never the same for these kids, but their strength and resilience is amazing. I will pray for the best for your grandson.

No additional advice because what you've received already is spot on. This is a long story about my son in early grade school but I think you may find it of interest. My DS had a classmate who didn't quite fit the mold of the students from our town. His manners were lacking, his play was rougher, his entire demeanor was somehow 'coarse' even for an 8 year old. That may sound like harsh judgement, especially of a child, but the differences were obvious. The mother was the adult version of the son, with an added component of being pretty open about her pot use. Do what you want in your private time but if you make that part of your public persona, I don't want my young DS exposed at the tender age of 8. Yet the wild child continually asked my DS for play dates and the mom continually called to try and arrange things. At that point in my life I didn't have the cajones to speak my mind so always hemmed and hawed my way out of the dates. My DS then started asking to have the wild child come to our house to play and I had to do the 'we're busy dance' with him, too. It continued for a long time until I finally told the truth to my DS, that I didn't think this boy was good friend material, that he kept getting in trouble at school and I didn't want his actions to be part of my DS's life. My DS did not miss a breath and responded by saying, "Don't you think I might be a good influence in HIS life?" I felt about 2" tall. From then on, and with my supervision, the boys had periodic play dates. When the were old enough that a hovering mom was no longer appropriate, I decided to talk openly with the mom. She understood, respected my choices and we actually developed a peripheral friendship over the years. We'd take her son on camping trips or boating, she would take them to rock concerts that would have driven us nuts! When the boys entered high school their interests changed and they had only the very occasional contact. When my DS graduated a year early and went to college, contact fell off even more since the wild boy stayed in town after high school and started a series of minimum wage jobs. And then a few years ago, the mom called with one of those calls you never want to get - her son was dead, killed in a car accident 1/2 mile from home. Alcohol was involved. My DS came home for the funeral and the mom thanked him for the friendship he had shared with her son who had always been more of an outcast than an integral part of any social group. We all attended the service and my DS & DH were asked to be the witnesses for the cremation - she couldn't do it and believed her son thought of us as family. No real moral to this story, But you just never know....

This is one of those cases where the child needs special attention. Attention that goes further than a teacher/child relationship. From what I understand, this kid doesn't just bite, he hits, pushes, grabs things from the other kids, destroys projects that the kids are working on, etc. He has physically hurt children as well as the adults, and doesn't have any compassion for the children when they cry and beg him not to do this. His parents have been to the school to go on field trips, and such. They seem like they are trying to work with this kid, but there is something about him, that just isn't right. He seems to enjoy making the other kids cry, or he wouldn't be smiling when he does this. Also, from what I have heard, he gets plenty of attention, he demands it. More attention than any other kids in the class, so it can't be that he feels neglected by the staff and kids. I know that my son likes to make friends, he doesn't like to make people cry, in fact he'll go out of his way to help you stop crying. He likes to share, and he would never intentionally harm anyone like this. If you would have seen what this kid did to my baby, you would have called him evil too. Jainie

I am very happy to hear that you are taking in this poor dog. He needs a good home and crating, though sometimes necessary, seems cruel to me (when its long periods of time). My brother had a Golden Retriever with skin problems, don't know exactly what they were, but he spent most of his time in a cage (when he couldn't break out). The vet couldn't figure out what was wrong and eventually they decided to give him away. He was trying to get my parents (who have 2 Sheppard's) to take him in but on chance remark I found a friend at work and her hubby had been discussing getting another dog. They usually have 2 but lost one and were thinking of getting another for a companion. They also only consider Golden Retrievers (its their favorite breed like Sheppard's are for my parents). He was 2 years old when they took him and he went to a great home with 3 kids who were used to dogs and a dog companion as well as an active family that included their pets in their lives. I left but still spoke to her and they never had any skin problems with the dog since they got him. Long story but the short of it is that I think the skin condition was the result of stress. My best friend had very sensitive skin and it got worse for her when times were stressful in her life and I think the same applies to animals. Watch the rash and see if it doesn't go away by itself in his new, happy home. As for your Grandson I am not worried about him growing up to be abusive. I think if he saw this behaviour in his home and was rewarded for it or imitating it from someone else then he might learn to deal with things more violently. My concern would be that he would become desensitized to the feelings of other creatures. You're doing a great job in helping correct his behaviour and are providing an example of kindness and compassion that should be shown to all living creatures. I'm not saying that abusive/violent adults don't sometimes start down that path with cruelty to animals but I'd be more concerned if he was doing that behaviour as a teenager. In high school I remember overhearing a conversation of some teen boys saying they lit firecrackers off in a kitten's face and I turned around and told them I hoped one day someone would do the same thing to them. That they were joking and thinking it was fun was disturbing and those are the kids we need to educate. I hope the bite your grandson got wasn't serious but I have to say it was educational. I wouldn't want him to need stitches and I'm not saying I'm glad he got bit, but sometimes in life we have to learn things the hard way. It reminded me of an ex's sister who owned a horse. It had it moments when it wasn't nice to her. When it bit her, she bit his ear. When he kicked her, she kicked him back (in a spot he wouldn't forget). I think after that he learned not to bite or kick anymore. Some of the most valuable lessons in life can be learned by experiencing them.