Hard to believe today marks the 1 month ampuversary with which I officially became a Tripawd. What a ride this has been for me, mom, dad and the family. This 1st month has been very tiring, emotional, and also very fulfilling. I have been able to spend an amazing amount of ‘quality’ time with dad and my family, assisting me through this very tough time.
Though we have our challenges ahead, I am continuing to surprise everyone and continue to do so. We started our first chemo treatment on April 5th with Lomustine and I did real well according to dad and the doctors. We went in for our 7-day post chemo bloodwork and unfortunately my CBC was very low (neutrophil) at 650. Though not surprising, we were hoping for better 1st time CBC numbers. My Dr put me on some antibiotics and we are going to monitor the numbers this week and hopefully be on our 3-week chemo schedule.
As well, this week I start my Homeopathic treatment program (once it arrives) from Dr. Loops. We are hoping that it will compliment the current chemo treatments and provide some amazing results. More to come.
As for me, my fur is growing back real nice, my incision is healing real well and my appetite and activity levels are picking up. Dad takes me for a couple short hops (walks) each day depending on how I feel. He sets me up in the am with my great Ruffwear harness, as I know since he puts that on that we are hoping sometime soon. I love this harness as dad and mom use it to assist me in moving around.
Well, I better sign off as it is Sam-e pill time…mmm, love those smokey meat pill pockets…Tahoe and Dad (Stirling)
Hi Tahoe! You’re lookin’ good buddy!! Don’t you worry about those neutrophils! Same thing happens to us TWICE! The first time, they went as low as 320. All everyone kept telling me to reassure me was that this means the chemo is WORKING!
But, I know how you feel, it happened after just the first round of chemo, and it definitely threw me a little bit!
Keep up the good work buddy – you’ll be all done before you know it!
Erica & Jill
Way to go on your 1 month ampuversary Tahoe!!
Wishing you many more ampuversaries and lots of happy memories ahead!
Hunter & family
Awww Tahoe you REALLY are looking happy and you REALLY can SEE the sparkle in your eyes!
Tahoe, you really will get stronger and stronger (this coming from a true skeptic when it came to Happy Hannah getting better), it just takes us older pups a little longer to build up our stamina. And yeah, DR. Dressler also says it means the chemo is working if the WBC is down….so Tahoe IS winning!! YAY Tahoe!
Rally glad you’re working with Dr. Loops and look forward to the feedback on what he included in the package and why.
Happy Hannah tried to write back the other day but I think we sent the note back to ourselves……..that Hannah, she just has o computer sense…have no idea who she takes after!!!
Alright Stirling and Tahoe, very pleased that you are enjoying such great quality time….soak it up big boy!! You deserve it!
You are a champion and so lucky to have such a loving family by your side. You’re in good paws!
Tennis balls full of love, Sally and Happy Hannah
Yay Tahoe. You are looking great buddy. We didn’t have that experience with our chemo with the neutrophils but that doesn’t mean its a bad thing to have happen. Keep kicking cancer’s butt buddy.
Hoppy Ampuversary
Michelle & Sassy
Hooray! Hoppy 1 month!!!!! So exciting!!!!
Happy One Month Ampuversary Tahoe, you look great!! Here’s to many many more!!!
Yay Tahoe! You look great and are going to kick some cancer behind! Looking forward to celebrating more.
Woohoooooo! Hoppy first ampuversary kiddo, may there be a zillion more!!!
Hey you look snazzy in the harness. Bet you get all sorts of people who stop you and want your pawdograph huh?
xoxo
Please update us on Tahoe! My Zeus became a Tripawd yesterday and we are on a 3 hour drive home now. He either has hystiocytic or synovial cell and I found your blog by searching that. He is doing great and I would love to hear your experience with chemo and hystiocytic. 🙂
Hello Heather,
Thank you for reaching out. I hope Zues is doing well and showing positive signs in his recovery. The first couple week weeks until Zues gets off his pain meds will be a rough patch, for him and you, but it gets better. I can certainly talk lots about our experiences with hystiocytic sarcoma, chemo and all the non-western treatments we did.
I must admit I have not updated Tahoe’s blog for along while, as he left us August 19th, 2014. I must say, these 11+ months have been very hard and continue to be so, especailly on me as i was his main caregiver and threw everything at trying to make him better and provide the quality of life he deserved. We did manage to have 17 very good months together post amp.
One thing that Tahoe taught me while with us was to keep giving back to others. I would be pleased to chat with you and to provide any thoughts or insight.
We could either chat on the phone or email.
Let me know what works best for you and Zues. I look forward to hearing back from you.
Stirling