Posted on June 21st, 2010 by
Pat (Ruthie's Mom)
It’s taken me a week to write this just because it’s my final post on Ruthie’s Blog and I’ve been beyond grief. Ruthie lost her battle at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday June 13, 2010. As hard as it was, there was no doubt that it was time for her to run free at The Bridge. Her lungs mets had responded to the Tramadol and I was optimistic. We’re not sure what happened because she seemed to decline so quickly with pain that couldn’t be pinpointed. One day it was in her ankles, the next day her ankles were just fine. One of the oncologists found no pain, the other thought it was in her elbow, her regular vet thought it was in her back. Before I could decide on what xrays we should take (elbow, back…) she was just failing by the minute and was just too thin and weak to carry on. She was 4 days short of her 9 month ampuversary but I look at it as over 9 months since diagnosis. She was so much braver that I was through this and she was happy almost to the end. When I saw that her happiness was gone and never coming back, I knew.
I will try to stay in touch with all my new friends here and greet the newcomers. Thank you to everyone for your support. Tripawds is wonderful.
Pat (Angel Ruthie’s Mom)
16 Comments »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Posted on April 22nd, 2010 by
Pat (Ruthie's Mom)
Hi Friends, Ruthie’s been feeling funky and not eating but after a complete CBC and some PepcidAC was feeling better. But her Xrays today show that the big 8-hour chemo drip didn’t do any good and the cancer is still advancing into her lungs. I hated today waiting and dreading the worse that there was nothing more we could do.
But Dr. Daliwhal said there was one more thing (I thought the big drip was the last thing)…this is a human chemo drug (sorry I don’t remember the name) that he can order from a human hospital pharmacy. She has physically handled every drug so well that we’re not worried about that. All her blood tests have always come back amazingly good.
So Ruthie is getting my specially made breakfast, brunch, lunch, snack, and supper; grazing her way through indulgent nutrition. She sends her love and would have written this herself but she’s out looking for gophers. Yes, yesterday she was either burying a bone, hunting for a gopher, or digging up my 15 year old 4 ft. bonzai tree… I just watched! who am I to care about her intentions…I was just so happy to see her dirty nose and happy smile!
12 Comments »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Posted on April 3rd, 2010 by
Pat (Ruthie's Mom)
Mom took me in Thursday for that 8-hour chemo drip…sorry we’ve been out of touch but I’m feeling so good and frisky despite the sedation I had that I’ve been out romping. You are all so kind to be thinking about me! Mom tells everyone about more tests to see how well the cancer responded but I really don’t know what that means. I’m just happy that Mom is happy and I’m back chasing balls and I get to shake my squeeky toys while I run around. Life is good. Coni at the hospital is always so nice to me when I’m there so I really didn’t mind spending the entire day, I got Lots of attention! So thanks again for caring and I’ll be in touch! Tails Wags to Everyone, Ruthie!
Ain't Spring Grand?
14 Comments »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Posted on March 25th, 2010 by
Pat (Ruthie's Mom)
Ruthie had ultrasound and chest xrays today but they didn’t give her the chemo pills that have been working since it seems they aren’t working any more. She has a mass in her lungs. Dr. Dhaliwal said Ruthie had 3-6 months. But there was another drug he would have to order and would involve a continuous 8-hour drip..if I wanted…so…We’re going for broke!!!! Next Thursday she will be sedated for 8 hours and under complete supervision during the 8 hours. Then all we can do is pray that she makes it to her 7th birthday in September. Her stats are all good, liver, kidney, white blood count…attitude! so here we go! So while I cry, she just wants to play. It’s that spirit that makes us love them so much and try so hard! Ruthie would sign this but she has no idea the reports aren’t good and is out looking for birds up in the sky she might catch (the retriever in her). Pat
24 Comments »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Posted on March 18th, 2010 by
Pat (Ruthie's Mom)
Well my urine tests came back and I do have a urinary tract infection so I’m on bigger (and expensive) antibiotics for another couple of weeks. Dr. canceled my chemo today because of this but says I’m back on the chemo schedule next week. He also put me on a pain medication since my back is killing me. Mom believes it’s because being active on 3 legs for 6+ months, my spine is out of wack (I don’t like to lift my tail much lately) so she’s found a couple of licensed vets close by who practice holistic medicine…she’s scheduling a massage for me!!!!! They do acupuncture, acupressure and that stuff too but Mom thinks a good massage will do the job…I agree because when she gives me a back rub I get a funny look on my face..that ooohyeah..there look. You know what I mean. I’ll let you know how it works out.
12 Comments »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Posted on March 17th, 2010 by
Pat (Ruthie's Mom)
Ruthie was scheduled for blood work today for chemo tomorrow, but they decided that since she gave last Saturday she was good. Actually, Ruthie was really not feeling well last Friday, then peed on my bed 2x Friday night and I had to drag her off it in the morning so it was off to the vet…they have an oncologist there on weekends although it was not her own oncologist. They did blood work and everything was great, liver better that 3 weeks before (she’s on Denamarin which I think is responsible for that), her kidneys were fine, and her white blood count was fine…so they put her on antibiotics thinking it was a urinary tract infection. We should have the urine test results back tomorrow, but she is feeling so much better so I think that’s all it was. So she’s getting her 7th chemo tomorrow. She was scheduled for 6 but the first 3 did nothing to stop the cancer. The 4th was the charm and after the 5th was in “partial remission”. So instead of 6 chemos, she is hopefully getting 9 since the first 3 didn’t work. She actually handles the chemo really well. All except the 1st one when they sedated her and she was sick for 2 days, but after that they haven’t used sedation (she just lies there like such a good patient) and she has been just fine. So until tomorrow, tail wags to everyone.
6 Comments »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Posted on March 16th, 2010 by
Pat (Ruthie's Mom)
I love my horse!
What do you want?
My favorite lookout spot
…read more
7 Comments »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Posted on March 15th, 2010 by
Pat (Ruthie's Mom)
Ruthie, a Flat Coated Retriever, was diagnosed with a Synovial Cell Sarcoma a couple of days before her 6th birthday September 2009. She had her left rear amputated the next week. Other than lots of throwing up the next week from the drug they gave her, she recovered amazingly well and did everything she wasn’t supposed to do…but what was I supposed to do, I’ve never been good at discipline. She started chemo the next month which she handled extremely well. The cancer had moved into one of her lymph nodes and I was heartbroken but we continued on. After her 3d chemo session, another drug started working and she’s now in “partial remission” with 3 more chemo sessions to go. Actually the new drug is in pill form but she spends the day getting xrays and ultrasound. So that’s our story so far. I’m realistic but also an optimist and my goal now is to spend as much time as possible with her every single day. They are all special.
Pat
8 Comments »
Filed under: Uncategorized
