LUNA'S LEGACY

photo and dandelion wreath by Abby

For his birthday, Russ started a foundation to help other dogs and their families with expensive medical treatment in Luna’s name called “Luna’s Legacy.”

Luna’s Legacy

“I was stuck. My grief didn’t reach a turning point until starting this,” Russ said. We are all still recovering from losing Luna, and having Joy sure helps. We are hoping Luna’s Legacy will also be helpful for us all…and save all the dogs! Or at least help a lot : )

Thank you all so much for your help with this. That has been healing and encouraging to us also. And we have such a great base to start helping all (a lot) of the dogs!

OPTIMISM

Optimism is getting your terminal dog a Christmas collar in August. Someone has to be the outlier right? Why not Luna?

She is doing great by the way! Two more chemotherapy sessions!

Luna "choosing" a new collar and leash - she wants them all! She was a hit at the Farmers' Market with her ears and tail!

BACK TO BLOGGING

Sorry about the big pause.

I have been dealing with low level depression signs, just kinda feeling blah, and not writing at all.

I am hoping to get back to writing, because I love it - and you! I will probably post twice a week, including the comic, instead of daily.

I am doing better, and Luna is doing great! She goes back for her next chemotherapy session next week.

art by Abby

In other news...

Happy anniversary Finch! 22 years : )

I will be going part time in August! I will be able to be home when my kids get home from school most days! I plan on seeing as many surgery and medical patients as before, just in a shorter amount of time, so don't worry about availability.

A second client said I should not even be on the team since I don't see cats. For such a sensitive person, I would have thought that would bother me, but it amuses me. Thank you again for keeping me Dr. Bashara! And thank you Doctor Friends for seeing all the beautiful cats!

On an opposite note, one of my very favorite cat client couples adopted another cat. I will celebrate with them from afar <3

Yesterday I accidentally wrote in a medical record that a panting dog was painting excessively, and it made me giggle the rest of the day.

I hope you are having a good week! It is good to be back. Thanks for not giving up on me!

POST FROM TWO YEARS AGO

JUNE 28, 2016

WELL DONE

LUNA LOVEGOOD, CHAPTER 20

Our little dog Luna is doing so well you guys!

She is over halfway through with her chemotherapy for lymphoma.

I JUST learned from Dr. Clemans, her internal medicine specialist doctor who is directing her care, that Luna gives them all kisses! I am so happy she is such a good sport there and is sweet to them. She IS sweet, but she is onery too, so I was not sure which Luna she was at VCA MidWest Vet. Apparently, Good Luna. Yay.

Here are some recent pictures...

Luna says "I love you" with her eyes.

She always has to be touching one of us!

Good night Luna!

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 14

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 14 - In Which We Receive Even More Bad News and Fast Track Christmas

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Today Kelly called for Luna’s flow cytometry results. Flow cytometry is a way to further differentiate cells, in this case, Luna’s blood cells.

Luna has stage 5 (the worst - involving the bone marrow) cancer, B-cell (better than T-cell) lymphoma. 

I do not know what to make of this. I strongly suspect this is more bad news than good. Someone much smarter than me (that is, internal medicine specialist Dr. Clemans) will be have to interpret these results.

It will not change treatment, but more information is usually better than less.

On an equally important note, I really want to give Joy and Luna the rest of their Christmas gifts early.

ONE YEAR AGO

WOMEN'S MARCH ON OMAHA

TWO YEARS AGO

I'M A WINNER!

LUNA LOVEGOOD - CHAPTER 8

Luna Lovegood - Chapter 8 - In Which the Veterinarian Takes Her Sick Dog to the Veterinarian

Friday, December 15, 2017

We met with Brandy the veterinary technician and Dr. Clemans, one of the internal medicine specialists at VCA MidWest Vet. They are both so nice. We were completely tidal waved with information. Even knowing all the big words, I had a difficult time keeping up with how they went together and what they meant for Luna.

Luna has at least stage four (of five) lymphoma, and possibly stage five. The younger the dog, the more aggressive the lymphoma tends to be. Although I read in the Five Minute Veterinary Consult that lymphoma is "rarely cured," it turns out the authors were just trying to say gently that it is never cured. This is a fatal disease. Always. I knew that. I had to be told that by an expert.

The CHOP chemotherapy protocol for lymphoma is twenty-five weeks long.

Dr. Clemans is not certain Luna will live through the twenty five weeks.

She handed me a box of Kleenex and continued. I tried in vain to pull it together. I have not been okay since hearing this.

Luna will have a complete blood count (blood work) done at Gentle Doctor every Monday. We will purchase the IV chemotherapy medications at Kohll's pharmacy once a week (no veterinarian discount!) and drop Luna off at VCA MidWest Vet every Tuesday. There she will be evaluated by Dr. Clemans. Brandy and the rest of the team will administer chemotherapy. She will come home in the afternoon. Luna loves Brandy and Dr. Clemans, so this once a week day long stay should not be a problem.

Chemotherapy for dogs tends to be much gentler than chemotherapy for humans. Luna will not lose her hair, and will probably not develop gastrointestinal signs or even be tired or mopey.

Luna took in all the information like a champ!

I had a heads up from two kind client families about the costs associated with chemotherapy for lymphoma. Brandy went over an itemized estimate with us. The price is steep but the potential  benefits are priceless and worth the investment for us. Many clients have chosen not to go through chemotherapy with their pets, which was the absolute right decision for them too. Our goal is to allow Luna as much high quality time as we possibly can. We will quit when she is no longer loving life. I have not wrapped my head around that yet though.

ONE YEAR AGO

IN LOVING MEMORY OF SNOOKIE JONES

TWO YEARS AGO

SOMETIMES GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS, AND OTHER TIMES HE SENDS A CORGI

ROVER DOT COM

Rover.com is a pet sitting service that allows you to choose from a list of local pet sitters to watch your pets.

Even though Rover.com paid our pet sitting fee in exchange for a review of their services, I thought their prices were very reasonable. 

We went on an “Omaha vacation” for three days over Christmastime.

We stayed at the Embassy Suites downtown. It was beautiful!

We spent an entire day at The Zoo. This bird came right up to Abby in the jungle!

Our sitter charged $25 per dog per night (a bit more than she usually would have because it was a holiday) and fed the fishes for freebies! 

The sitters set their own prices and seem to raise them as they gather more experience.

Our pet sitter’s name was Kelsey, and she was wonderful. She came over a few days early to meet the dogs (and fish). Joy loved her and Luna warmed up to her over her stay, both huge compliments from trustworthy sources.

Kelsey fed and medicated and walked both dogs and most importantly kept them company. She sent us text updates and left us a Christmas card.

Rover.com and especially Kelsey of Rover.com: 10/10, would hire again. We were very pleased and knew our pets were in capable and loving hands.

ONE YEAR AGO

PASSION PLANNER 2016

TWO YEARS AGO

PASSION PLANNER - 5 STARS!

JACK SKELLINGTON

A few years ago, Abby dressed Luna up as Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas...