Luna Lovegood - Chapter 17 - Back to Normal
"Yes, I believe I own this table."
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Luna is able to jump onto furniture again. She no longer collapses in the hind end on walks.
She has her normal energy level back.
And she and Joy are snuggling again.
I don’t know where we’ll be in a month or 3 months or 6. But this is totally what we wanted from cancer treatment. Luna is happy, and she is Luna.
Luna was a complete <poop> at Christmas. She barked at Mom and Dad's puppies, Oscar and Felix, and had to be held the whole time.
Good to have you back, you bossy little monkey!
Thank you so much VCA MidWest Vet team.
How do you repay an extraordinary group of people for giving time? For giving happiness and normality? I do not think it can be done.
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO
Luna Lovegood - Chapter 16 - Confimation that the Bad News is Bad
Saturday, December 23, 2017
I missed Dr. Clemans’ call yesterday. She left a message. She received Luna’s flow cytometry report. She sounded very sad. I guess it was mostly bad news. She said she would still recommend the course we are on.
Luna Lovegood - Chapter 15 - I Would Spend All My Time Staring at Your Cute Face if I Could
Friday, December 22, 2017
We are leaving Joy and Luna for a few days starting today and again for a longer trip in June 2018. I am, of course, having a much harder time thinking about the June trip than this one.
That is not to say I am not looking forward to the June trip!
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
TWO YEARS AGO
A new veterinary assistant, J.J. Freeman, had started at Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals.
On the first day I worked with him, he told us his first book of a vampire trilogy was coming out soon.
We were all so impressed!
I have a soft spot for entrepreneurs, especially new authors. I came home and ordered the book online.
On the second day I worked with J.J., I brought the finished book to pass along and told him he is a very good writer.
He asked to hold the book. He had not seen it in Real Life. I might have teared up a little. Maybe.
On the third day I was supposed to work with J.J., they said he had quit by no-call-no-showing. I was perplexed and a little sad.
I hope he is well. I hope he keeps writing. I hope he really exists. Maybe? Probably.
I wish I had been able to work with him long term. I am glad I got to meet him.
One of the products I received from Chewy.com to review was a bag of Rachael Ray Nutrish Beef Soup Bones.
10/10 - would order again.
I appreciate a chewy treat that is not made of real bone. Luna loved it, and I love Rachael Ray.*
*I don't actually know Rachael Ray.
The only improvement I would suggest is including only beef. The ingredient list included chicken, which Joy, with her chicken allergies, could not eat. Do not fear! I got her other treats while Luna was eating her soup bone!
Luna is intrigued, willing to keep an open mind.
Luna gets a smell and is all in.
These are good sized treats!
Luna chews her treat on her elephant bed.
Luna makes cute faces while chewing her treat.
Both Luna and Joy would like a soup bone. Luna, you have had enough for one night! And Joy, you got ALL the other treats!
Luna Lovegood - Chapter 13 - In Which We Realize What a Strange Situation We Are In
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Luna’s disease is a complete mind <game>.
She has a rapidly progressing fatal disease and yet feels great. She looks like herself, yet cancer cells are taking over her body and shutting it down. It is such a strange situation to be in - celebrating her “health” while mourning her upcoming demise. I don’t like it, but I like it better than if she already felt sick. I don’t know what to compare it to, except a very accelerated mourning of a pet’s mortality that you always know will eventually catch up with them. It’s like going from having a three year old dog to having a fifteen year old dog, without getting the years in between.
You just keep being healthy there Joy. I know your lymph nodes are normal because I've felt them 87 times since Luna's diagnosis.
Luna Lovegood - Chapter 12 - Luna's First Chemotherapy Session
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Tuesday was Luna’s first chemotherapy appointment. She spent the day with Dr. Cooley and Brandy and the rest of the MidWest Vet team.
Luna’s chemotherapy medicine was prepared in the morning. An IV catheter was placed in her front leg. She received an IV drip of her medication in the early afternoon. Then she was monitored for signs of illness for the rest of the afternoon. All went well, and Luna did great.
Russ worried that Luna would be wiped out after her first Big Day. He waited anxiously in the waiting room. Luna saw Russ and ran straight to him and jumped up onto the chair with him. She was so happy to see him, and he was so happy she was still her goofy, high energy self.
Russ and Luna's Selfie to Assure Us All was Well
That night, Luna was still fine, but the rest of us were wiped out. While we usually go to Finches’ for dinner Tuesday nights, we stayed home with Luna and rested.
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO
THE DAY WE MET DAWN SCOTT'S SON CHRISTOPH, WHO HAD FINALLY ARRIVED FROM HAITI
Luna Lovegood - Chapter 11 - In Which Luna and Her Team Make the Best of Thrombocytopenia
Thursday, December 21, 2017
Luna has a persistent low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), I suspect because her bone marrow has been overtaken by cancer cells and does not have room to make platelets. Platelets are important because they help control bleeding and prevent spontaneous bleeding.
Because Luna’s platelets were still low, her chemotherapy was adjusted to a lower, safer dose.
ONE YEAR AGO
PATIENT PROFILE PICTURE OUTTAKES
TWO YEARS AGO
Luna Lovegood - Chapter 10 - In Which Luna and Arthur Get Matching Elephants for Christmas
Thursday, December 21, 2017
We bought our nephew Arthur an elephant chair for Christmas. Luna promptly decided it was hers. So we bought Luna an identical one. Now she and Arthur can be elephant buddies.
Monday I brought Luna to work with me in her brand new elephant bed. Kelly drew a complete blood count to send to MidWest Vet.
If anything important were too high or too low in her blood work, they would adjust or even postpone chemotherapy. I was anxious to get started.
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO
Reviews.com recently researched and published a list of recommended cat foods.
Reviews.com - The Best Cat Food: Safe and Healthy Formulas for Your Feline Friend
As you can probably guess, I have a lot of nutrition related opinions!
What I appreciate about this research project is the vast number of companies and cat foods that were considered, the criteria of having high quality ingredients and the focus on cats' well being. A large amount of time and effort was put into this project!
I would love to hear your opinions! What do you consider when feeding your cat (or dog)? Who do you go to for advice? What is most important to you?
The most important things to me in determining a cat food for a specific cat are nutritional needs of cats, nutritional needs of the individual cat, nutrients in the cat food (not necessarily ingredients) and how good it tastes to the cat. I gravitate towards companies that put their resources into longevity, nutritional and palatability (taste) studies and have well grounded scientific studies. I pay attention to food recalls and records of success over time.
My favorite brands of cat food are Hill's Science Diet and Royal Canin, followed by Iams/Eukanuba and Purina. I have occassional use for Fancy Feast and other foods. The list from Reviews.com has given me several other foods to look into that I know have high quality ingredients and have been well researched.
Thank you to Reviews.com for this excellent project!
Shadowing Dr. Ethics, Case #2
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO
Luna Lovegood - Chapter 9 - In Which the Small Dog Gets Her Energy Back
Sunday, December 17, 2017
With Dr. Clemans' blessing, we started prednisone early. It is part of the chemotherapy protocol, but started too soon can interfere with the rest of chemotherapy's effectiveness.
Luna was becoming pretty mopey and was unable to jump onto the bed or the couch. Now she can do both again.
I have to admit, this picture was taken a good half year before Luna's cancer diagnosis.
It was a small risk to take, but a risk nonetheless. I am happy she is happy. I expect there will be many of such quality of life decisions to make over the next several weeks.
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO
I looked for my favorite red shoes in my closet. They would go well with my outfit. Then I remembered and smiled.
The pitbull came into the treatment room with his ears down and tail tucked. I asked him to sit for his heartworm test, and he promptly peed on my foot. My shoe, sock and foot were soaked. My shoes were made of some fakey suede material - whatever it was, it could not be washed. I took my shoe and sock off and washed my foot.
Pitbull was sitting obediently, but still so nervous.
I came over to him and pet him under the chin and sighed. I am so sad when dogs are so nervous. The tip of his tail wagged. He really was trying.
I smiled and held up my other shoe. "Would you like this Pitty?" I asked. His eyes lit up and he jumped up to wait for the shoe. I put it in his mouth and his whole demeanor changed. He had never been offered such a gift! We finished his heartworm test and I found a different pair of shoes and we walked him back up front, red shoe in his mouth and tail wagging.
I loved those shoes. I love this memory a thousand times more.
ONE YEAR AGO
(RIP Shelby Girl)
TWO YEARS AGO
I called the family to tell them their puppy’s neuter surgery had gone perfectly.
“He’s waking up, and all went well!” I told Dad.
“So his knee replacement went well?” he asked.
I asked him to hold on. I speed-read through the surgery authorization form. I came back and said, “I...no...he was neutered, oh no! I...” in my typical elegant prose.
He was laughing. He was laughing!
I picked myself up off of the floor. “He has fewer parts, not more!” I said just a titch angrily, relieved as I’ve ever been.
What was I thinking? We don’t do knee replacements! I knew through five different fail safes that this puppy was here for neuter surgery. It was the surprise of the statement. It totally threw me off balance, as he knew it would.
“Be careful what you say to a lawyer!” he said.
“You really got me Sir,” I answered, which made him laugh harder.
I am thankful it was a phone conversation, because when it started dawning on me I’d been had, for a brief second I was in a face punching mood.
I would have hated to have hit my now newest favorite client.
ONE YEAR AGO
TWO YEARS AGO
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
Thank you guys. For everything. I love you.