Sophie Update -- Where To Even Begin?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

As many of you already know, we have been working with the Vet for over a month now to try and figure out what was going on.  Many things were suggested, tested, and ruled out, to include Inflammatory Bladder Disease, Diabetes Insipidus, Addison’s, Cushings, Hyperparathyroidism, and I’m sure I’ve even missed something there.  Bottom line, the final test came back today and our worst fears have come true.  Sophie has been diagnosed with Lymphoma.  We have had a week to prepare ourselves for this diagnosis as Dr. Jenny told us when her calcium came back extremely high that she was going to be very surprised if it wasn’t lymphoma.  But, we wanted to wait for the tests, which I can say, take FOREVER!  It has been the longest week and a half of our lives.  For those who don’t know, which until last week I had no clue, in dogs, Lymphoma is an incurable, fatal disease.  We have been given basically three options.  One, we can opt against Chemo and just give her prednisone and expect maybe 2 months.  We can treat with chemo through our regular Vet or she will refer us to Cincinnati to Cancer specialists who will do further tests to pin point exactly what stage and where all it has spread, and then do chemo,  but the bottom line with chemo, whatever the mix,  or who does it,  it really doesn’t matter.  The best we can hope for is to get her into a remission; average time is 6 months before it appears again.  On the second go round you can hope for a remission of maybe ½ the length of the first one.  A small percentage of dogs make it for 2 years.  We have been making ourselves crazy the last week trying to remove our selfish motives from the equation and do what is best for Sophie.  We want her to have as many good days as absolutely possible, but we don’t want her to have them at the expense of an equal number of horribly sick days.    Right now I’m just so anxious to get the chemo and prednisone started as we are told pretty much as soon as it is started she will start to feel better.  The first round of Chemo will be once a week for 6 months, a combination of shots and pills.  Right now she is breaking my heart because she has no light in her eyes, she won’t eat, (in spite of all Karen’s wonderful suggestions for things to tempt her with) she just mainly sleeps.   I just want to see that spark in her eyes and happy little Sophie smile again.    Every time I have ever seen one of these awful posts I have always said to myself, I cannot even imagine being told this news.  There is just no way, how would I ever get through that.    I never dreamed that morning a month ago where she had peed on her bed that this is where we were going to end up.  It was supposed to just be a stupid UTI that some antibiotics were going to fix.  It has been a long, exhausting  month, but at least now we know and we just have to figure out how we are going to deal with it.   We will be meeting with Dr. Jenny tonight  to try and understand it all a little better and probably go ahead and start the chemo.   I thank all of you so much for continually asking about her and keeping her in your thoughts and prayers over the last month.   It means so much to us to know how much everyone cares about her.   I promise you that we will do everything we can to ensure the remainder of her time, whatever it may be, will be the best we can possibly give her.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sherri, I am so sorry to hear this news about Sophie. My heart is breaking for all of you.  This really does put so many things in perspective. I will continue to keep all of you in my prayers and I have no doubt you will make the best decision for Sophie.  I would also like to add if there is anything at all I can do to help, please let me know.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am so sorry to hear this heart breaking news. I know you will make the best decisions for Sophie as you go along. I hope she has the longest possible time with the best quality of life. Please take care of yourselves too in this difficult time.

[Jennifer]

UGH! I am SO incredibly sorry to read this about Sophie. I can only imagine how devastating this must be. I hope and pray that the treatments work miracles with little to no side effects. (((HUG)))

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I am SO sad to hear this-I have not been on DK for awhile for "life" reasons and I did not know this was happening and I feel for you and your family. I KNOW you have given her a wonderful happy life and she is blessed to have you. Nobody wants their pet to suffer, but I understand your "selfish" feelings too. I truly hope that she feels better on some meds so you can see that light again. Thinking and praying for you. Bless you Sophie!

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Hugs and prayers to you, your family and your beautiful Sophie.  I just don't know what to say other than I am so sorry that Sophie is having to go through this...

Please keep us posted....

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh Sherri, I don't even know what to say.  I've been so hoping that this is not the news that you'd hear....that there would be some sort of miracle and it would be treatable.  I am so sad for you....I wish there was something I could do to help.  I know that you are going to be very strong for her and that you'll somehow find the strength to celebrate her life and the time you have left with your girl.  Please know there are lots of us who care so much about you and your special Doodle girls.

[Ginny Nightingale]

This is such sad news---I can't imagine how horrible it must be for you. I wish there were something that could ease your pain, but I am afraid that each of us has to go the horror of losing a doodle at some point--just not soooo soon--poor Sophie. I did suggest the tripe to get her eating and I will mention it again. I had a friend with a Port. Water dog who had 6 months to live when liver cancer was discovered. She did not do any chemo (the dog was 12)  but gave her steak and whatever else she liked-- and gave her a peaceful fun life -- the dog lived over a year. 

Please know that your DK friends are here for you....so sorry again.

[Sally]

the hardest part about being a member of DK is reading posts like yours. I have no words. really, i have no words. i am just overwhelmed with sadness. it is so unfair. so very unfair. Rusty the surfing dog, and Penny the wonder dog....Cancer needs to stop invading our doodles! 

[Jennifer Tramell]

I am so very sorry for this news!  Our Dixie had cancer and we put her on prednisone (the tumor was on her throat, and there really were no other options available).  The vet told us 2-3 months but she had 7 good months.  Her quality of life was good, she was happy, and we had 7 months to celebrate her and enjoy her fully.  I hope you have the same with Sophie and, again, I am so sorry!

[Margaret & Pebbles]

I am so very sorry, such heartbreaking news.  Will be praying for Sophie and your family.

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Oh Sherri, I know there are no words to comfort you right now. I know your heart is breaking. Let's pray for a miracle! God really does answer prayer! I hope that she can start to feel better right away when the treatment starts. I know they say that dogs don't experience the same kind of side effects that humans do with chemo.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Such sad news!  My heart is breaking for all of you.  I know you'll do your best to give Sophie all the love and good days that you can.  We'll be adding our prayers to all the others.