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.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Many years ago a close friend was diagnosed w pancreatic cancer after surviving ovarian cancer. The survival rate for pancreatic cancer is 10%. That was 25 years ago and she is still healthy and complaining of old age. Someone has to be the 10% and with all the love and prayers coming Sophie's way she has to be in that group too!!!

[Carol and Banjo]

Adrianne,  This is a wonderfully, uplifting post.    Thank you for sharing.    Continued prayers for Sophie.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I have to say that prednisone is a wonderful drug.  When I got up at 2:30 this morning to let her outside she was laying on her dog bed chewing on a bone.  That is the first time in probably 6 weeks she has shown any interest in anything.  She is still on the diuretic and that along with the prednisone make her drink and drink so we have to be sure and get her outside regularly.  The last couple days she has gradually eaten more dinner, last night I even cut her off and wouldn't give her any more chicken as I was afraid she would get sick.  This morning she has eaten a cup of boiled chicken.  She hasn't eaten in the morning in a long time.  She actually ran from one side of the yard to the other to see someone walking down the street with their dog.  It wasn't her normal pace, but she thought it was I'm sure.  I even saw that little Sophie smile on a couple occasions this week. So, to be at this point I'm a happy Momma.  I know that this doesn't mean a whole lot as far as the lymphoma is concerned, but it means the world to just know that she is feeling a little better.  We will be going back for treatment #2 on Monday morning.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

OMD, Sherri.  This post makes me so happy. 

[BG and Gavin]

So glad to hear that Sophie is eating and getting more active. Prayers continue.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thank you for this update. I can't tell you how happy I am that Sophie is feeling better and chewing on a bone. What good news for this Friday morning!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Music to my ears, I'm so happy to hear the prednisone is helping Sophie feel better!

[Linda And Loo]

I am sooooo happy to hear that Sophie is making positive progress! Good news is so great to hear!

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

That is Awesome news! I'm so happy she is feeling better!!! I know it is sooo hard when our babies are in pain and they can't tell us. Big smiles & Hugs from us to all of you!!!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

I'm very happy that Sophia is feeling better on the meds.  Thank you for the update:) 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Ahhhh Sheri, I am delighted to hear this news. Knowing she is feeling better will help all of you through. Smiling here in NorthEast Ohio.

PS Prednisone always makes me feel better. :-)

[Gail and Bailey]

Glad to hear that Sophie is feeling better and eating.  Keep it up sweet girl ...we are all praying for you!