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.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Ditto!  FInnegan has a message for Sophie: "Please eat pretty lady...just a bit would make us happy."

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

Dear Finnegan -- I will try really hard to do this today just for you.  The treats are pretty good, but that other stuff, whew, not so much!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Thanks for the update Sherri.  I'm glad to hear that there haven't been any adverse side effects fro the chemo.  Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Thanks for the update on Sophie. I'm praying that she responds well to her treatment and begins to feel better soon.

[Colleen, Jake & Baxter]

I am so sorry you are going through this with your beautiful Sophie.  My heart just goes out to you.  My prayer is that Sophie is free from pain and that she has a good quality of life in the days ahead.  Life is unfair and I remember feeling very much alone (and SCARED) at the time I was going through something similar with my own beloved dog.  I did not belong to a dog forum at the time and looking back I think it would have been comforting to have had that.   Please know that you are not alone and that people do care about you and what you are going through.

[BG and Gavin]

Keep up the good work Sophie and you can gain that weight back in no time.  We need you to be strong girlfriend.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

Sherri, I'm so very sorry about your sweet Sophie. I saw this a few days ago and tried to respond but started crying for you and thinking of how it would be if it were my own Sophie and couldn't continue. I'm sorry for you and I wish you all the very best in getting through this terrible ordeal. Please give that sweet girl of yours a hug from me. I so wish there was something I could do make this horrible illness go away. I hope she gets some relief from the chemo and prednisone and I pray you can have some quality time together while she is feeling well. Hugs to you and your doodles.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am glad that things are going well so far.  Sophie girl, EAT.

[Heather & Brinkley]

I can't even imagine. I'm so sorry.

[Christine & Shelby]

This is such heart breaking news.... I am so sorry to hear that Sophie is going through this. I can't imagine what this might be like for you and your family.... But you statement that you do whatever you can to make sure the remainder of her time is the best it can be is exactly how we all would respond. Love that sweet girl... And lean on the DK community for support. Sending you love, courage and strength!

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Just wanted to send you and Sophie a hug today. 

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Sending you and Sophie a hug to start your day. We are keeping you in our prayers and our thoughts.