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.

[Bonnie and Kona]

So grateful to hear Sophie is perking up. Blessings.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

So happy to hear Sophie is feeling a little better, up and around and a little smile from her.  It truly makes my heart happy for you and Sophie.  Big hugs to all of you:)

[Joanna, Zoe & Bender]

I just saw this and am so sorry that this is happening to Sophie and your family. So glad to hear that she is feeling better from your first post and hope the best for her. Please keep us updated. Big hugs to all of you!

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Sherri, I am so shocked and saddened by this news. I haven't been around much on DK so I wasn't aware of all your struggles this past month. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers, whatever you all decide it comes from love. Blessings to you, Sophie and Lucy. Xo Suzann

[sandy b]

Sherri, I'm just reading this and so sorry you have to go through this but so happy she is responding to the meds and eating! Max is sending big doodle kisses to Sophie :-)