The Absolute Best News in the World! IT'S BENIGN! Surgery to Remove Wally's Spleen - Please keep him in your thoughts. AND A NEW UPDATE

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Another Update:  

We are absolutely thrilled! The surgeon just called to say that Wally's tumor was benign! It was a torturously long nine days of waiting for the results, but there is a lot of celebrating going on at our house right now. 

This community is amazing. Throughout this whole ordeal, I could come here for support, always knowing that my DK friends would empathize and sympathize.

Thank you, everyone. 

Please keep my dear Wally in your thoughts tomorrow as he is undergoing surgery to remove his spleen. After routine labwork a month ago revealed slightly elevated liver enzymes, we repeated the bloodwork last week and learned that both his ALT and ALP numbers had increased. Today, he had an ultrasound of his abdomen which identified a mass in his spleen the size of a walnut. All of his other organs appeared normal and x-rays of his chest showed that his lungs look healthy. He is asymptomatic, which is good, but needless to say, we are extremely worried. I will keep all of my DK friends posted as we learn more.

Update: The operation was a success in that the surgeon removed Wally's spleen without any complications. The tumor was the size of a golf ball. I just got an update that he is doing very well. They have had him up and walking a little, he seems comfortable and is on IV pain meds, but isn't interested in eating yet. Besides doing a biopsy of the tumor, they are also testing a sample of his liver, since the elevated liver enzymes are what initiated this situation. We will bring him home midafternoon tomorrow and then wait for a week for the results. It is going to be a very very long week of waiting. Thanks for everyone's kind words of hope and well wishes. 

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Wally is home and doing well, considering that he had major abdominal surgery yesterday. Now, we wait for a week for the biopsy results. He seems to be relatively comfortable and even had a small meal when we got back to the house. It's interesting to watch Charlotte who is clearly concerned about her big brother. She seems more unsettled than he does. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Glad to hear so far so good.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Glad to hear that he is doing well. 

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Good boy, Wally! I'm glad he is doing well and hope that good news is coming your way...

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Hoping Wally is back home with you now and on the road to recovery!! Thinking of you! Just read your update....happy he is home. Hugs to all of you, including Nurse Charlotte. How sweet that she is so concerned for Wally!

[Barbara, Zoey and Zeke]

Glad you are both home and doing well. Wishing you very good luck!!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Thanks for the update. Will be waiting with you- hoping for good news. Give that boy a hug from Finn and I

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Thanks, Cheryl. Wally is recovering nicely from the actual surgery. Not surprisingly, the waiting is the extremely challenging for us. I can't keep my brain from trying to flash forward to the various possibilities. Anyway, here is a picture of Finn's friends, with Wally sporting his bodysuit to protect the incision area in case he decides to bother at it overnight. 

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Here is another view of him wearing his cammo outfit. It's made by a company called Suitical and it's their Dog Recovery Suit. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Love the suit.

[Stacy]

Ava had a pink suitical after her big surgery. I had a couple people ask me why the dog was wearing a swimsuit! Wally looks good! Hang in there. The waiting is so hard!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Awww... just know that we're waiting with you and praying hard for a good outcome. My son was here for the weekend and it was crazy but he's gone now. If you need to talk, we're here.