the journey begins
During the summer of 2011, we noticed a little lump on Phoebe’s front left leg. We got it checked out at the vet. He recommended trying to remove the lump, but we unfortunately didn’t think too much about it because she was always a happy and active dog.
During December of 2011, Phoebe really started having difficulty walking. Phoebe is like our baby, so we dropped everything and drove from our home in Pigeon Forge, TN to Louisville, KY to have her checked out. The vet determined that the lump was definitely cancerous and told us our options. He said option one was to put Phoebe under, cut a small piece of the tumor out and send it to a lab to have it checked out. Once they determine the type of cancer, then further evaluations of treatment could be made. Option two was to make his best effort to remove the lump from her leg. Unfortunately with tendons, blood vessels, minimal amounts of skin, etc, this would be very involved and would require more then 2 surgeries (skin grafts, etc). The tumor would most likely grow back faster as well.Option 3 was to remove the entire left leg. He would then send the tumor off to a lab to determine the type of tumor (the type that is isolated to that leg only or the type that will jump to another part of her body). Phoebes X-Rays and Ultrasounds on her organs and internal scans appeared to be clean, so we elected option 3, to remove the entire leg. The decision wasn’t really an easy one, but Michelle and I agreed and confirmed the decision with the vet the next morning. We knew this would be a difficult process, but Phoebe has been the best animal we could have ever dreamed of having and we were not willing to give up on her.
As I am writing this first blog, Phoebe is asleep at the vets office (heavily medicated) and we haven’t even seen her since she was our four legged friend. So the journey officially begins…..
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How well I remember those early days of diagnosis and surgery and recovery. Even now my heart does a little skip.
Welcome, Phoebe and family. Phoebe will astound you with her resilience and adaptability to her new tripawdness. Wishing her – and by extension, you – a speedy uneventful recovery!
Thank you CatiesMom. We can’t wait to see her and give her positive reinforcement to overcome this huge surgery. She is so smart and has such a sweet disposition, that I am sure that she will teach us a thing or two during this process. I do wonder if there is any advice you can give with the recovery. It is going to be cold and we are wondering what to put on her so she does not lick or scratch her stitches and keep her warm. any advice you can give us will be truly appreciated.
Thank you Mark and Michelle
we too remember the beginning and all the fear it carried with it. we’re in knoxville. our gayle had a soft tissue sarcoma, losing her right front leg feb 2010. we opted for chemo, gayle was so brave and did amazingly well. last december we discovered oral melanomas and unfortunately this was a war we just couldn’t win, loosing her to this other cancer. but – don’t fret for your little girl, she will be brave and will show you how to be brave too.
charon & spirit gayle
We are still very nervous. They removed the leg and they are sending the samples, plus lymph node to get tested. We should find out more within 10 days. We hope and pray that the spot was isolated only to the leg that was removed and it doesn’t move anywhere else. Fortunately all of the scans and x-rays didn’t show any abnormalities. I am so sorry to hear about your Gayle. No matter what happens, there will never be any regrets. Having pets are literally like kids and they ARE family.
Welcome! We are all here for you. Be patient, the 1st 2 weeks can be trying but then you will be amazed at how well Phoebe will do!
Thanks so much. I will definitely keep you all updated. I know this will be a tough process, but well worth it. She has done so much for us. She is so worth it.