Hi all!  I've been hanging around here since before Halloween, dreading the inevitable and trying to prepare myself…and it's finally happened.  On November 1st, my Katy officially became a Tripawd.  About the first week of September my husband noticed a lump on her left front leg, and that little snowball turned into an avalanche of x-rays, biopsies, vet consults, and emotional loop-de-loops.  We ended up with a final diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma, most likely liposarcoma, and it was determined that attempting to surgically remove the tumor itself would cause more harm than good; her entire lower leg, from the elbow to the wrist, was swollen, and she was limping terribly as it was.  Amputation was the only good option we had.

And I don't regret it one bit.  Only 2 days after surgery and Katy is up and about!  Yes she sleeps quite a bit, and her chest and side look like someone dumped grape koolaid all over her, but she's happy and affectionate, eating and drinking and peeing and pooping, it's amazing.  Like she's glad to be rid of that pesky leg, it was just slowing her down.  :)

I'm loving the community here at Tripawds.com!  So many knowledgeable and helpful people here, everyone's so nice and supportive.  And I love the blog feature, I love reading everyone's stories, and I especially enjoy keeping a blog for Katy, it's very cathartic.  Helps me sort my emotions out.  I like sharing my experiences in the hope that it will help someone else.  I've even apparently coined a new term, "Tripride," you'll have to read the definition of that one on my blog  :)  I've been told it's T shirt-worthy!

Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself and my brand new hopalong.  Very happy to be here!

Welcome Katy! Now I'll have to check out your blog so I can learn what Tripride is

You'll me lots of great people here. When you visit Tripawds, some days you'll cry, some days you'll laugh…and some days you'll do both at the same time!

Please keep us posted on Katy's recovery, and make sure you get some rest too!

Cathy

Wow…so nice to meet you here Katy (and Katy's mom)!  Charlie and Katy are the same age too!  Katy is a beautiful girl!  So great to hear she is doing so well so quickly after the surgery!!!  The bruising really scared us at first too!  You must feel so lucky to be able to take Katy with you everyday!  It seems so important to have them close to us right now!  We'll keep an eye on you guys.  So nice to know Charlie has a friend going through the same thing that we can talk to! 

Tripawds is such an incredible place of support!  So happy we found all of you!!!

Charlie & Family

LOVE the TriPride!  You definitely have the right attitude!  Glad that Katy is doing well! 

Jenna & Spirit Chili Dawg

Hi Katy and Mom, 

Welcome!  I'm new too!  Less than ten days ago I didn't even know about about this site, or that I would be needing it!  But what a huge need it has filled for so many people.  It's amazing how supportive this community is – I don't know where I'd be without it.  I'm so glad to hear that Katy is doing well!  Keep us updated!

hey welcome to the club.  I haven't found your blog yet so I'll track it down.  Love the tripride!  Going to have to add that tagline to the shirt I have for Kess :)