When I decided against chemotherapy, I knew a few great months in a dog Isabelle's age, was a gift. As we approach 4 months on Friday, the time has slipped by too quickly. I know how incredibly lucky we've been and what wonderful days we've had.

Isabelle is happy, playing, eating & overall looks fine, but I  thought I could feel her spleen. It was slightly enlarged for no good reason before her cancer diagnosis. She had an xray today & it was larger than in the past. She's having an ultrasound tomorrow. While I'm torn about the wisdom of all of these diagnostics, I'm equally worried about her having an unknown. friable, splenic mass & leaving her alone for 13 hours twice a week.

Her ALT has been chronically elevated since I adopted her. A liver bx several years ago revealed nothing significant. We thought, it might be due to her Hx of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Today it was slightly more elevated, not alarmingly so, & not anything that would have even been looked twice at six months ago. Now, it too is a concern.

It's hard to imagine, watching her now, chasing the cats over a toy, that everything may change tomorrow. She is everything to me.

This is Isabelle before the gray…but still one of my favorite photos.

Oh, what a beauty! And I love that collar too, soo cute!  I agree with everyone, although it's so hard not to worry, try to keep focused on the here and now.  I also agree with you that the time goes by so quickly.  I went on a 2 week vacation in July, and if I knew then that Sadie would be gone in October, I would have wanted to spend those precious 2 weeks with her.  The thing is, while I was gone, she was still with someone who loved her (my husband) and although we can't put our lives on hold, what we can do is make the moments together count. 

Sending positive thoughts your way!

Lisa, Ranger and Spirit Sadie

Isabelle's ultrasound was unchanged from 4 months ago, except for a slightly increased spleen. It was homogeneous & the radiologist had no explanation, but that sometimes older dogs have splenomegaly without an etiology. The nodules, first seen 4 years ago haven't changed either.

Tomorrow is her 4 month ampuversary. I feel like we've dodged another bullet and am so unbelievably grateful.

Thanks to everyone for your sensible, calming advice. I can't thank you all enough for always having a kind word and taking such an interest in our story, when everyone else has so much more going on at this time.

 It is always very unnerving for me to loose all perspective and panic when Isabelle has so much as a snotty nose after digging in the snow…so the opposite of my norm. A little knowledge is sometimes hazardous & a lot can be worse.

Isabelle was so annoyed with me the other evening for laying all over her, kissing her & generally annoying her…she just couldn't figure out why I kept waking her up.

Wishing you all a Happy, Peaceful Christmas.

Cynthia

That's great news Cynthia. I can't imagine a better Christmas gift. My norm is to loose perspective and panic just about everyday it seems  

Happy 4 Month Ampuversary Isabelle.

Merry Christmas,

Brett and Fortis