Tripawds Three Legged Dog & Cat Forum Archives
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Maya's health has continued to decline over the last few days, eating sporadically and energy waning...and then last night I noticed her belly looked very bloated. I took this as an ominous sign that the end was very near. My husband and kids said goodbye to her this morning before I left to take Maya to our vet, hoping for the best but wanting to be prepared for the bad news that I was expecting. Maya was still showing some promise (she was actually willing to go for walk before going to the vet, the first one this week) but with the general steady decline, I was of the mindset that I would rather put her down a day too early rather than a day too late and put her through unnecessary suffering. To my surprise and relief...Xrays showed that the tumors in her lungs have not changed much and her lungs actually look pretty good. The fluid in her belly is likely due to malignancies in her abdomen, which is not great news, but is certainly better than terrible looking lungs. The vet said that it is very likely that all of her recent decline is due to the fluid in the belly and compression of the lungs externally and not due to the lung tumors...so a few hours after my boys kissed her goodbye, I walked back in the door with Maya...one liter of fluid drained from her belly, a steriod injection to help keep the fluid from returning, and a promise that by tomorrow she will likely be back to her old self...for now! It is hard to believe since the symptoms were just what you would expect from lung tumors...but you just never know!!! So for now we get another chance for at least a few more weeks (hopefully) with our brave, sweet, amazing girl!
-Kathy & Maya
6:05 pm
15 January 2009
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I am so glad you have more time together with your sweet girl. Every moment you have is important and enjoy the gift you have been given, no matter how long!!
From a Mom of another sweet Lab girl,
Gineej & Paris
Grateful for every moment we had with Paris…..no regrets!
Honoring her life by opening our hearts & home to Addy!
6:17 pm
28 November 2008
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Enjoy the gift of time you've been given. Hope those days are bright for all of you.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
6:52 pm
Team Tripawds
Administrators
25 September 2009
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Bless you for taking such good care of Maya. Thanks for sharing this unique situation, it's sure to provide hope for someone down the road faced with the same circumstances.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
We all have to admire your bravery and dedication to Maya. All of us would like to hold onto these precious companions forever, but it takes a special courage to know when to let them go and no longer suffer. It is not about the quantity of time we get to spend with them but rather the quality of the time they get to spend on this earth with us. With Cherry's age, I have said for some time that I am on "borrowed time", but even more so with the diagnosis. The noise you hear from CA are the cheers we all let out that you will be able to extend your "borrowed time" for a little longer with Maya.
We all send you our very best thoughts and prayers.
Bob & Cherry
10:50 am
Team Tripawds
Administrators
25 September 2009
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4:07 pm
24 December 2008
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What a beautiful photo of a beautiful dog- You go Maya- nothing slows a tripawd down.
Seanne and Angel Wrigley
4:43 pm
28 November 2008
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Thanks for sharing the photo. I LOVE the photos of our sweeties. Maya looks like she is having a wonderful time. Thanks for allowing her to have fun.
Shanna & Spirit Trouble ~ Trouble gained her wings 3/16/2011, a 27 1/2 month cancer survivor, tail wagging. RIP sweetheart, you are my heart and soul. Run free at Rainbow Bridge.
The November Five - Spirits Max, Cherry, Tika, Trouble & Nova. 11/2008 - 3/2013 An era ends as Queen Nova crossed the Bridge.
Thank you so much for posting Maya's picture for me and I'm so tickled that you put her up on the header rotation!
She had such an incredible time at the beach that day and it is so special to be able to share that with all of you!!!!
I am so happy to report that Maya is still loving life every day (as you can clearly see!) She has had some ups and downs the last few weeks but for now she is hanging in there. It is hard to believe that a month has passed since I brought her to be put down!
She has needed to have fluid drained from her abdomen once a week for the last few weeks and last Friday (three days prior to the beach frolicking) she actually had some fluid drained from around her heart. With my understanding of her situation I literally expect that each day could very easily be her last, but with that in mind we are swimming, fetching, walking, spoiling and loving her to our full potential!
Thanks for all of your encouragement!
-Kathy & Maya
8:42 am
Team Tripawds
Administrators
25 September 2009
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Kathy, we're so glad to hear this.
The silver lining in this disease is that it truly helps humans to understand the importance of living each day to the fullest, without regret, and doing what we love. Maya is a role model that we can all take lessons from.
What a beautiful girl. We hope she has many, many more days of playing on the beach!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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