And so...EmmaRose has a small, discrete, likely slow growing brain tumor in the brain stem area. Her liver, kidneys, heart structure, and lungs look good for her age. Choices are between palliative care= 0-2 months with a consistent degradation or stereotactic radiation which the team ( neuro, radiation onco, cardio, and aneasthesia) believe her to be a good candidate for. Median survival 12 months. 

So...I was pretty happy with that and went down to the pasture to tell CharlieBear and felt under his chest. And...his infiltrative lipoma seems to be herniating out/changing location. Was not there yesterday. This is what happened two years ago that precipitated the operation. The lipoma feels like a grapefruit under the elbow on his good front leg ( the lipoma is located on both sides as well as other places.) He does not seem to notice or care which is fantastic but...I may have a Sophie's Choice scenario on my hands. To say I am stunned at the timing is an understatement. 

Thank you all for listening to me and embracing us in your hearts and your paws. It means more to us than you will ever know. Your prayers and well wishes are carrying us through this very surreal and sad time. On the Be More Dog front, Emma ate again tonight and CharlieBear is in the pasture really taking his job to heart woofling earlier than ever. He even came and waited by the gate tonight and hasn't done that in months! Oh, to Be More Dog !

Due to the Pawsitive Power of TriPawd Nation, both EmmaRose and CharlieBear are still filled with Da Bearness and toughing things out. You are all holding us up and keeping us marching forward one somewhat drunk paw ( Emma...and , ahem, maaaaayyybe me after a very long day last night...took Sally and Fionna's advice on that one!)  and one somewhat lumpy paw at a time ( CharlieBear).

Let's start with the challenging news: Emma cannot come home until her new oral medication for her newly diagnosed heart arrythmia is on board and she is stabilized with that. Her heart rate was quite elevated but now seems to be under control. And cardio had not stopped by to change her to oral meds by the time I left last night....a big grrrrrrrr and growl about that. Emma has elected not to eat anymore at the hospital. We all believe it is due to the nausea caused by the vestibular signs caused by the brainstem tumor but as she is in ICU she is receiving lots of fluids and so actually looks quite well. She started prednisone and Cerenia yesterday afternoon. 

CharlieBear did indeed herniate out his quite large lipoma on his good front leg. Surgery will be required. Surgery services unavailable to SPEAK with until January 23. Oh, to be a surgeon...I had to take CharlieBear in through emergency services to even get all of his regular team to be able to consult and examine him. Nothing very informative was shared with me at all by the discharging ER vet who was quite flippant. Her discharge report was wrong in many areas as well. Another growl about that. 

And next for the good news: Emma was cognizant, wants to go home, was not very neurological when we visited ( CHARLIEBEAR got to visit with her!!!), and is drinking lots of water which means she is ABLE to eat and that the brainstem tumor has not taken that function away. Her heart rate was under control AND cardio insists that she will be able sustain the upcoming CT and 5 stereotactic radiation treatments. Given that she had an hour plus long MRI without prednisone on board and without her arrythmia being stable, I am more in agreement with cardio on that! Be EmmaStrong! And CharlieBear went back to woofling last night and riding in the truck with the windows rolled down. He is quite the fella. He was quite, quite, quite happy to see EmmaPaws. And he ate her $3,500 chicken dinner for her. They will likely have a Da Bears Suite when they both return to the Vet School the same week for treatment/surgery. Sigh...thump my head against the wall...repeatedly. 

*****Breaking news**** The Vet School just called and said Emma looks much, much more alert this morning, stood up and wagged her tail, had very few arrythmias last night, and her heart rate is normal!!! ( Which means, to me, that the prednisone is taking the swelling down so that the tumor stops sending the wrong signals to her heart...now, the vets won't say that yet but...chicken-egg question says egg...) They will wean her off the IV meds today and if all goes well she can come home tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!

EMMAPAWS!!!!!!!!!CHARLIEBEAR!!!!!!!!! Bankrupt in finances but rich in love:) ALL of you have saved ALL of us. PawPower WORKS. Thank you for EVERYTHING. Hugs and PyrPaws all around.