Our Old English Sheepdog, Sylvia, crossed to the bridge yesterday afternoon, one day short of a year from her diagnosis of osteosarcoma, and six days short of her one year "ampuversary".  Over this past year, she has been truly remarkable!  Even with only three legs, she could outrun us, jump nearly to eye-level for her food, bully Banjo and Charlie, enjoy walks, and play energetically in the backyard.  We started this journey knowing that approximately 90% of canine osteosarcoma survivors ultimately succumb to cancer, but Sylvia seemed to be defying the odds - - - At least we hoped so.  She never got sick from the chemotherapy and was her bouncy, silly self until the last 2 - 3 weeks.
 
At the beginning of August, at her 9 month checkup, her oncologist discovered some small nodules in her lungs and we began oral chemotherapy.  At her next checkup about a month later, additional small nodules had appeared and one of the original ones had grown.  We changed chemo drugs, but those began to make her sick.  In a last effort to slow down the growth of the lung mets (and avoid the nausea, etc.), we switched to a new chemo drug.  By the last week of October, she was refusing food and by Oct. 30 was running a fever.  We stopped the chemo, got her on antibiotics, and tempted her with boiled hamburger.  Within a day, she refused even that.  A trip to Medvet in Cincinnati yesterday revealed that, altho her heart and lungs were strong and the lung mets were not affecting her breathing or energy, there was a large mass in her abdomen that had possibly ruptured.  The doctors couldn't feel it on palpation, so its existence was only revealed thru an ultrasound.  At that time we knew that we needed to let her go.

Fortunately, as we were saying our good-byes, she was standing up and giving us licks and was at least as interested in what was going on as she could be, given that she was undoubtedly feeling pretty crummy.  She laid down with her head on my arm and relaxed prior to the injection and the last thing she saw and felt was me and my husband.

Unfortunately, Sweet Sylvie's oncologist, Dr. Valerius, and her wonderful staff were not there to say good-bye, as the doctor had just left for a couple of days of a professional seminar.  None of us foresaw that yesterday would be the day Sylvie would leave us.  They've been so kind and professional and caring over the past year as they did everything they could to help us give Sylvia 11 months and 24 days of a continued good life - much longer than she and we would've had together had we not had them helping us make the journey.

As I write this, I realize that it sounds so clinical.  I guess that's the only way I can manage to communicate at this moment without crumbling to pieces.  I never did get around to posting something new on Sylvia's blog when I intended to, a month or two ago.  But when I am feeling up to it, I WILL be posting a tribute to our Sweet, Silly, Sheepdog Sylvie.  Farewell, Miss Sylvie . . .  we'll see you at the bridge.