Paula thanks so much for talking with me this morning.  As I told you we have an appointment with Dr. Ryan Demianiuk at Fox Valley Referral Center on Monday at 12.  My son is really having a hard time with amputation and I hope here he can get some answers.  Fox Valley would be a closer drive for us so I hope it all goes well.  This has to be his decision and somehow I need to be supportive even if it isn't what I would do for my own dog.  It's just so hard because if he does decide not to amputate there just aren't many good choices left.  I hope this vet will do his evaluation of Max's chances with amputation and what to expect to happen if he goes with the chemo and biophosphonate with radiation treatment.  It is so hard watching Bob struggle with this decision.  Second guessing yourself can drive you nuts.  The UW was wonderful for doing the tests needed (except the ortho test they couldn't do it that day) but I think dealing with a one on one Dr will help Bob.  Someone on here mentioned Dr Ryan and how they had confidence in him so I guess all we can do is have a consult.  If Bob does go with the Bisphosponates and chemo he would be able to go there for them.  Thank you everyone for all your support please say a prayer that we make the best choice we can for our wonderful Max.  Because in the end that's all that counts is making the best quality of life choice.  Since he cancelled the ortho tests at UW yesterday we will have them done at Fox Valley on Monday. 

My son and I just had a talk.  He now is open to amputation.  I think watching the pain meds not work that well this week has taken a toll on him.  In fact our appointment Monday is a surgery consult he just told me.  We discussed that the only way to get Max out of pain is to remove the leg and whatever comes after that comes.  Max hasn't been using that leg much so maybe he's getting himself ready for surgery.  He's such an overachiever our Max.  Bob said if we go ahead with surgery it could possibly be Tuesday already.  I'm sorry to be such a pain to you guys but I just wanted to let you all know because I feel each and every one of you is doing this journey with me.  Thank you!!!!!

Max is currently an overnight guest of Fox Valley Referral Center in Appleton WI.  He is scheduled for amputation surgery first thing in the morning.  Dr. Ryan will be doing x-rays of his remaining back leg after he has put him out for surgery to make sure he is a good candidate but he thinks he will not find anything and surgery can be done.  As much as I've advocated for surgery when we got back to the car I broke down and just sobbed.  I guess it was the culmination of the last few weeks.  Most importantly Bob feels very good about this Dr. who took the time to explain so much to him about the surgery and why it needed to be done.  Bob said he would've been ready to let him go if he wasn't eating, wanting to play etc etc but he's still our mighty Max and seems to want to live.  He said he has to give him his chance.  I'm proud of him for making this heart wrenching decision.  He knows Max is strong and a fighter.  The Dr. said he's already a step ahead for this journey because he isn't using that foot much just as I expected.  Expect me to ask a lot of questions in the days ahead after we get him home.  All day yesterday I went through a lot of postings about the days after so I read about a lot of your journeys but I'm sure I'll still have questions.  I will begin a new posting on the recovery and treatment page when that happens.  Thank you so much to all of you for your support and unending wisdom!!