Dear Tripawd Friends:

Thanks all of you for all your support and encouragement during this difficult time.  This is the 2nd time around for Rosie as we dealt with her Cancer back in August-Sept 09  when she had her major(SRS) one time radiation treatment but now since her leg has fractured we have to deal with the pain in her leg.  We didn't choose amputation we had the option or Stereotactic Radiation (a one time strong dose of Radiation) that kills the cancer on the spot, available at the University of Florida, in Gainesville,.  Rosie qualified as a candidate. But it was a gamble the Dr told us.  He said it could fracture. we had a 70% chance that it would work and 30% chance it would fracture .  After 2 weeks she got a hairline fracture .  She has been limping ever since.  THey said if she was weight bearing we didn't have to amputate.  However they think her limp has gotten worse and are recommending we amputate her leg now.  So it has been difficult this last week to change our focus from saving her leg to amputating her leg.  It's a complete 180 turn in the opposite direction and it has been hard to make that change in my mind.  With all your help and your stories about your own pets journey's this has given me the strength to consider that amputation would most likely help Rosie to relieve her pain and end this ordeal she has been going thru.  BUt she's already been thru so much.  She had 2 surgeries back in Sept.  The SRS Radiation was one procedure, then she also had a Liver tumor mass that was removed 2 weeks latter.  It was an unrelated cancer to her leg and they removed it.  She had all that chemo, and I just want her to be done and get back to being a dog.  But she is in pain she must be as she limps.  BUt there are days like today that she was outside, it was beautiful and she even runs a little.  she walks around the yard and doesn't let her leg stop her even thou she limps.  So I question how much pain she is really in as she seems to be enjoying herself.  She had such a good time outside today!  Days like this I look at her and think do I really want to put her thru more surgery?  She seems happy she is a happy dog.  So I am really torn.  Every time I figure out yes lets amputate then I'll see her like today and worry that am I doing the right thing to Amputate?  I don't know.  I know she must have pain she limps, and I want to get her off all these pain pills she has to take 4 Tramadols and 1 Gabapantin 3 times a day!!  But she tolerates well.  

Sorry for going on and on.  I'm tired of this ordeal and want to get on with enjoying what life she has left .  This Amputation sounds like everyone goes thru 2 weeks of tough times.  I will do it, I can do it.  But I don't like to see her so out of it.  Okay  I'll let you all know what we do latter this week.  I plan to send the Doctors at UF a CD of her walking and running in the yard.  To get a final evaluation of her limp.  If we do this I want to go ahead this month in March so I have to call my Dr and get appt to take her. 

Thanks for all the support. 

Rosie's Mom & Rosie

Hi Everyone. 

THis week we made the appointment with the Dr. to discuss amputation.  We see the Surgeon March 15th and if we give the okay, he can do it next day the 16th of March!!!  eeeekkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!.  We're so nervous about this day.  I hope we can do it.  It's been a long haul 6 months of trying to save her leg,  now we have to make the 180 turn and take it off.  It is so hard to get the right mental grip on this.  From the very beginning i couldn't stand the thought of taking Rosie's leg off.  It seems so final, no going back it is final.  I hope I can do this for her.  She,   wouldn't you know it has been really full of energy and running around lately.  She gets around pretty good even thou she drags the leg sometimes.  she uses her leg too.  She actually runs.  it's amazing.  At night she is really tired and doesn't walk well but in the a.m. she is full of herself. 

Thanks for listening.

Sandy and Rosie in her "Rose Garden" called Life