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9 1/2 year old Saint Bernard newly diagnosed
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The Rainbow Bridge



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25 April 2007
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3 January 2024 - 9:03 pm
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Oh you beautiful girl! We needed to see you today now more than ever. Thank you for bringing hope to all of us, putting a smile on our faces, and showing us what pure joy looks like. I'm so happy you are living every day to the fullest! 

Michigan

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11 July 2016
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4 January 2024 - 4:20 am
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So good to see Ophelia is doing well ! Delighted to see the spryng  & stopping the Palladia helped👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 whoo hoo
Hoppy New Year
Hugs

New England
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4 January 2024 - 5:15 am
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I actually saw a Saint Bernard the other day and found myself wondering whatever happened to Ophelia.... I'm so glad that this is a case of no news is good news!

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24 January 2024 - 9:31 am
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This made my day to see Orphelia looking so happy!  I’m so glad that one of the things you did (or the combination) seems to have helped.  I’m still considering the Spryng injection for Bianca.  I decided against Librela which her vet advised for the time being.  While I have seen so many positive reports, I also came across a Facebook group with some very negative experiences that made me think twice about it. I’d rather try Spryng first if she is a candidate.  

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12 February 2024 - 9:08 pm
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@Eustacia - I was about 12 hours from beginning Librela for Ophelia but cancelled after seeing that FB page!  Horrifying!  It should only be considered as a an absolute last resort.  We did a steroid and hylouronic acid injection instead and it helped A LOT!  

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12 February 2024 - 9:16 pm
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Hi Tripawds community.  It’s been a while since I’ve updated and will try to do so soon.  But today is Ophelia’s 10th Birthday!  This is a major milestone for any Saint Bernard but especially one who has gone through what she has over the past eight months. I want to share what i wrote for her on Facebook earlier today as well as some videos of her life up to now because I’m so dang proud of her!  Thanks for being there for her and us.  This website is an invaluable resource!  
—————

Happy Birthday Ophelia! Ten years ago today the sweetest, most loving, happy, and sensitive “little” pup was born. She has brought so much joy to me, others who have known her for her entire life, and to so many people who have known her only for a moment or who have only known her from my posts here on Facebook. People, old and young, meet her and instantly smile because her perpetual happiness is always contagious.

When she was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma eight months ago, one major milestone that I set was for her to be able to live to her 10th Birthday happily and as healthy as possible. The odds were against her. While I want her to live forever, I am so happy that we made it to this milestone.

I just wish that i could let HER know how bravely that she has fought for her life. I don’t post many pictures of her struggling. People didn’t see her crying in the middle of the night after her amputation because the pain meds had worn off and she couldn’t find a way to be comfortable and sleep. People don’t see the days when she struggles to get stretched out and moving. People don’t see the sad look on her face when she falls down because being on three legs is such hard work. And people don’t see how her whole body shakes in terror anytime she has to go back to the doctor for a procedure or for a check up, or how she fights not to be taken away from me for whatever it is that has to be done. She fights to live though. And no matter how badly she may feel some days, she still wags her tail, watches with curiosity the world around her, and rolls over to her get tummy rubbed. I can say without a doubt that she has taught me a lot about perseverance and appreciating each day being alive.

So Happy Birthday sweet girl! I’ll make it as special as i can for you because you deserve it.

and her 10th birthday party on Saturday!  

Michigan

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13 February 2024 - 10:03 am
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Awe, she is the sweetest Pup! Congrats on the milestone. smiley_clapsmiley_clapsmiley_clap
She had a fantastic birthday. I love how many people came and celebrated with all kinds of love, attention, and, yes, exceptional birthday food.

Hoppy Happy Birthday, Ophelia
hugs, and give her a treat from us, please

💝💝💝

The Rainbow Bridge



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13 February 2024 - 10:09 am
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WHEEE!!!! Hoppy Ophelia Day! smiley_clap

Michael I loved the Ophelia Film Fest! All those great scenes of her fun life with you just made my morning. She was a PUPPY once?! LOL! Hard to imagine! And that squirrel vs. Ophelia video is hilarious! It was great seeing you with her too.

A giant breed reaching double-digits is remarkable in itself, but being able to say you have a 10 year old Saint who beat one of the worst cancers is just incredible. Thank you for being here to share her story, the ups and downs, the highs and lows, and all the celebrations. We all learn so much from you both, and are grateful to be part of this very special day. 

Lots and lots of smooches and love to your very special birthday girl! sf-kisssp_hearticon2

Virginia



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13 February 2024 - 3:01 pm
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Doing a quick pop in and coming back when I can sit down a immerse myself  in the glorious videos of Ophelia!  My heart is already full and I'm already  smiling knowing what's in store......an Ophelia  Video Fest indeed!

I can say without a doubt that she has taught me a lot about perseverance and appreciating each day being alive. 

Ophelia  has been an inspiration  and teacher for all of us.  And ya' know what?  All those times she struggled, although rough for you to watch sometimes, Ophelia knew you were ALWAYS by her side.  She knew she would power through  it and she knew   were cheering her on.   She loves you soooo much and she knows how much uou love her💖💖💖

  People, old and young, meet her and instantly smile because her perpetual happiness is always contagious 

Perpetual smile that lights up the world.....inside and out  ♥️

Hugs

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

 

 

    

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

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16 February 2024 - 10:11 pm
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Oh! I was just thinking I needed an Ophelia fix and signed in and there she was! I love her film festival, she always seems so happy and sure she is loved (and she is)

My very best to her on her birthday, she looks so slim and beautiful, Suzanne and Nicholas

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23 June 2024 - 2:43 pm
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Hi everyone.  I haven’t updated since Ophelia’s 10th birthday on February 12th, so figured today that i would come by an update her page.  Oh! and we just celebrated one year post diagnosis survival on June 15th!  It’ll be one year since amputation on Thursday.  SO proud of my girl!  🙂

Probably the main reason that I haven’t made time to update is what has transpired with Ophelia since her birthday.  The very next day, she had a PET-CT scan completed at the Colorado State University veterinarian hospital.  Unfortunately, the results of that scan were not good, which caused me to spend the next couple of weeks trying to figure out what treatments were possible for her.  I was also grieving and trying to spend every second with her for weeks. 

The PET scan revealed that Ophelia has several metastatic cancer lesions in various bones throughout her body. CSU recommended more rounds of chemo that they predicted would give her 4-6 months. They told me 2-3 months with no treatment.  Her oncologist, who she saw the following week, didn’t recommend that option because she didn’t think that it would help. She helped me look into a couple of immunotherapy options (immune checkpoint inhibitor, and Interleukins) both of which are being studied and even now being studied by ELIAS (the immunotherapy that Ophelia did receive right after amputation). Unfortunately, due to the fact that they are still so experimental, they just weren’t available for me to get my hands on. I even spoke the chief medical officer at ELIAS in my attempts.  

What we did do is put her on a combination therapy of sorafenib, Losartan and propranolol.  Sorafenib is a drug in the same class as Palladia but with a wider net of effectiveness.  It just hasn’t been studied on canine osteosarcoma.  She has been on this therapy along with the supplements that I’ve talked about before, since late February.  

In April, her mobility began to decrease significantly.  She had had a steroid type of injection on her left hip in January and that was beginning to wear off.  Her pain management vet did new x-rays on her hips and found that her arthritis/dysplasia had become much worse.  Her left hip was almost completely out of its joint.  We did another steroid inject a few weeks after the x-rays and it’s seemed to helped some.  

Unfortunately, Ophelia’s mobility is such now that she has a hard time getting up and walking on her own. I’ve been assisting her with harnesses since the end of April.  It’s not that she can’t walk, she is just an extreme risk to fall down. There is also a high risk of her hip joint coming completely out of its socket and a decent risk of a fracture due to the cancer that they found in the PET scan.  

We do not know of the cancer has progressed since it was found in February.  It’s now been 4 1/2 months since the scan and she hasn’t shown any symptoms or signs that it has (knock on wood).  Her oncologist seems surprised and calls it “stabilized” in her reports after Ophelia’s monthly checkups. Is it the Sorafenib/losartan/propranolol?  The immunotherapy that she received that SHOULD, theoretically, still be working inside her body, one or more of the supplements, or just pure luck?  No one knows. Her lungs remain clear (knock on wood). 

After days of trying to figure out a cart that would be big enough for Ophelia, and then figuring out how I’d transport that cart to places like the park or a hiking trail, I finally got one for her.  She’s not in love with it and seems to not understand why she has to stay in it, but she does seem to enjoy the activities once she is in it and we get going.  

i will say that she seems to be extremely happy (knock on wood). She wags her tail all of the time, is still excited to go with me whether it’s for an activity or just to be with me while i work.  That spark that i see in her eyes, that is Ophelia, is still there.  In fact, she’s even seemed to have improved over the past couple of weeks.  She has gotten up and walked when I’ve had my back turned (i won’t let her without my help if I’m watching) on a few occasions. She wants to live and still do the things that she loves.  She’s not ready to give up so i will continue to help her for as long as that is the case.  We are just taking it day by day and trying to enjoy every minute that she has left.  

I hope that everyone here is doing well.  As usual, I’m so proud of Ophelia so i have to share  some videos from the last four months.  

The Rainbow Bridge



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24 June 2024 - 11:28 am
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Michael, I'm so glad you returned. I was thinking about Ophelia recently and hoping for good news. As it goes with cancer, this really is as good as it gets in this stage of the disease. She is a miracle dog!

The treatment combination your oncologist prescribed is something I haven't heard about. Do you have any studies you can point us to? I'd also love to interview her just for some background on it, and to present it as an option when people are researching. So any backstory info you can point to would be amazing.

Thank you for those beautiful videos. Your music made me cry happy tears! You are such a great caregiver to Ophelia. She is still enjoying her life, getting out, watching, sniffing, and being the amazing dog she is. What a privilege to get to stay by her side and care for her. I hope she has many, many more great days ahead with you. sp_hearticon2sp_hearticon2sp_hearticon2

Virginia



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24 June 2024 - 7:19 pm
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Had to re-read your post a couple of times to understand that, overall and all things considered,  Ophelia IS still enjoying being Ophelia. ♥️  I agree with Jerry, she really IS a miracle dog!!

 

  That spark that i see in her eyes, that is Ophelia, is still there.  In fact, she’s even seemed to have improved over the past couple of weeks.  She has gotten up and walked when I’ve had my back turned (i won’t let her without my help if I’m watching) on a few occasions. She wants to live and still do the things that she loves. 

Michael.  as much as you love and adore Ophelia, it is clear she loves you adoes you too!  One reason she has done so well of your exquisite  care. I know we have said this so often, but you clearly have left no stone  unturned when it comes to ensure Ophelia 's quality and well being.  You are tuned into her every need so beautifully.

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

Virginia



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22 February 2013
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24 June 2024 - 7:38 pm
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Now, about those precious videos.....

I love listening to all the different noises she makes, the little tough girl growling when she's playing tug of war with you, the excitement when you ask her if she wants to go to get some squirrels and go to the dog park....cannot stop smilimg!!!!

I always love anu video showing her tail wag when she so proudly wants to take her "stick home"......the way the two,of you "converse" and how she listens to your every word......so adorable. 

You were right, you can really tell that Ophelia has settled in nicely into her cushy Royal carriage. I truly believe this dog can understand every word you say to her and she absolutely knows with certainty everything you do for her is out of love. Yes, I got a little teary eyed watching her in her carriage, listening to you talk to her and watching her reaction...... it was so touching, so very touching.

There is one thing for certain that we do know on this crazy Journey and where the two of you are now and that is that every single moment will be full of love, care and creating as much joy in every moment as possible.

Thank you so much for taking the time to update us on where she is and, especially, to share these delightful and heartwarming videos of this beautiful girl who we have all  grown to love and admire.💖

Keep these videos and pictures coming, you know we can never get enough of all this smoochievable bundle of cuteness👍

Hugs 

Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!

Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!

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27 June 2024 - 10:48 am
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Hi Michael, I just had Ophelia on my mind and logged in and there she was! Oh Ophelia, I'm so glad to hear about your happy life... you look very youthful, not like a 10 year old Saint at all! I've been thinking about you and Michael. Treasure every moment together. I know you do.  Suzanne

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