Cherry's dad here,

First, yes we have bought "equate" (the Wal-Mart generic version of Ensure) and will use that if needed. It has approximately 75% more calories than her vanilla soy milk and better overall nutrition. She is still not taking food that is offered but usually allows me to place the food into her mouth, and then she chews and swallows. I just need to get it past the tip of her tongue.

As far as the sweater, I have had the base sweater pattern for more than thirty years. While there is a "5138" in the upper left hand corner, I really do not remember where I purchased this pattern. I had made one each for my first two standard poodles, and we sewed up one leg hole while I made Cherry's. Obviously I modified the patter for Cherry. Actually, from the double stripe near the waist to the collar, I knitted then ripped out and re-knitted that section at least three times before the present sweater. I might make another and this time actually put short sleeves into the single leg hole. The sweaters really helped Cherry because they helped hold in her body heat. I also used a themal gel after heating in the microwave, to warm her up at bed time.

Now if only I could get this eating problem solved.....

Bob and his little girl Cherry

Cherry's dad here.

First, about Cherry's appetite, I have tried nearly everything imaginable - roast beef, chicken breasts, braunschwager, jerky, hard cooked eggs... The only thing that appears to work consistently is a half&half of soy milk and ensure. However, as we approach the fourth and last chemo treatment in three days, her willingness to eat has improved.

Also, I have been chastised by others that I have not updated my "blog" here on this forum to tell of Cherry's movement forward and the additional complications we have had. I would refer anyone wondering how Cherry is doing and what one can see during this journey to the original posting and my "diary" of events at  http://home.com.....ryjourney/

I will attempting to keep this up-to-date but only on a weekly basis now. We still have so very long to go in this journey, but I do see the sparkle in the eye more often now. This has been both financially and emotionally draining, but the love and companionship that Cherry has given during our eleven years together are debts that I will never really be able to repay to her.

Bob

Cherry was improving quite well going into her last chemotherapy treatment. We took thee x-rays proir to this last treatment and all three came back clean. This last treatment had the least adverse effect on her. There was only the slightest degradationin her activity level and no noticeable decrease in her appetite. We really thought we were home free and looking forward to some quality time. However, fate seems to want to throw her curves. On the Monday following the last chemotherapy treatment, I noticed a very small growth on the inside of Cherry's mouth, at the lower jaw gum line, and just behind a tooth. I really did not think that this had anything to do with the Osteosarcoma and waited until Thursday to see Dr Rensink. Dr Rensink removed the growth on Friday and a second growth that she found in the mouth. I was not prepared to how much this "simple" surgery would set Cherry back. Neither her energy nor her appetite returned until late Monday afternoon. However, Monday was our day because the biopsy came back and the growth was NOT cancerous. By Tuesday, we were back to the same quality state as last week.

I have inserted a photo taken of Cherry just prior to this latest surgery. It shows in with both her Chemotherapy Graduation Bandana and her new RuffWare Harness. We are extremely pleased with both. For anyone who has had to go through Chemotherapy or had a loved one who has, you can appreciate how pleased that this portion of the journey is complete. It was especially hard because of the decision to do the very first treatment just hours after the amputation, but as mentioned before, this should provide the best results (what ever that may be.) Also, we are extremly please with the new harness. We purchased the harness through Jerry's site and chose the red to help set it off from the black (actually more like grey) furr. It has come in extremely handy for helping Cherry into the trailer on a couple of our nearly daily trips. She knows that as soon as I get the harness, that she will get to go on her beloved trips. We are looking forward to our annual trip to Yellowstone and using the new harness there. The one suggestion I would provide would be that it would be helpful if one could provide a way to couple the great harness into the seatbelt system of a car, it would make it even better.

Again, thanks for the support and we appear to be back on track.

Bob, Emily, Cherry and Coal

Cherry's dad here,

I have decided to continue Cherry's original posting. When we were newbies to this journey, the support, suggestions, and success stories were all equally important to helping us through the toughest times. Our journey may help others know what to expect, remain optimistic, and expect a better quality of life.

This marks the end of Cherry's fifth month of recovery or fifth month anniversary of her amputation and start of chemotherapy treatments. This has not been an easy journey. I realize that many have had greater difficulties with their journey and many have had easier recoveries. We started by saying that there really never was any choice for the treatment. The course of amputation and chemotherapy were the only path that held out any hope of returning some measure of quality of life to Cherry. On the whole, I am pleased with our present position for this recovery. Except for my desire for her to have a little better appetite, I am not disappointed with Cherry's quality of life. We cannot dwell in the past and wish that we would not have had to deal with this diagnosis, but that just wastes energy that would be better spent enjoying what we do have. Cherry has already outlived my Cassy and Sandy by more than three years and I have realized for awhile that I am on "borrowed time" with Cherry. I will attempt to continue to enjoy what we can do together now and not miss until much later what we used to do together. Thanks to the great staff at both Del Valle Pet Hospital in Livermore, CA and to the equally great staff at the Veterinary Medical Specialists in Dublin, CA. We would not have been able to celebrate this anniversary without their care.

You can visit Cherry's TriPawd Journey web site for details on how great February was and our setback during March. From there, you can link to a photo gallery that I have assembled including photos from Cherry's Easter Egg Hunt. We look forward to posting again when we reach another great milestone on our recovery journey.

Bob, Emily, Cherry and Coal