Day 1
8:00 a.m.
We dropped Willow off at the veterinary clinic where I work as a technician. She was scheduled to have a TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) surgery to repair her partially torn ACL. Dr. Ward, a traveling orthopedic specialist was going to be her surgeon. It is odd for a dog this young to have a torn ACL, but it can happen, especially since she’s a larger breed. Of course I had the normal pre-surgery worries. Will she have a bad reaction to the anesthesia? Will she get an infection as the wound heals? Will she do okay during recovery? Are we still going to be able to go hiking? All of my friends and coworkers at the clinic reassured me she would be fine because she is so young-only a year old.
11:48 a.m.
My phone started to ring in the middle of my last class. I thought it was probably the surgeon letting me know the surgery went well and she is starting to wake up. I exit class and answer the phone. Dr. Ward answered with “I have some bad news.” My heart immediately stopped. He proceeded to tell me that the pre-surgery x-rays showed a tumor-not a torn ACL. He started to explain the type of tumor and what it all means, but I couldn’t listen. I was immediately heartbroken. She’s a year old. She shouldn’t have a tumor. Once I realized I hadn’t heard a word he had said, I asked him to repeat it. He informed me that she most likely has osteosarcoma-a bone tumor. Osteosarcoma is a very aggressive type of cancer and is very painful and essentially terminal. The only option was to amputate her leg and start chemotherapy soon after. Even after these procedures, she still is only estimated to live for about a year. I agreed to do a biopsy to make sure it in fact is osteosarcoma before we do the surgery. Step 1.
1:30 p.m.
I drove so fast to the clinic to pick Willow up. She was still groggy, but they let me take her home early anyways. It was obvious that I had been crying. All of the receptionists, technicians, and doctors were very solemn. They said that they were very sorry and no one saw this coming. Willow seemed so sad. Normally you can see the light in her eyes. She’s always so full of happiness. The girl never met a stranger. Everyone is her best friend. We drove home immediately and took a nap together on my bed. I was supposed to go back to the clinic at 3:00 to work for a few hours but I asked if it was okay if I called in. I knew that I would be worthless if I went to work.
8:00 p.m.
She seemed so miserable. Normally she is such a shadow at home-she follows every step you make. She was constantly laying there whining. I don’t know if she was still sleepy from the anesthesia or if she was sore from the biopsy-or both. I couldn’t help but burst into tears every time I looked at her. I can’t imagine only having one year left with my beautiful girl. She doesn’t deserve this fate. She hasn’t lived a full life yet. I decided to do some research on osteosarcoma. I read so many articles about pet cancer and so many stories of dogs who were diagnosed and then soon passed away. It really didn’t make me feel any better. All of those stories were about dogs who were at least five years or older. They at least got to live a little. I was so upset, angry, confused, and still in disbelief. It isn’t fair.
Now we wait. The biopsy results should come in no longer than a week. Theres a tiny, tiny chance that this could be a fungal infection or a mass that isn’t osteosarcoma-but it isn’t likely and they don’t want me to get my hopes up. But it’s the only hope that I have left to cling onto.
Willow’s first grooming visit
4 comments so far
4:29 am - 9-3-2015
Okay, some deep breaths…B R E A T H E…you have really had a lot of stress laid on you. I k ow your world seems shatterew right now. But under the circumstances, there is no better place to be than right here with is! We get it! We understand like no others can.
I can tell you straight up, statistics and prognosis don’t mean much around here!!
Willow does NOT have a time frame stamped on her butt! We have seen young dogs, old dogs and dogs in between blow statistics out of the water!!
Pug Maggie was given a “prognosis” of three ro six months. Four years later she crossed over from something entirely different. Yes, unfortunately we do see young dogs get this piece of crap disease. Super Dog Charley was very young and he survived osteo and a second one for several years!
Many who do the bone biopsy say that actually is more lainful than the amputation. I only mention that to let you know that’s why Willow is so .iserable right now. Hope the vet gave you some pain meds for her.
Willw doesn’t give a crap about any ole’ diagnosis and could care less about a report. Calendars mean nothing to her. She’s not worrying about tomorrow. Willow is living in the NOW!! We call that BEING MORE DOG around here.
I know you feel like you are stuck in a nightmare. But once you’ve done your research and come up with a plan of attack, you will start to feel more empowered and confident.
Willow will pick up on your energy…your stength, your positive attitude. All this will help her move forward and give her the absolute best chance for a long and QUALITY filled life! A life full of more loving and spoiling and tummy rubs a dog could ever imagine existed!
If you’d like, .aybe move this post to the forums too so others can offer support and insight AND examples of puos who have beaten the odds on a massive scale!!
Now put Dr.com Google away for now and go give Willow a big ole smooch! Remember, all is well in Willow’s world! And that’s all that matters!
Sending hugs and love!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
8:22 pm - 9-3-2015
Thank you so much for this. It’s going to take me quite a while to come to terms with this. But I know being positive will be the best for her in the long run. I skipped class today to take her to the park and sit by the pond and watch the geese/ducks. We were going to go on a paddle boat ride, but they were closed. I hope that I can take her soon. I wish I could drop all of my commitments like work and school and just spend 100% of my time with her. She deserves it, that’s for sure.
I know I shouldn’t think about the prognosis, but it’s all that’s weighing on my mind right now. I just can’t imagine losing her so soon. I hope she is my miracle pup and proves them wrong.
2:29 am - 9-8-2015
Willow and family, welcome. I’m sorry you are in this place, it’s a difficult spot to be in but the journey can be full of hope if you open your heart to it. It’s not easy but you CAN do it. All Willow wants is for you to live life as she does, savoring every minute and living each day to the fullest.
Yes, it’s awful that this could be osteo, she is such a young pup. But how about some hope for ya: Check out Bart’s story, he was just 3 when diagnosed and he went on to have a GREAT long life. Not all dogs live up to those worst case scenarios. Our own Jerry lived two years with no chemo, against all odds, and we’ve seen it happen again and again.
I don’t want to give you an impression that this is the norm, but I also want to make sure you know this isn’t a hopeless journey. Remember, statistics are just numbers and they don’t take Willow’s own unique story into account. She may turn into another Bart, you never know. Here’s his blog, I hope it helps:
http://bart.tripawds.com/
4:17 pm - 9-9-2015
Thank you for your kind words. It’s somewhat encouraging to see another young dog with osteo do well. That’s the part that is killing us-she’s only a year old. We are trying very hard not to be so depressed, especially around her. I skipped class the other day just to take her to the local park and sit by the lake and watch the geese and ducks. I’ve been trying to take her to a small local pet store as much as I can so she can socialize. We used to go to the dog park every evening. She’s been locked in the house for weeks now and it seems to be getting to her. I will do anything to lift her spirits.