Jun 2008
Week 19: the home stretch
2008-06-16 08:32 Filed in: Beau's
lymphoma treatment
Well,
Beau is at South Paws as
I type this, getting his final chemo treatment in
his 19-week CHOP program. It’s been a tough 19
weeks for all of us. I can’t even imagine how it’s
been for Beau.
He has most definitely figured out our Monday morning clinic routine. When he didn’t get his breakfast this morning, he immediately knew what was up and went to hide in our bedroom, behind the bed. Then, when we got to South Paws, he was shaking with fear. My heart breaks...
At South Paws, the nurse congratulated me on making it through the program. I rejected her congratulations and said that all the credit goes to Beau. I only did the easy part. She smiled a look of understanding to me.
And, along those lines, I have to say that everyone at South Paws has been absolutely awesome to work with through such a difficult time. To work there--to witness all that they witness--can only be done by someone who isn’t just there for the paycheck. I don’t know how they do it. I’d be a complete wreck if I had to be there.
But the South Paws gang always greets Beau with a smile, and he always greets them with a wag, despite the fact that he’s scared out of his wits just being there.
Anyway, tonight will be a special night here. Before I go fetch Beau, I’ll stop at the market and pick up a nice fresh beef tenderloin steak for him and Maggie to devour tonight. I’m sure Beau will completely forgive me when he gets his steak.
For those of you still reading this blog, thank you all for your support. I do track Beau’s traffic through his site (thanks to Google Analytics). Seeing the hundreds and hundreds of hits on his site has been a great strength for all of us.
Many of you found this site by searching on related terms also. Some of the searched-for keywords have included: veterinary oncology, lymphoma treatment for dogs, lymphoma diet. I hope you’ve found value in these writings. I’ve always tried my best to include URL links to sites that I’ve found useful myself during this whole nightmare of an ordeal.
Beau’s battle is far from over, though, and neither is this blog. He’ll be going back to South Paws for monthly check-ups with his oncologist. I’ll keep posting updates here as they are relevant, but probably not on a weekly basis any more.
Thank you all.
AROOOOOs,
Ken
He has most definitely figured out our Monday morning clinic routine. When he didn’t get his breakfast this morning, he immediately knew what was up and went to hide in our bedroom, behind the bed. Then, when we got to South Paws, he was shaking with fear. My heart breaks...
At South Paws, the nurse congratulated me on making it through the program. I rejected her congratulations and said that all the credit goes to Beau. I only did the easy part. She smiled a look of understanding to me.
And, along those lines, I have to say that everyone at South Paws has been absolutely awesome to work with through such a difficult time. To work there--to witness all that they witness--can only be done by someone who isn’t just there for the paycheck. I don’t know how they do it. I’d be a complete wreck if I had to be there.
But the South Paws gang always greets Beau with a smile, and he always greets them with a wag, despite the fact that he’s scared out of his wits just being there.
Anyway, tonight will be a special night here. Before I go fetch Beau, I’ll stop at the market and pick up a nice fresh beef tenderloin steak for him and Maggie to devour tonight. I’m sure Beau will completely forgive me when he gets his steak.
For those of you still reading this blog, thank you all for your support. I do track Beau’s traffic through his site (thanks to Google Analytics). Seeing the hundreds and hundreds of hits on his site has been a great strength for all of us.
Many of you found this site by searching on related terms also. Some of the searched-for keywords have included: veterinary oncology, lymphoma treatment for dogs, lymphoma diet. I hope you’ve found value in these writings. I’ve always tried my best to include URL links to sites that I’ve found useful myself during this whole nightmare of an ordeal.
Beau’s battle is far from over, though, and neither is this blog. He’ll be going back to South Paws for monthly check-ups with his oncologist. I’ll keep posting updates here as they are relevant, but probably not on a weekly basis any more.
Thank you all.
AROOOOOs,
Ken
|
Week 18 of 19
2008-06-09 17:42 Filed in: Beau's
lymphoma treatment
Well,
we’re officially in week 18 of 19 now. Feels like
we’re truly “home stretch” material. Beau continues
to respond well and is in great spirits. He’s as
vocal as ever when I pick him up after his treatment,
and palpably relieved/happy when we get home.
First thing he does when we’re home is greet Maggie. The two of them wag-n-sniff for quite some time. Then, he’s come to expect the extra special TLC treatment, and has been milking that for all it’s worth. I don’t mind, though. Just seeing him so happy is worth it.
Next week is his final CHOP week, and I’ll be here in town all week. We’ll have a house guest, though, as a colleague of mine will be in town to formally kick-off our next book project. More on that over on my site, though, in due time. The important thing is that Beau will have much cause for celebration. I think I’ll get them each a small steak for Monday night...
Cheers,
Ken
First thing he does when we’re home is greet Maggie. The two of them wag-n-sniff for quite some time. Then, he’s come to expect the extra special TLC treatment, and has been milking that for all it’s worth. I don’t mind, though. Just seeing him so happy is worth it.
Next week is his final CHOP week, and I’ll be here in town all week. We’ll have a house guest, though, as a colleague of mine will be in town to formally kick-off our next book project. More on that over on my site, though, in due time. The important thing is that Beau will have much cause for celebration. I think I’ll get them each a small steak for Monday night...
Cheers,
Ken
A poignant day here
2008-06-02 14:09 Filed in: Beau's
lymphoma treatment
Well,
we made it today. I successfully administered 23
Chlorambucil tablets to Beau. Now the hard work is
for him and him alone--all I can do is watch and hug.
The easy work was “hiding” the tablets in some scrambled eggs. The eggs and the pills vanished at a speed that would make David Copperfield envious. Only slightly less easy was keeping Maggie away from licking Beau’s dish when he was done. (Don’t worry, she also got some scrambled eggs to enjoy.)
Administering the pills, although mechanically trivial in Beau’s case, really brings this whole CHOP program home, so to speak. I’m not just dropping him off at “day care” or some such. On the positive side, Beau didn’t have to fast this morning either, so that’s a bit of a relief for us all.
Then, to add yet another poignant note, I’m sitting here in my office, trying to catch up on some work (like writing my overdue monthly column for eSecurityPlanet), I saw a headline on CNN that made me sad: “Bo Diddley Dies”. The timing of Beau’s namesake passing couldn’t have been worse for us, although I guess that’s a rather selfish thing to even think--sorry, Bo.
That’s enough poignancy for now. Time to go over to Beau, who is resting comfortably on his sofa, for a big hug. Who do you love?
Aroooos,
Ken
The easy work was “hiding” the tablets in some scrambled eggs. The eggs and the pills vanished at a speed that would make David Copperfield envious. Only slightly less easy was keeping Maggie away from licking Beau’s dish when he was done. (Don’t worry, she also got some scrambled eggs to enjoy.)
Administering the pills, although mechanically trivial in Beau’s case, really brings this whole CHOP program home, so to speak. I’m not just dropping him off at “day care” or some such. On the positive side, Beau didn’t have to fast this morning either, so that’s a bit of a relief for us all.
Then, to add yet another poignant note, I’m sitting here in my office, trying to catch up on some work (like writing my overdue monthly column for eSecurityPlanet), I saw a headline on CNN that made me sad: “Bo Diddley Dies”. The timing of Beau’s namesake passing couldn’t have been worse for us, although I guess that’s a rather selfish thing to even think--sorry, Bo.
That’s enough poignancy for now. Time to go over to Beau, who is resting comfortably on his sofa, for a big hug. Who do you love?
Aroooos,
Ken