Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Feeling Better

Here is an update, so all of Daniel's fans can keep up with how he is doing.  (If you missed the post last week where I detailed how Daniel's lymphoma was diagnosed, you can click HERE to get the whole story.)

Daniel had his first chemo treatment last Monday (July 30).  The next day, I started giving him the prescribed doses of Prednisone.  For the first couple of days, he seemed a bit out of sorts ... hungry and thirsty and having to go out to pee every three hours.  This settled down by Thursday, and on Friday I began to see glimpses of the return my sweet, happy boy.

Ripping the guts out of squeeky toys used to be one of his favorite activities.  He hasn't torn up a toy in months.  On Friday afternoon, I came home and found this ... shed tears of joy at the sight, yes I did.

I know it was Daniel who did this because Ruby is crated when no one is home.

On Saturday morning, when I let Ruby and him outside before their breakfast, he made a point to seek out and cover Ruby's pee place ... another thing that he hasn't done in quite a while.  When I called him to come inside, he ran (yes, RAN) across the yard to the house.

Sunday evening, The Husband and I treated ourselves to pizza while we watched the Olympics.  As we finished eating, Daniel came over to not-so-subtly remind us that he LOVES pizza crust.  (We call it 'pizza bones'.)



Ruby took the cue and assumed her place beside Daniel, patiently waiting her turn, too.



I am thankful that Daniel hasn't had any of the more serious side effects of his medicine that Dr. Sheafor (the oncologist) warned us about.  He is still painfully thin, though.  I took him to the vet yesterday for a blood test (to check that his white cell count wasn't too low from the chemo), and he is pretty much the same weight he was last week ... I was hoping for a slight gain ... oh, well.

Bottom line ... he obviously feels better, he is eating well, sleeping comfortably, and he is not having uncomfortable or adverse reactions to his medication ... for this, I am thankful.  I am most thankful to see Daniel happy and playing.  Perhaps this means that he is responding to the chemo and beating back the cancer ... 

I must remember to take things one day at a time ... don't look to far ahead ... live in the moment and treasure every second.

Daniel and I thank each of you for your kind notes and comments.  You are all so kind!


27 comments:

  1. Gotta love those high calorie pizza bones! So nice to hear he is doing well this week. Day by day....

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  2. That's great news, Connie. Thanks for the update.

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  3. Daniel's anticipation of that pizza bone is such a great picture. May he continue to improve!♥♫

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  4. Daniel is so sweet and I'm glad to see him feeling better. Love the 'pizza' bones. One step at a time is good! Hugs, Linda

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  5. He's got that light in his eyes again!

    Bailey would feel yucky for two/three days after chemo, and she DID loose alot of her hair, although the vet was surprised because they normally don't. Prednisone helped her bounce back.

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  6. I am so glad your boy is doing better. God bless him and you, too. Just one step at a time is exactly right- xo Diana

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  7. So glad the treatments are working! Give all those sweet babies a hug for me, but most especially Daniel!

    xo Kat

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  8. This is a happy post...I have been focusing on good news!!! Still sending prayers for "all" of you!!! donna :)

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  9. Good for Daniel! I can only imagine how it must warm your heart to see him enthusiastic and doing things like he used to. So heartwarming! Maybe more "pizza bones" will put some meat on his bones.

    Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage

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  10. Take your good news whichever way you can get it.

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  11. bless Daniel's sweet heart! tearing up toys is such a GREAT sign as is asking for pizza bones. You're right about living in the now; we're not promised tomorrow.
    Give Daniel a smooch for me, please.

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  12. So glad he's feeling better! Love how he's teaching Ruby about "pizza bones!" He looks much more alert than he did the last time I saw him. Such a sweet boy.

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  13. Hallelujah! So glad to hear it! Go, Daniel!

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  14. Oh Connie - I was just catching up with some blogs, and I want you to know that I will be keeping sweet Daniel AND you in my prayers! I'm so glad that he's responding to treatment and that the outlook is good for him. ♥ I often wonder why it is that so many of our pets get cancer....? It's so very sad. But keep your chin up and give your sweet boy a hug for me! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  15. This post made me...

    :-> :-> :->

    Janet xox
    The Empty Nest

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  16. I'm so grateful he's feeling better and very much enjoyed seeing pictures of both dogs waiting for pizza bones. Perfect start to a difficult day. Today is my Mother's birthday. She passed on 11 yrs ago.

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  17. This is excellent news! I wonder if you ever thought you would be glad to see a toy ripped to pieces, lol. He actually looks better, his face seems a lot brighter. This has made me so happy. Let's hope he goes from strength to strength.

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  18. I'm so glad to hear Daniel is doing well so far, and sorry for his diagnosis. My 13-yr old Golden Retriever, Jake, was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma (found via a mass on his spleen) in early June 2011 and was given 1 to 2 months, I'm happy to report he is still with us 14 months later, and I wish the same and more for Daniel, and you!

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  19. Betsy, I am so glad to hear about your Jake! It was a spleen tumor that took our Emma in October, so I know that gut-punch feeling quite well. Please give Jake a big hug from me.

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  20. I am glad to here Daniel is feeling a bit better. A shredded toy is a good sign.

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  21. I bet you're more than happy to see him ripping those toys!
    Brenda

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  22. Love those signs of "normal" in our fur kids. I love pizza bones too, but if Daniel lived closer, I would give them ALL to him. Yes, and Ruby too:-)

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  23. We have all had our paws clasped in prayer for Daniel...Thank you so much for this update! I was wondering this a.m. how he was doing!
    I would have been shedding tears also at the sight of the chewed up toy!!!!
    Thinking of you, Connie
    xo, misha

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  24. Gosh I'm so sorry I've been so involved with my own little world I missed the initial post.

    But so happy to read this one.

    The sweetheart.

    You are both in my thoughts. As is your fab new do.

    xo Jane

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  25. I've gotten behind on my reading, but I'm so glad Daniel is responding well to the meds. I hope he continues to improve and enjoy more pizza bones!

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