Month: May 2013

I got Athena’s cancer diagnosis one month before the end of Spring semester (I am a full time college student.) Her amputation happened in the middle of our last week of classes, with finals shortly after. Talk about a balancing act! I aced all of my classes, and it was a big relief to be done with such a full course load… so, now I am able to spend more time with Athena and attempt to relax a little. Okay, so I’m still taking a class over the summer which is condensed for time and we have a test every week (Starting with today!) But, it’s still easier to focus on just ONE class.

Okay, enough with my rambling, you’re thinking, what’s the point?

Well, to destress I do “crafty” things. Knitting, crocheting, writing, painting, and drawing. I impulsively bought some packs of Artist Trading Cards that were on sale, thinking it would be good to practice little sketches and drawings.

Of course, my first subject was my “Tripawd Goddess,” Athena. 🙂

It’s only 2.5″ x 3.5″, and so much fun to finish in just a few hours because it’s small and not as detailed as I would make a large drawing. Well, if you’ve read this far, keep reading…. I’ve thought about it, and I decided that I would like to offer these cards to members of the Tripawds community. If any registered members want to take me up on this, please private message me leave a comment below. (I will need at least one good photo of your special pet.) I am going to limit it to the first 5 responders for now, and I can’t guarantee a delivery date, since this is just something I am doing free of charge and for fun.

May 13th was our first trip to see the Oncologist and we were able to start her chemotherapy treatment that same day! We will be doing a regimen of Carboplatin (intravenous) every 3 weeks for a total of 4-6 treatments. Also, 1 week after each treatment, we have to go to our vet to get a CBC (complete blood count) and check the WBC (white blood cell) count. Her bloodwork the next week came back great, and her WBC is on the high end of normal. Friday is her next chemo.

May 23 was another big milestone- It was her 1 month Ampuversary!!! I can’t believe it has been 1 month already. It makes me sad that time seems to be going by so fast, and we don’t know how much time we will have together. But, since the diagnosis, our time spent together has been more precious. I appreciate our little moments together so much more, and I take more time to go out of my way to go see where she is napping during the day and give her a scratch and kiss on the head. It has made me reflect on our mortality a little more, and really none of us know how much time we have on this Earth. Make the most of it.

Athena and I would like to thank Dakota Dawg (aka Shari) for the doggie life vest we got from the Angel Swap message board! We are also thinking of Spirit Sadie and Spirit Dakota, who must surely be looking down from doggie heaven.

Today is May 09, 2013- It’s 16 days post amputation surgery and just a few days ago, Athena started feeling like her old self again. I am so happy that we have finally made it through those rough beginning days and that the pain seems to be gone completely. She isn’t taking pain meds any more. I am happy to report that she is feeling good and getting around great! We had built a ramp for the two steps at the back door that go to the fenced in part of the yard for the dogs. She refused to use it! So we took it out and just carried her down and back when she had to go potty. Well, just 5 days post amp, Athena decides that she’s not waiting, she’s going up the steps herself. And the next day, she was going up and down the steps all by herself. Her diet is going great as well. Pre surgery she was 104 lbs… at the last check up on Tuesday, she was 93 lbs! Yes, I know part of that is the leg, but she looks visibly more trim and leaner. Monday is her first appointment with the Veterinary Oncologist, so I am very much looking forward to learning about the chemo options and getting the treatments started! Well, the last thing I forgot to mention is that we also got the official biopsy results back which confirms osteosarcoma. I left the vet office completely forgetting to ask for a copy of the biopsy results so that I could read the details, but I will be seeing the vet again in a week. Overall, it’s been great seeing her happy and hopping around and just feeling better. It makes the rough first few days and almost sleepless nights worth it.

Video of Athena going up the stairs!

Thanks for the pawesome bandana!