Fallon seems to be feeling better and better all the time.  Yesterday was a really great day for her.  We went to her rehab session.  This was the second one, following the initial evaluation, and the plan was to have her try the underwater treadmill.

We took Maggie as well.  We asked the prior time if she would be welcome, and Fallon’s rehab team was excited about it.  Our feeling was that Maggie is a good support for Fallon, her being around makes Fallon more comfortable.  Maggie was a handful!  She was all over Dr. Laura, as she had treats.  She pooped a giant poop out on the floor in the office.  Still, she was charming, and we’ll probably bring her again.

We discussed a Thera-Paw brace the last time we were in, and decided to go with it.  Dr Laura called the company to discuss our needs and get a quote.  She will place the order, and we’ll have it in a couple of weeks.  This will help support Fallon’s wrist, which has looked swollen for a few weeks.  Good news is that when it was measured yesterday, it was down—a fraction of a millimeter, but it was smaller.  We talked about the exercises we were given last time.  In part they are going OK—ones where Fallon passively participates go better, like the massages and range of motion.

In the underwater treadmill tank, all suited up in a life vest

Fallon got suited up into a life vest with a handle on it—time to try the underwater treadmill!  At first, it seemed intimidating to her, she was shaking nervously.  Jenn, her Vet Tech was in the water with her comforting her from inside, and Dr. Laura, Fallon’s Dad and I stood outside petting her and giving encouragement.  First she just got used to the water and was encouraged to move around in it—go from the front to back of the tank, and turn around.  Dr Laura ran the treadmill, and fed Fallon treats for encouragement.  For this first day, Fallon hopped for 30 seconds at a time, repeated 4 times.  She got more and more comfortable and confident as time passed.  When she got out of the water, we all rubbed her dry with a towel (she loves that), then Fallon went over to greet and thank Dr Laura, which made us happy.  We decided at that point to go back in maybe a month.  It will get very cold here soon, and the treadmill might be a great diversion and different exercise for Fallon.

(Maggie makes a cameo at the end of this)

The whole day seemed to invigorate Fallon!  We think she enjoyed the underwater treadmill, as well as her visit with her Rehab Team.  I went off to play hockey last night, so Fallon and Maggie were home alone with Dad.  He reported Fallon was super active, going up and down the stairs repeatedly and goofing around with Maggie.  She seems more and more like her old self every day 🙂

Yes, you.  Sorry, this will be long, we have a lot to be thankful for.

First our secret—we’ve reached a happy benchmark.  In all the decision making we had to do on Fallon’s behalf, we knew it was all a crap shoot.  Maybe the cancer would be found to be worse when she was in surgery. Maybe she wouldn’t make it through.  Maybe she wouldn’t do well through the recovery phase.  Maybe she wouldn’t thrive as a Tripawd.  There were so many scary things that could go wrong.  Paul and I discussed that if we all made it in one piece (minus one leg) to Thanksgiving, that would be the outside minimum we could accept to validate our decisions.  We didn’t want to say it out loud, so as not to jinx it.  Well, here we are.  I’ve felt for a while we made the right decision.  Now we’ve passed that first benchmark.  Grateful….yes, and so very thankful.  Go Fallon!!  Time to choose a new goal—maybe Christmas.  Maybe getting to the end of all 6 chemotherapy.  Maybe Dewey Beach in April…?

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

On to giving thanks.  We owe so many so much.

There have been many unexpected, generous acts, from our neighbor down the street, who was also a Tripawd mom offering to lend us a wagon for Fallon to negotiate longer distances, to an online friend who sent us two bags of expensive immunity treats, to a hockey friend who brought Fallon a calming, lavender scented toy (which Maggie believes to be hers), to thoughtful cards we’ve received in the mail, to super long emails with helpful hints and relating past experiences working with dog post-surgery after amputation from a friend who worked as a vet tech, we couldn’t be more grateful for these kindnesses out of the blue.  People we see at hockey, people who are neighbors, people who we work with follow our blog, ask for updates, and give us hugs.  We’re floored by the numbers of folks who have been following Fallon’s journey on this blog.  Floored, but grateful.

I can’t say enough good about Tripawds.  We were lost when this started.  We had no direction, only conflicting information, and didn’t feel qualified to command this mission.  Somehow, we ran across Tripawds, and it’s the best thing that could have happened to us.  So much information, so much support, so much reinforcement, so much caring…You might not think about communities like this until you need them, but this community deserves your attention.  They help fund necessary Tripawd expenses through their foundation—things like special equipment, reimbursement toward surgery, rehab consult reimbursement, adoption fees for Tripawds in shelters who need homes–tons.  They provide educational brochures to doctor’s offices.  There is a toll free help line where you can actually talk to someone for support.  They support this blog (and countless others) giving people like us a place to share and vent and put pictures.  There are topical forums where members can get information, share information, and chat  They have published books to help clueless people like us find out what we need to know (and things we needed to know that we didn’t know we needed to know) easily.  They are part of our support system, and fountains of knowledge (and wisdom and love).  Think about looking them up and supporting them.  Thank you so much for all you do, Tripawds.

Fallon flies the Tripawds flag

Oh, Family.  We appreciate your pings, your jokes, your virtual hugs, your comments on Fallon’s blog and Facebook…I am very sad we won’t have Thanksgiving together.  But I can’t wait to see you and have real sister hugs next weekend!!! I will cry.  I miss you.

Many apologies and super thanks to my Hockey peeps.  Thank you for putting up with all my absences and crappy, distracted playing. Hockey had been at the top of my list of priorities before Fallon’s diagnosis, but now Fallon takes all my time and thoughts.  But we’re finally settling into our new normal, and as a result I have to start taking care of myself better.  Things can only get better…I promise. x

The Greyhound Health Initiative is an organization that we’ve long supported, never truly believing we’d take advantage of their support someday also.  When we needed Dr. Couto, the greyhound cancer expert, to weigh in on our situation, very, very early in this journey, the fee was discounted through our membership. They have a reimbursement program for Fallon’s Carboplatin (chemo med).  In our correspondence working out the details, they have always asked how Fallon was, even provided a tasty little recipe for peanut butter meatballs when we were concerned about her weight loss.  Good people working for a greyt cause.  Look them up too.

Our greyhound group, Forever Home Greyhound Adoption and president Paula has helped us every step of the way and offered such support.  Frequent check-ins through surgery time, recommendations on professionals to work with, equipment we’d need—invaluable.  June, a Tripawd greyhound Mom from the group was one of the first people I reached out to when we got this devastating news and amputation seemed realistic, and she spent tons of time talking about their experience when I was trying to figure things out.  So happy you are in our lives…and thank you for our girls. <3

Thankful Maggie is a good, good girl xoxo

Our doctors are the best—little more to say about that.  We’re so grateful not only for the medical treatment and knowledge, but the practical advice, (mostly) positive feedback, and big hugs.  Grateful for Dr Sue Ettinger and Suzanne (oncologist), Dr Laura Perez and Jenn (rehab), and Dr Matt McDaniel and the whole team at Sand Creek Animal Hospital and how they have helped us in so many ways.  We’re also grateful for our surgeon, Dr. Faulkner Besancon, who we don’t need to see any more (!), but he did an awesome job.

You’re all Team Fallon—We’re all Team Fallon.  We wouldn’t be at this point without you.  The things you do don’t go unnoticed.  We’re in your debt–very grateful you’re here supporting us.

One more thing…FU cancer.

Quoting Dr. Sue—“Fallon looks FABULOUS!”

Fallon is reppin’ Tripawds today with her bandana! Here she is done with her treatment, we’re ready to go!!

We got up very early to get to Connecticut by 11AM, but it was an easy drive.  We arrived and went in with Suzanne, Dr. Sue’s Vet Tech, and filled her in on the past 3 weeks.  The biggest issue was that Fallon spiked quite a fever—but despite her high temperature, she had done great—still active and eating.  Suzanne explained that there were reasons why this may not be a big deal, it is probably a result of the last chemo and white blood cell count.  Fallon’s weight is doing great—we do not want her to gain any more, as it will start to impact her mobility.  Right now, she’s about perfect.  So Fallon went off to get her bloodwork, then chemo, and we did exactly what we did the last time…took Maggie out for lunch.  We all had burgers, and then went back to the Veterinary Cancer Center to wait for Fallon.

No one is petting Maggie–time to grab a quick nap.

Uneventful day!  Fallon hopped out, all happy, and we talked about our plan for the next 3 weeks. We’re adding the Apocaps, which is a supplement that may help cancer cells die.  We’re going to continue with the antibiotics and Immunity Treats.  We’ll head back in about 3 more weeks for chemo #3, and we’ll discuss diet changes then.  The next chemo is right before we’re planning our family vacation to Niagara Falls, but that is fine, Fallon has been doing so well after her treatments that there should be no problem

Kiss kiss until we see each other next!

Turns out the animal communicator was talking to someone else. Not Fallon.  Last night I hopped on a call, spur of the moment, and heard the animal communicator.  When it was our turn, I explained Fallon was new at all this, we’re putting her through lots, was there anything she needed?  I was expecting Fallon would say some treat she was missing, or to tell her Dad not to baby her so much, she can take care of herself.  But the animal communicator said Fallon said she was tired—she did not want to go on, and her tummy hurt—she had no appetite.  She described that Fallon had pain at 5 on a scale of 10, and said we should talk to our docs about increasing her pain medicine.  None of this seemed right to me—the day before she was running in the yard with a big smile, and she eats GREYT. She doesn’t take any pain medicine now.  This was more than a bit upsetting, but it’s important to remember that this is not science.  Long story short—she was wrong, or not communicating with Fallon.  Today confirmed that, as Fallon’s awesome doctor sees her as doing FABULOUS.  I have to learn to trust myself, and trust I know Fallon.  Thanks to my friends for talking me down 🙂

We decided to get a rehab consult for Fallon to give her the best chance possible to be a successful and efficient tripawd.  We were hoping to learn some ways to support and guide her to ways that would keep her from injury and help her function without pain and discomfort—in particular, given her age.

We met with Dr. Laura Perez and her rehab technician Jen.  We talked in an exam room for quite a while on what Fallon was good at, and areas where she may need some help.  Overall, Fallon is doing quite well.  She is a very good hopper, is great going upstairs, OK at going downstairs, laying down takes some time.  She is very independent, and is usually reticent to accept our help.  The doctor gave Fallon a head to toe exam of her bones and joints.

Dr. Laura examined her carpus (front wrist) carefully, as it gave Fallon a problem a few weeks ago.  Two weeks after her surgery her whole remaining front leg swelled up and was quite warm to touch.  Dr. Laura felt Fallon’s carpus still looked a little thick, so she measured it so we can see any change in its’ size over the course of time.  She mentioned we may want to consider a brace for her, to protect this delicate joint given the amount of use it would be getting, and the force it would receive using it as her sole landing point when going downstairs or jumping off something.

Dr Laura told Fallon a good joke while she measured her.

We learned some stretches for the carpus, and Fallon’s whole leg.  Range of motion movements simulate the motion Fallon’s leg would make when moving, and would help loosen and lubricate her joints.  We learned some other stretches that would help Fallon stay loose and feeling fine.  We can guide her head with a treat while she is standing so she looks at her backside and then her foot, to work her core and give that a stretch.  She can stand with her front leg on a stair and point her head up—guided by a treat–to help stretch her back.  We spoke about ways to massage her for her benefit—gentle motions to help a tight spine, and more vigorous motions to get ready to walk outside or other exercise.

You use your palms to do the range of motion

The goal is to get Fallon more mobile. This joint optimally should bend farther.

We went through the full range of motion for Fallon’s leg.

Dr. Laura and Jen took measurements for a Thera Paw brace for Fallon, to support this carpus joint given the amount of use it would be getting, and the force it would receive using it as her sole landing point when hopping, going downstairs, or jumping off something.  The company custom makes these.  Fallon would probably need extra padding due to her delicate skin.  Dr. Laura will call the company to discuss Fallon’s needs and get a quote on price.  We’ll make a decision about going ahead with this later. If we decide we can do this, she can order it for us.  In the meantime, we’ll see how the exercises and stretches work out for her.

We made an appointment to go back in about 2 weeks.  This will give us time to work with Fallon on these stretches and exercises, and see their effect.  We also decided she would try the underwater treadmill!  It will help with her range of motion, strength and endurance, and the water will make her buoyant and help avoid additional stress on her joints.  We hope she likes it!

We learn so much from all the experts on Team Fallon.  We are so happy with all the direction we received today to help Fallon be the best she can be.  Just one appointment can give you enough guidance to continue on your own.  We’re opting to attend at least one more.

Smiles to you from Fallon!

More to come..

Things seem a little better every day  Today it is a week since Fallon’s first chemo.  She really weathered it with no ill effects.  We’ve seen none of the things we were supposed to look out for—no  loose stools or nausea, her appetite is great and she’s feeling really good—and acting like her old self more and more every day.

She tries to be independent.  She goes upstairs easily, and down with a little more trouble—but she wants to do it herself.  We had been leading and supporting her with an assistance harness, which she tolerates, but she does not want to be carried.  We’re worried because stopping is harder without a front leg, but she’s working it out.  She falls sometimes when walking, but she gets right back up.  We have a rehab consult coming soon and we’ll ask how we can help her with this.

She just looks better.  Her eyes have their sparkle back, and she cycles from me to her Dad for petting and cuddling—which is her favorite activity.  She is not on any pain meds and she seems very comfortable.  She seems happy.  I really did not notice that she had been not sleeping well before being a tripawd, but her Dad sure did.  She used to lay with her eyes open, panting—and now she is back at her normal 22 hours of restful sleep.  The pain was showing in ways I wasn’t picking up on.  I gotta get better at this.

We were instructed by her oncology team to start antibiotics today, so we did.  And we’re continuing on K9 Immunity Plus treats about 4 times a day.  She LOVES these.  They smell like something she would love (not me). I am sure Maggie would love them too, but they are just a little costy to think about sharing, unfortunately.  We did not have to use any of the preventative meds we took home in case of chemo side effects, thankfully.  So the medication part of Fallon’s life has been good, too.

This week we have an appointment for her bloodwork, to make sure her white cells are in good enough numbers for chemotherapy on the 20^th.

We’re maybe planning a short vacation with the girls!  We go to Niagara Falls, Canada a couple of times a year.  The hotel we stay at is in a neighborhood that will be easy for Fallon to walk in, and it is pretty centrally located, so we can tailor walks to what she is able to do.  We’re thinking about the middle of December so we can see the Christmas lights and decorations.  We still have to see what the next few weeks bring, but it’s fun to have something to look forward to with Fallon and the whole family.

My pretty girl–woke her up 🙁

More to come…