Reunited! And Chemo Anxiety. .

Hello All!!

I think I’ve been away for nearly a week! Time just kept flying by here in “Hotlanta”.

Ok, tomorrow will be 2 weeks, staples will come out, and chemo begins!

I wanted to give Bentley a boost and brought Bailey home today. Shes been at my moms since his amputation. Two weeks! That’s the longest they have ever been separated! The excitement they shared was pure love.  I shared the video on the Facebook site. I use an S4 for blogging, and it doesn’t let  me load videos on here. But for an overload of cuteness refer to FB.

Also the pathology came back with what I’m taking as good news? They ruled out osteosarcoma from the amputated leg. The pathologist now believes it to be some sort of soft tissues sarcoma.

It does not seem like they can narrow this down. Being that there are about 6 different soft tissue cancers. They think its one of two.. can’t remember the names. So Bentley’s chemo plan has changed as well, with 5 IV treatments and some chemo pills to take home. Instead of 6 IV treatments and nothing @ home.

Its all overwhelming and confusing and @ this point I’m putting all my faith in the Oncologist.  Which is hard for me, I’m a planner, i manage a billion dollar trash company. Its hard for me not to have control on whats going to happen. I’ve come to the point of throwing my hands up and trusting that whatever will be, will be.

Bentley seemed to have some ghost pains this 2nd week as well. Just, what I’m guessing, sharp shooting brief pains. He’d snap up from a nap screaming and didn’t sleep much threw the night.  But the last 2 nights he slept the whole way through!

I can see his progress every day. Today was the first day he greeted me at the door with a wiggling butt and that playful smoosh face. And that was even before I picked up his sister!

Sorry we’ve been MIA! Going back to work was a hard transition.  Back tomorrow with a 1st chemo update and our 2 week ampuversary!

Love in Atlanta,

Jamie, Bentley, & Bailey

1 Week Ampuversary!

Our first milestone as new members of the tripawd community. One of the hardest weeks of my life. Spent through every emotion I think I contain and somehow made it through the first week.

I’m grateful today. Grateful to have my baby boy laying next to me. Grateful to be able to kiss his nose and snuggle as close as he’ll let me. Grateful to have been able to take the week off from work to watch over his recovery. And so grateful to all of you. Your support, well wishes, advice, and stories helped maintain some shred of sanity.

Tomorrow i will return to work and I’m anxious. Nervous to leave him. Although i think he’s ready for a little space. I catch him starring at me with this ‘quit hovering mom’ look. He’s always been so independent and stubborn.

And I’m a bit excited to get back to some normalcy.  Talk to adults, as they say. Catch up on some pressing projects that I’m sure have not moved from my desk. My boss is a dog lover and so understanding.  Plus I have no kids of my own and she knows my pups are my family.

Short and sweet tonight. Some pics from today.

Love in Atlanta,

Jamie, Bentley, & Bailey

Bentley just before his walk. Looking close to his normal goofy self!

And nap time directly after. Just 10 min. Walks wear him out

Missed Diagnosis, Anxiety, and Aggression

My boy injured his leg, well that’s what the first vet said. Three months later he’s still limping. Let’s get a second opinion.

His first, 2nd opinion, appointment was scheduled on a Friday. Bentley has always been super anxious with vet care. And nearly every time we’ve ever gone he had to be sedated. This new vet had never handled Bentley before and they were intimidated,  unable to get a mussel on him, and I ended up having to reschedule.

Frustration doesn’t begin to explain how I was feeling. I went to check out and reschedule the appointment. I was given an oral sedative and a mussel to take home. They wanted me to mussel him before bringing him back. The appointment was rescheduled for the following Monday.

An off duty surgeon was hanging out around the reception desk as we were leaving. I guess he could sense my disappointment. Walking out into the parking lot he followed me to ask what happened. I explained the ordeal and Bentley’s initial diagnosis of soft tissue injury. I told him that he was my boy and he may be hard to handle but I don’t think that means we should be shoved to the side.

I understand he does gator rolls on the way back for exams, but in my opinion any qualified vet should be able to take care of him. Bentley is only 63lbs, large yes, but not gigantic! I detailed my feelings that since Bentley shows aggression through anxiety “no one really gives a shit about us” and began to bawl.

The surgeon calmed me down and seemed to actually care. I mean why else would he have followed us out? He went back inside and made sure I was to see him on Monday. He also gave me tips for any future visits to calm Bentley.

I truly believe divine intervention happened that day. Even though I said we’d be back to reception, in my head I was saying no way in hell we’ll be back! Until that surgeon chased me down.

It probably would have been another month before i made another appointment. And at that point it could have been to late. Even though three months had passed since Bentley’s initial misdiagnosis, his chest and organ scans still came back clear. All thanks to that chance meeting and a surgeon who truly cared.

Grilled Turkey Patty for Breakfast

Thanks to everyone for their supportive comments on my first post! It was a lengthy one, I’m shocked that anyone actually read it!

Today feels better. We are on day 4 home from surgery. Although he’s drinking very little and eating even less.  He woke, to me, in happier spirits.

Maybe it has to do with firing up the grill @ 9am! I was getting frustrated with his extreme pickiness on food. I’ve tried all natural, 45% protein, style dry food. I’ve tried mixing it with the same style wet food. I’ve tried just the wet food by itself.

This stuffs expensive! And he turns his nose up. I let it sit out for about an hour and then end up throwing it away. This morning was going to be different!

Gas on, ignite, and flames.  Marinated turkey patty, 7 mins each side.  Even added a slice of white cheddar.  Add to half can of green beans and sprinkle with 2 hand fulls of dog food.  Yep that got him moving.

A little more pep in his hop on our morning walk. But what will i do when i have to go back to work? I’ve taken off until Thurs for his recovery. I’m in my office @530am. I will not have the time for all this then. It’ll be meds, walk, and if he doesn’t eat, then back in the crate until i get home @3 i guess.

That will be a full week on the mend. Hopefully he’ll be feeling much better by then. But today, at least, he has a full belly.

His name is Bentley; He is my heart.

Hello All!

A little of our background.  Bailey and Bentley are my 7 1/2 year old pit mixes.

They were about 6 weeks when I found them. Stumbling down a busy main service road. Tripping over each other and having me nearly cause a 4 car pile up while stopping to save them.

I was 26 and stumbling through my own life at the time. I knew a dog was not what i needed, never mind 2! I’d never had such a responsibility as an “adult”. But i scooped them up and continued to Walmart for my weekly shopping. My list changed forever.

Parked in the lot, looking down at the most adorable pups i’d ever seen. I lifted Bentley’s head and he stared directly to my soul. I was his instantly.

Bailey was a trouble maker and honestly cuter than her brother. She chewed and destroyed and could care less about discipline. A total high maintenance princess. Bentley adored her and never left her side. Through puppy school she was always causing trouble. Stealing toys and chasing flies. Their instructor suggested separating them and possibly rehoming one. We quit school that day.

Bentley started learning commands and Bailey followed suit. She couldn’t stand her brother getting all those treats! She started maturing first as most girls do. But Bentley just never grew out of 8 months old. He plays, and romps, and gallops just as he always has.

Last year Bailey had a full reconstructive ACL surgery fusing the joint. The recovery was hard and long and she slowed quite a bit. I call her my old lady girl and just knew she’d be the first to go.

In February Bentley began having some lameness. His regular vet said it was simply a soft tissue injury and sent us home with Rymadyl and Tramadol.  It seemed to get better for a few weeks. Then consistently worse.  I went for a 2nd opinion.  May 19th, my 33rd bday, Bentley’s bone biopsy confirmed Osteoscarcoma.  My world collapsed.

I have no kids of my own except them. They have been with me through 3 moves, 3 jobs, a wedding, and a divorce. Bentley has been a shoulder to cry on, someone to dance with, and by my side longer than most humans. Although I know a dogs life span is relatively short, I just can’t picture life without him.

Good news is, his chest and organ scans came back clear. So i cling to hope that we caught this early. Today is day 3 after amputation. Chemo starts on the 17th. Bentley is ok so far. Moving around and hopping out for potty. But I can tell his spirits are down. It makes me feel guilty. Like I mutilated him selfishly.  Maybe letting him go with dignity on four legs would have been better.

I miss my boy so happy and full of life. And I watch videos of other tri’s for inspiration dreaming of a day he will run and romp again. But will it come?

Attached some pics of my little pack. This is a long one. If you read it fully thanks. But even if no one ever reads this, it helps to write it out. Any advice is welcomed.

Love From Atlanta,

Jamie, Bentley, and Bailey

Bailey and Bentley @7 weeks

Bentley @ 7 months

2 peas in a pod

Momma’s beautiful boy

1st night home