Need Help/Information on Brain Tumors and Strokes

[oz4lines]

Aimee,
like all the others here wanting to express their concerns, I too am at a loss for words that may bring some sort of comfort to you.

While I never got to meet you or Baxter in the flesh, I still feel there is a closeness, a bond , as if he's been a part of me for a long time.

You're visits with Deb have drawn a picture in my mind of just what a wonderful boy he is. The spoken and written words of his days with Goliath, and now Jack and Jaimee will forever be etched in our hearts.
Who could ever forget their ventures with the rum cake.

There are no words any of us can say that can ease your pain at this moment, all we can do is be here for you and let you know that you're not alone.

As i read the moral support offered by this group of friends, my own personal memories of my seniors come back to me once again, with as much laughter of the good times and with as much pain as you're feeling at this time.

There are no words, just a million mixed emotions.
I can't ask you to try to keep your chin up, but do ask that you make the best of the days ahead.

Jill

 

[Rlr.Giraffe]

Poor Baxter, I will be thinking of you all at this time. How hard this must be for you all...

 

[Jan]

Aimee I am so sorry that you got such bad news from the neurologist. It must be just devastating for you.

I am sending more positive healing vibes your way. I will be keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Austin's Mom]

Aimee how is Baxter feeling today?

 

[Aimee]

I know the feeling of wanting to say something profound to people during times like this, however, I also never can seem to think of just the right thing to say. Please know that just your thoughts mean a great deal to us right now. We thank each of you for your thoughts and prayers and for going through this with us. I wish I could put into words how much it helps to be able to log on here and read these threads and just know that there is such support and strength when we need it most.

We spoke to the oncologist office yesterday and we have an appointment for 11:30 a.m. tomorrow morning. The oncologist should be able to answer all of our questions. My husband and I need some answers, we've been having such difficulty in digesting all of this information the past few days. I filled the prednisone prescription yesterday on my way home. I am hopeful that maybe we will see some improvement in the next few days from that alone. Hope is all we have left at this point.

Baxter began leaking urine sometime yesterday and he wet the bed last night. We were up at 4:30 a.m. this morning going out to potty and cleaning him up but I believe that wetting the bed was from the prednisone. Bax was leaking when I got home and he didn't start his first dose of prednisone until 6:30 p.m. last night. I'm worried about why he would leak urine especially before any medications. It seems that all we do is worry now.

Baxter had a good night and for that I am thankful. After his walk and his dinner, Daddy gave him a marrow bone (the girls got one too). He chewed on that thing for 2 hours. The three things Baxter enjoys most in life is his walks, his food and chewing on a bone. So I think it's safe to say, yesterday was a good day.

Again, thank you all for thoughts and support. It means more than I could ever express into words. I'll be certain to let you know how his appointment tomorrow goes.

 

[myrocky]

Oh Aimee I'm so sorry that you all are going through this. *hugs* I can just imagine how hard this is on everyone. How is Baxter doing over all, other than the leaking? I will send lots of good thoughts and vibes your way.

 

[ljnash]

Aimee, I'm so sorry about Baxter. I wish there was something that I could do for you, so all I can think of to do is keep you, your hubby and Baxter in my thoughts and prayers.

Stay strong and give Baxter a big hug from me, Samantha & Beau.

Lenore

 

[buddy'smom]

Aimee

I've been trying to post to this thread for over 24hrs now, and the right words just aren't there. I am truly saddened for all of you right now, I too had hoped for better news after your first posting of his symptoms etc. I always think of Baxter as the loveable, happy go lucky Boxer Boy, who cannot see all the badness in the world, but only feel the love and the goodness that is surrounding him each day. He is one very lucky boxer to have found his way into your home and your hearts. Just look at the milestones in life he has accomplished thus far by living under your loving nuturing wing.
As has already been stated, Baxter etched himself into many of our hearts on this forum, through your stories of him, and sharing with us all of his accomplishments. He became a part of my daily reading and sharing on this forum, very early into my membership, and I recall those times in chat when you and I shared one tid bit of advice to each other, that being "Take him to the vets" I guess we were the neurotics of the forum back then
You can count on strong support from us here in Canada. All of you will be in my thoughts and prayers, with xtra prayers being added for Baxter. He is in the best hands right now (yours) as he faces this new challenge in his life, and I am sure he feels comfort in knowing the two humans he has so come to love and trust, will be making the best choices with his interest in the forefront. God Bless all of you.

Jean

 

[Aimee]

Sadly, the verdict is in. The oncologist we saw today was a wonderful, caring and compassionate doctor. She unfortunantly is unable to provide a cure for Baxter. The meningioma tumor in his brain is his most pressing problem at this point. From her report she says that his neurological status is stable at this point but sadly she expects it to progress. This can include seizure activity, worsening of co-ordination, behavioral changes or dullness. The time course will likely be over the next few weeks to months. The mass in his neck is likely unrelated to his brain tumor. It can be a thyroid carcinoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, or other variant with possible metastatic disease to the regional lymph node. This may also continue to grow and if metastatic disease is evident than this too can progress. She discussed doing radiographs of his chest, an ultrasound of his neck with aspirate and lymph node aspirate. We have opted not to pursue this. Even if we were able to treat the thyroid cancer or lymphoma or whatever other form of cancer he has in his neck area, Baxter would still ultimately die from his brain tumor in the coming weeks/months. We simply cannot put him through extensive testing and chemo/radiation for the same end result within the same time frame. The oncologist agreed with us. Although she offered us every option, she believes that we have made the right decision for Baxter and that makes us feel somewhat better. We have decided to treat Baxter with palliative prednisone and enjoy the time we have left with him. I think knowing that we have done all we can do will help us when the time comes to let him go.

I hope that in the coming days, my husband and I can come to terms with all that we have learned in the past few days and can begin enjoying the time we have left with Baxter. It's very hard living in today not knowing how many tomorrow's are left. Letting Baxter go is going to be so terribly difficult but I know that I cannot allow him to suffer. We pray for strength.

 

[cody&duke]

Aimee,

I am so sorry to hear the news about Baxter. Just enjoy every day you have with him. I am very lucky as I took the day off from work that Cody got very sick. I am so thankful for the last hours we spent together.

Giver Baxter a hug from us and know that you will be in our prayers.

Sarah, Cody and Duke