Please pray for Josi
- Thread starter msjosi
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msjosi
Completely Boxer Crazy
Well the rollercoaster continues, in true Josi fashion she boxer wiggled her way into the hospital and around all her favorite techs and doctors with blazing red gums!!! They called me when we were already on the road to say that her usual oncologist was out sick, but the other one would be happy to see her. After a brief exam she sat down with me on the floor, Josi was too excited to even think about sitting and said while she believes me that something was going on with her on Saturday, she is absolutely wonderful today. She said all her blood work and panels looked great. She said the only thing that concerned her was her blood pressure was only 70 on Saturday's report, but that would be expected with an internal bleed and it was perfect this morning. They have her scheduled for an ultrasound tomorrow morning as long as her regular oncologist is feeling better and makes it in to work. The doctor suspects that she had a small bleed off her liver and her body was able to recover from it because she said if it was her heart (the pericardium sac bleeding) that her condition would have most likely continued to deteroriate. Although there is nothing further they can do, the ultrasound will either confirm their guess or something else and hopefully give us a better plan of how to deal with this in the future. Josi is a true testimate of a boxer's will to survive and live every minute of their short lives to the fullest. As hard as this is on Brian and I, we wouldn't trade any of it in for all the wonderful years we have had in the past and any extra days she can spend with us in the future. I hope today is filled with more "hot lips" and Josi says to keep the <<vibes>> coming because your prayers are working...
liamsmom
Super Boxer
UGH! reading your posts brings tears to my eyes each and every time because i can really feel your emotions and identify with all the deicisions you are making. I know all too well what you are going thru. when Dakota had hemangiosarcoma...we, too, would go thru the same thing you are going thru. he fought just as Miss Josi is doing. he would also have bleeds that he was able to recover from. and each one was totally scary because we never knew when it was going to be "the one" that he just wouldn't be able to recover from.
it really helped to have friends that were supportive. if it weren't for my best friend (who also lost 2 dogs to hemangiosarcoma) i really believe that i would have had to go on medication for being so depressed. i would cry constantly because my heart was literally breaking. the littlest things would send me over the edge and into tears. thank God people understood how much we love our dogs and they were all very supportive.
you are truly doing all the best things for your Miss Josi.
it's so hard for us when we can't fix the problem when we are so used to being able to "make it all better". Josi is so tremendously lucky to have you both! i wish i could give her a great big hug...and you, too.
we'll keep fingers and paws crossed here, as usual. and keep praying...and keep sending good vibes your way.
it really helped to have friends that were supportive. if it weren't for my best friend (who also lost 2 dogs to hemangiosarcoma) i really believe that i would have had to go on medication for being so depressed. i would cry constantly because my heart was literally breaking. the littlest things would send me over the edge and into tears. thank God people understood how much we love our dogs and they were all very supportive.
you are truly doing all the best things for your Miss Josi.
it's so hard for us when we can't fix the problem when we are so used to being able to "make it all better". Josi is so tremendously lucky to have you both! i wish i could give her a great big hug...and you, too.
we'll keep fingers and paws crossed here, as usual. and keep praying...and keep sending good vibes your way.
Austin's Mom
Boxer Insane
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<vibes>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> (((((((((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))))
Come on Josie girl keep fighting!!!!
Come on Josie girl keep fighting!!!!
msjosi
Completely Boxer Crazy
You are exactly right when you say your heart literally breaks for them. I don't want to drudge up old not so good memories for you, but there are so few posts on here about hemangiosarcoma that I hope you don't mind if I ask you a few questions?? This was Josi's first noticable bleed since her spleen ruptured and was removed, falling just within the 2-3 month expectations the doctors gave us. How often did Dakota have these bleeds, did they increase in frequency as the time went on and what did you do? Did you continue to rush Dakota to the vets each time or did you just love and comfort him at home? If you had ultrasounds done, were they able to give the doctors a better timeframe for you? How did you know when it was the "one" or did Dakota make that decision on his own? My concern is when we took her to the vets on Saturday they said we should either bring her to the hospital or really think about putting her to sleep. We obviously opted to bring her home, but I can't imagine if we had decided to put her to sleep now knowing that she had a good weekend and temporarily recovered.
Chancejesi
Super Boxer
I'm sooo glad to hear the positive news from you about Miss Josie. Chance and I continue to keep our fingers and paws crossed that she keeps fighting and will give you many more happy memories to have in your hearts forever. Keep fighting Miss Josie we all love you and support you and we admire your strength and your will to fight. But of course with such wonderful parents like yourself Stacey and Brian giving her the love and strength she needs, it's no wonder she is fighting so hard 
We love you all and we are always here for you, even though we maybe miles apart you are all considered a part of my family. Take care of yourselves and please give yourselves a hug and Miss Josie a kiss from Chance and myself 
We love you all and we are always here for you, even though we maybe miles apart you are all considered a part of my family. Take care of yourselves and please give yourselves a hug and Miss Josie a kiss from Chance and myself 
liamsmom
Super Boxer
i don't mind answering questions at all. i needed someone when i was going thru it....and people were there for me. the least i can do is be there for someone else.
each time Dakota had a bleed we would always bring him into the vet's office. he never had to receive blood. he would usually stop bleeding on his own so there was no need for it. like Josi, he would rally in about 24 hours or so on his own.
we sort of knew what to expect because our vet told us what to expect when a bleed occurred. (lethargy, weakness, pale gums, etc)
when he was first dignosed, we discussed all the options (short & long term) with our vet and sort of decided what we were going to do at each stage way before the time came each time. we had decided we didn't want to start giving Dakota blood transfusions or start with heroic measures when he might need them because we felt that, at that point, we would have been prolonging the inevitable since it wasn't a "cure" and was only a temporary fix.
he did have several bleeds. i wouldn't say they increased in frequency though...they were really unpredictable. he'd be fine one minute and then exhausted the next. and then off to the vet for assessment.
his prognosis was about 6 months at time of diganosis but we helped him to the bridge at around the 3 1/2 month mark. his last bleed was pretty bad. at that point, the vet suspected that the cancer had spread to the heart since Dakota had some edema in his hind legs ("jelly-like" swelling). the vet believed that his heart wasn't functioning properly. also, his last bleed, there was blood visibly under the surface of the skin (like a bruise) from his groin area...all the way down his back legs. sort of like bruising you see on elderly people with thin skin (sorry...don't know how else to explain it)
we never had any further ultrasounds done because we felt that whatever was found...wouldn't change the course of treatment. we lived each day as it came and to the fullest...to the best of our ability. it was difficult not knowing exactly how much time we had together but somehow we dealt with it.
only you will know when it is time for Miss Josi. talk to your vet and the oncologist. ask all the "hard to ask" questions even though you might not want to hear the answer. we did it...and it made it much easier to deal with Dakota not being well because we sort of knew what direction we would take next depending on Dakota's status.
the last day with Dakota.......my husband left on a business trip just the night before. it was a trip he couldn't reschedule since it had been planned for over a year. That night I was up with Dakota ALL night with hubby on the phone. none of us slept and poor Dakota just kept looking at me like "I'm done, Ma.". I knew it was going to be mostly up to me to make the assessment and decision. before he went...Hubby made me promise that i wouldn't prolong Dakota's suffering while he was away on business. well....it was as if Dakota waited for hubby to be away. he went downhill that night and when i brought him to the vet early that morning....I asked "are we close?". and , the vet said, "pretty close". I said..."do you think he can make it another 5 days for hubby to come home?" the vet said "we can try". well..the way the vet said "we can try"....it was as if he said "we could try" but that we would only be "trying" more for me and hubby...not for Dakota's sake. i can't explain it. he was as kind as he always is and i know he would do anything i asked to help Dakota stay with us but i just knew. especially since Dakota was looking at me like "I can't go on"
that morning the vet gave Dakota some heavy duty meds to make him comfortable. and, I brought him home with me so i could call hubby to discuss options. by 1:30 that afternoon...I called the vet and asked if he could come to the house to help Dakota to the bridge. he had office hours until 8pm that night and so we made arrangements for him to come right over when he was finished seeing his patients. it gave me time to be with Dakota and that's exactly what i did. i laid on the floor with him, napped with him, talked to him, loved him and held him.
we helped Dakota to the bridge that night while he laid on his favorite bed...in front of his favorite window....at home. it was very peaceful and i am glad that it happened the way it did and at home.
we will never know if Dakota would have or could have recovered from that bleed but we knew in our hearts that is was time to say goodbye. poor hubby was miles away when it happened but...we both felt it was time.
thankfully, we had discussed what we wanted to do and what arrangements we wanted when "the time" came so our decision making process was minimal during such an emotional time.
hope some of this info helps.
each time Dakota had a bleed we would always bring him into the vet's office. he never had to receive blood. he would usually stop bleeding on his own so there was no need for it. like Josi, he would rally in about 24 hours or so on his own.
we sort of knew what to expect because our vet told us what to expect when a bleed occurred. (lethargy, weakness, pale gums, etc)
when he was first dignosed, we discussed all the options (short & long term) with our vet and sort of decided what we were going to do at each stage way before the time came each time. we had decided we didn't want to start giving Dakota blood transfusions or start with heroic measures when he might need them because we felt that, at that point, we would have been prolonging the inevitable since it wasn't a "cure" and was only a temporary fix.
he did have several bleeds. i wouldn't say they increased in frequency though...they were really unpredictable. he'd be fine one minute and then exhausted the next. and then off to the vet for assessment.
his prognosis was about 6 months at time of diganosis but we helped him to the bridge at around the 3 1/2 month mark. his last bleed was pretty bad. at that point, the vet suspected that the cancer had spread to the heart since Dakota had some edema in his hind legs ("jelly-like" swelling). the vet believed that his heart wasn't functioning properly. also, his last bleed, there was blood visibly under the surface of the skin (like a bruise) from his groin area...all the way down his back legs. sort of like bruising you see on elderly people with thin skin (sorry...don't know how else to explain it)
we never had any further ultrasounds done because we felt that whatever was found...wouldn't change the course of treatment. we lived each day as it came and to the fullest...to the best of our ability. it was difficult not knowing exactly how much time we had together but somehow we dealt with it.
only you will know when it is time for Miss Josi. talk to your vet and the oncologist. ask all the "hard to ask" questions even though you might not want to hear the answer. we did it...and it made it much easier to deal with Dakota not being well because we sort of knew what direction we would take next depending on Dakota's status.
the last day with Dakota.......my husband left on a business trip just the night before. it was a trip he couldn't reschedule since it had been planned for over a year. That night I was up with Dakota ALL night with hubby on the phone. none of us slept and poor Dakota just kept looking at me like "I'm done, Ma.". I knew it was going to be mostly up to me to make the assessment and decision. before he went...Hubby made me promise that i wouldn't prolong Dakota's suffering while he was away on business. well....it was as if Dakota waited for hubby to be away. he went downhill that night and when i brought him to the vet early that morning....I asked "are we close?". and , the vet said, "pretty close". I said..."do you think he can make it another 5 days for hubby to come home?" the vet said "we can try". well..the way the vet said "we can try"....it was as if he said "we could try" but that we would only be "trying" more for me and hubby...not for Dakota's sake. i can't explain it. he was as kind as he always is and i know he would do anything i asked to help Dakota stay with us but i just knew. especially since Dakota was looking at me like "I can't go on"
that morning the vet gave Dakota some heavy duty meds to make him comfortable. and, I brought him home with me so i could call hubby to discuss options. by 1:30 that afternoon...I called the vet and asked if he could come to the house to help Dakota to the bridge. he had office hours until 8pm that night and so we made arrangements for him to come right over when he was finished seeing his patients. it gave me time to be with Dakota and that's exactly what i did. i laid on the floor with him, napped with him, talked to him, loved him and held him.
we helped Dakota to the bridge that night while he laid on his favorite bed...in front of his favorite window....at home. it was very peaceful and i am glad that it happened the way it did and at home.
we will never know if Dakota would have or could have recovered from that bleed but we knew in our hearts that is was time to say goodbye. poor hubby was miles away when it happened but...we both felt it was time.
thankfully, we had discussed what we wanted to do and what arrangements we wanted when "the time" came so our decision making process was minimal during such an emotional time.
hope some of this info helps.
WeasleRocky
Completely Boxer Crazy
((((Caroline)))) thanks so much in trying to help Stacey, Brian and miss Josi in their time of need... It always helps to have someone that has gone thru it... your post brought tears to my eyes as I read and it sounds like it was a very difficult decision, I'm so sorry you had to have hubby away on a trip.... I just wanted to say thanks for taking the time to try and explain your experience with Josi's mommy and daddy... I know it must be difficult but you are so kind to try and shed some light during this difficult time... I'm sure they appreciate it whole-heartedly!!!
Miss Josi, sending you loving vibes sweetheart... and lots of kisses from Rocky... stay strong honey, we love you... your mommy and daddy and all of us here at BW will be here when you just can't fight anymore sweetie, and don't worry you wont disappoint a single one of us... you let your body take a rest if it needs it hon... Like your mommy said, you will not be lost there will be many friends waiting to lead your way and to help you along the path to eternal life... enjoy every second baby girl... ((((((JOSI))))))
Miss Josi, sending you loving vibes sweetheart... and lots of kisses from Rocky... stay strong honey, we love you... your mommy and daddy and all of us here at BW will be here when you just can't fight anymore sweetie, and don't worry you wont disappoint a single one of us... you let your body take a rest if it needs it hon... Like your mommy said, you will not be lost there will be many friends waiting to lead your way and to help you along the path to eternal life... enjoy every second baby girl... ((((((JOSI))))))
Slobberchops
Boxer Insane
Miss Josi,your strength and the size of your heart amazes me,more gentle hugs and wiggles coming your way from Waldo and slobbery kisses
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