msjosi
Completely Boxer Crazy
Well we just got home and settled from the hospital with Josi
We met with the internal medicine doctor who has handled her care since the splendectomy and he did do an abdominal ultrasound today. Through tears he told us that Josi's liver is now systemic and covered with hemingio's, mast cell's, and other unidentifiables and appears to be at the end of her road:( He also feels that the swelling and oozing on top of her head is the mast cell's acting up now that her body is so weak. Her paws are definitely edema with puss just oozing out b/c the fluid has no where else to go. To be honest she is pretty swollen everywhere now. On the brighter side if there is one, he told us that she had been up and about walking on her own and felt the best thing for her was to go home and be where she wants to be for whatever time she has left. He said she could have hours, she could have days...no true way to know. He did say that her count has continued to rise from the transfusion which is good, but her belly is pretty bruised up and he thinks she is still actively bleeding. He told us that Josi may never give up the fight given her track record but if she doesn't and we think it is time...that will be the right decision.
To our amazement when they brought her out, she was so happy trotting to give kisses and the tech said feed this baby~she just tried to steal one of the other dogs food on the way out. So good thing mommy brought chicken with for the ride home and we cooked her up a steak the minute we got her inside. I called our local vet and he is unfortunately on his way home from florida right now and won't be back for another 8 hours. He did give me the contact info of who to contact for pre-arrangements and said to call him anytime. I went onto their website and it looks lovely, they even do private cremetation ceremonies~have any of you done that? Sorry to be morbid and Brian turned his nose up, but I thought it was a nice option. We do know that we will sprinkle some of her ashes in a few of her favorite places over time (tennis courts back at our college apt., dikes on lake hartwell sc.) and I am going to ask if her tplo apparatus's will be returned (please don't think we are crazy- just trying to hold onto every little piece of her).
With all this being said she is resting so comfortably and peacefully and Brian and I are glad with everything we did and most importantly have no regrets. Although I knew this day was coming, to say we are devasted is a drastic understatement. It scares me even to imagine life without Josi, but she can no longer fight her fierce battle. She will forever be my Warrior Princess, my diva, my toot queen, and she is a daughter to me fur or skin. I will continue to try to post periodically, but I will be concentrating my time on spending every last minute with her. Please continue to say prayers for her safe and beautiful journey when she is ready. Josi, Brian, and I are forever grateful to each and everyone for your 90+ pages of posts, in time I hope to read through them again and I hope it will serve not only as a loving tribute to Josi's life and fight, but teach other owners not to ever give up hope no matter what the prognosis may be.
With deep sadness and love,
Josi's mommy ~ Staci
We met with the internal medicine doctor who has handled her care since the splendectomy and he did do an abdominal ultrasound today. Through tears he told us that Josi's liver is now systemic and covered with hemingio's, mast cell's, and other unidentifiables and appears to be at the end of her road:( He also feels that the swelling and oozing on top of her head is the mast cell's acting up now that her body is so weak. Her paws are definitely edema with puss just oozing out b/c the fluid has no where else to go. To be honest she is pretty swollen everywhere now. On the brighter side if there is one, he told us that she had been up and about walking on her own and felt the best thing for her was to go home and be where she wants to be for whatever time she has left. He said she could have hours, she could have days...no true way to know. He did say that her count has continued to rise from the transfusion which is good, but her belly is pretty bruised up and he thinks she is still actively bleeding. He told us that Josi may never give up the fight given her track record but if she doesn't and we think it is time...that will be the right decision. To our amazement when they brought her out, she was so happy trotting to give kisses and the tech said feed this baby~she just tried to steal one of the other dogs food on the way out. So good thing mommy brought chicken with for the ride home and we cooked her up a steak the minute we got her inside. I called our local vet and he is unfortunately on his way home from florida right now and won't be back for another 8 hours. He did give me the contact info of who to contact for pre-arrangements and said to call him anytime. I went onto their website and it looks lovely, they even do private cremetation ceremonies~have any of you done that? Sorry to be morbid and Brian turned his nose up, but I thought it was a nice option. We do know that we will sprinkle some of her ashes in a few of her favorite places over time (tennis courts back at our college apt., dikes on lake hartwell sc.) and I am going to ask if her tplo apparatus's will be returned (please don't think we are crazy- just trying to hold onto every little piece of her).
With all this being said she is resting so comfortably and peacefully and Brian and I are glad with everything we did and most importantly have no regrets. Although I knew this day was coming, to say we are devasted is a drastic understatement. It scares me even to imagine life without Josi, but she can no longer fight her fierce battle. She will forever be my Warrior Princess, my diva, my toot queen, and she is a daughter to me fur or skin. I will continue to try to post periodically, but I will be concentrating my time on spending every last minute with her. Please continue to say prayers for her safe and beautiful journey when she is ready. Josi, Brian, and I are forever grateful to each and everyone for your 90+ pages of posts, in time I hope to read through them again and I hope it will serve not only as a loving tribute to Josi's life and fight, but teach other owners not to ever give up hope no matter what the prognosis may be.
With deep sadness and love,
Josi's mommy ~ Staci
