10/9/15 (I’m back finally trying to caught up on blogging Jackson’s Journey)
Today’s Jackson’s first chemo appt. I’m a little nervous and unsure of how he’ll respond to the chemo but I have faith that we are making the right decision. Amanda (the oncologist technician) greets us and takes us into the exam room that we had our consult in and brings in a comforter and places it on the floor for Jackson to lay on. She’s such a gentle spirit with Jackson and I can tell he’s in good hands. She takes us down the hall to first get weighed, Jackson’s gained another 4lbs, yay! Then she explains the process, first she’ll take blood work to make sure all his levels are ok, then she’ll administer the anti-nausea medicine and finally she’ll take him to down the hall to administer the chemo treatment (intravenous Carboplatin). I asked to stay in the room with him while he was having his blood drawn and his anti-nausea medicine administered. After this was done we had to wait about 10-15min. while the medicine took effect, so I decided to do some Reiki to help calm his nerves and create a blanket of healing in his system. He relaxed and we waited, then Amanda came back to get him for his first treatment. I went out to the waiting room and proceeded to wait, boy did that seem forever. Then she called me back in and said everything went fine, she said he was such a cuddle bug because during his treatment she stayed with him and he just fell asleep next to her and she took a nap with him.
Success…treatment was over till the next month and we were headed home. In the proceeding day he was very lethargic and his pee stunk like chemicals (I know not pleasant but the truth), but other than that no real side effect, his appetite remained normal and he was otherwise himself. In the following 7 days and 14 days we had to go for blood work, CBC to make sure his white blood cell count didn’t drop to low (which it didn’t), our tripawd life was back to the new normal.
Hi, my name is Judy and my greyhound Prince had his right front leg amputated 2 weeks ago, he is having his first chemo on Wednesday and I have been very worried as to how he will cope, it was good to read your story, I am feeling a bit less anxious now.
Thanks for sharing that what I wrote helped I often wonder if what I am writing makes sense to anyone but me, but of course it does as others like yourself are dealing with similar situations. I was amazed at how Jackson has tolerated the chemo, so I hope Prince has the same response. Stay strong keep telling Prince he’s a soldier and a strong boy and that you’ll both get through this together, I honestly think giving them positive feedback and words of encouragement help them out if not us to at the same time:)
~Andrea
Hi, just wondering how Jackson is doing. My 11 year old Golden just had his left front leg amputated Friday 12.3.2015. I am looking for hope that he will do well and return back to his happy self. Going through the first week changes: loss of balance, difficulty walking and standing etc.
Hi,
I have to say the first 10days were the worst for us as Jackson had a drain in after surgery, but outside of the mess and the fact he had to be in a playpen and not move to much he did remarkably well out of the gate. I’ve been truly amazed at how adaptable and resilient he is as most dogs are I believe. Have faith it will get better with each passing day. Jackson’s 10yrs old and I went into the whole decision knowing I was prolonging his life and increasing his quality of life. It’s been a hard pill to swallow but such a joy to have him living now and I actually think he’s happier now than before his amputation. So stay strong keep telling him his a solider and a hero and that’s he’s a strong boy and your both going to make it to the other side!
Andrea