This Oughta Make Her Feel Better

Stella's stitches are coming out today! 7,000 from her belly and another 1,500 from her neck.

Okay, perhaps I exaggerate a bit, but from Stella's point of view, it's probably pretty close. She's ready to be out laying in the rocks, lolling under the bush, and (omigawd) stretching out in the bark dust. It's been a chore to keep her from plopping down in any of these favorite places and moving back into the house after she goes out to peep and poop.

Speaking of poop . . . isn't it amazing how we gauge the health of our persons by the quality of our poop? Just think about it . . . .

Comments

[Anne]

Hopefully you remember meeting me during Stella's OSU visit before her surgery. My 15 year old girl Shadow (Lab mix) came down from Beaverton that same day for her appointment and she was found to have 3 tumors. After my experience last summer with our dog Riley's lymphoma, we will not treat or even aspirate Shadow's tumors. Her time left will be fun, love, limited exercise, as normal as we can make it, and holding out for every last breath. She is in great spirits, eats well, loves her bud Duke, and is as driven to fetching the ball as ever. After 10 rescued dogs, I believe that dogs are as devoted to fighting for life and continuing to live as any human I have met. But they seem to have the benefit of a true instinct of living every day to the fullest and then just knowing one day that this is the last. We just need to read their signs and give them the best care, love and assistance.
Great web site by the way, and good way to honor your Stella. I would love to do the same for Shadow.

[Kim]

Hi Anne,

Yes! I remember you and, in fact, I've have thought of you often since we met that day up at OSU. I'm so GLAD to hear that Shadow is enjoying every single day. That's what l want for Stella, too. Her pacemaker has made a huge difference in the quality of her everyday life. She can climb the stairs and hang out with me in my office and trot around the neighborhood with much more ease - of course, we're working back up to those longer strolls. But we still face the prospect of that cancer problem cropping back up . . .

I built this site awhile back - long before the health problems. But it's been a good way to keep all of Stella's buds updated. You ought to build one for Shadow. SquareSpace makes it darn easy to do and fun. I'd be happy to help.

Send me a picture or three of Shadow, Anne. I think she's definitely a bud of Stella's!

[Anne]

HI Kim,

It is so nice to hear from you. Your response got lost in my junk mail. Luckily I found it before I deleted everything. So nice to hear that Stella is doing well. Shadow is happy but moving slow and goes in on Monday to gauge tumor growth. We are hoping the prognosis matches her attitude.

I would love to send photos of Shadow, but unsure how to attach them to a post. I would also love to begin a web site for Shadow and my foster Duke, and perhaps include pics and info on my past rescues. I will research Square Space, but any advice for a beginning would be most welcome!

Have a great weekend and let me know if you and Stella are in the area for a play date.
Annelee