Patches Journey

So…..before I go into details, let me just tell you up front, this will not be a whiny rant.  I’m proud of myself and I’ll tell you why.

We went for our half way check up yesterday.  I’m getting into a routine there…….we get out of the car, Patches explores, pees a bunch and then we go in and try to get out most of the time that we’re in.  LOL.  She had blood work and x-rays.  I used a bunch  of their free tissues.  Typical.  Good news first, she GAINED 0.4 pounds and her other leg is fine.  Sort of bad news…..her lung mets didn’t shrink, in fact got a little bigger, from 0.5 cm to 0.8 cm.  Now, the me of yesterweek probably would have broken down in the car and eaten a snickers bar.  BUT, the new me took it like a champ.  The vet was so kind and she told me about Palladia, a kinase inhibitor that we are now trying.  So……like the human computer that I am I got on the internet when we got home.  Now…there are times when too much knowledge is a bad thing, and even on this journey it has been but today (and yesterday) too much knowledge was a GOOD thing.  My company makes oncology drugs.  I know oncology.  I know that sometimes people fail five drugs and find success with the sixth.  I know that people go into remission….and come out again.  To be God honest, I am happy Patches is now on a oral chemotherapy.  I hated the IV chemo and the after effects. As for the Palladia, my company makes a tyrosine kinase inhibitor too and I felt good having some familiarity with the class of drug. All that being said, I don’t know what to expect and I’m just winging it and hoping for the best.

I had a couple of “oh no” moments yesterday.  One when I heard the results and another when they told me that Palladia is a pill.  I have the worst little pill taker on the planet in my house and I couldn’t fathom how I would get her to take the Palladia.  I asked them to give her her first dose.  They gave me a surprised look and said well…..ok.  When they came out they no longer had the surprised look.  They had the empathy look and proceeded to tell me about pill guns and duck and potato pill pockets that stink but seem to be loved by picky eating canines near and far.  I told them she was picky and they laughed at that because as you see above, doggy gained weight.  So…..anywho, I get her to the house and I’m in a dither.  I have to get her pepcid AND, figure out how to get her to take it AND the Palladia, which is three times a week.

This is where two heads can be better than one.  Her daddy looked at my panic face and said “wrap it in that deli chicken lunch meat”.  “O” face.  Hm, why didn’t I think of that?  Heck, I nearly lost a finger giving her some over lunch.  Put my scientist cap on and went for the experiment.   First I offered her the pepcid pill sans accoutrement.  Nope, no interest, look of disbelief, you know the look “what the h*ll is that and why did you think I’d eat it?”.  Ok, phase one, results expected.  I then wrapped that sucker in the deli chicken, went to let her sniff it and damn if I didn’t nearly lose a finger again…..finger fine, pill swallowed.  Light bulb, mommy happy face.  Phase two, wowsers, results better than expected.  And she was cool afterward.  So we all settled in for the night.

I can’t say I wasn’t a little edgy last night but she seemed fine (after two helpings of…..oh never mind you already know what I’m gonna say) after she had her third dinner, some water and then passed out on her little soft bed.  No midnight wanderings to be had.  In fact, we both slept so soundly that she peed her bed and I didn’t even notice that Rooster’s hiney was practically in my face on my bed.  Now THAT is some good sleep there.

I’m proud of her.  I’m proud of me.  I need to talk to Rooster about where he puts his a&& but overall we had a good day and night.  I will keep you posted on how we do on the new stuff.  Yeah, I’m nervous and about 50 other emotions that every single person on here knows well.  And it’s BECAUSE of every single person on here that I’m hopeful, sane, even dare I say, happy.  You taught me to let Patches teach me how to live no matter what.  She taught me that consistent and unconditional love (and food) can change a little life in a big way and never to give up.  As Walt Disney said….”Keep Moving Forward”.   Tissues on the house.  More to come.

xoxo

Debbie and Patches