November 19, 2002
Lucky had a hard time breathing last night. I went and laid with her and she was unresponsive. Then 5 minutes later she snapped out of it, her breathing returned to normal, and I took her outside to watch the meteor storm. This morning we went for an easy hike in the fallen leaves in the mountains. She was happy and content to set her pace and sniff everything. We rested often. When we did, she kept her face to the wind and just stood there with the leaves blowing all around her..
November 20, 2002
Lucky slept through the night but this morning she was breathing very shallow and it took awhile for her to wake up. But when she did it was with her tail wagging and the day has continued as every other day.
November 21, 2002
She slept through the night and woke up fine. Feed me-feed me is her mantra. She went for a walk by the river in the rain today. Indiana went running ahead splashing through the puddles and Lucky did her usual - when he gets too far she immediately goes into an alert stance and doesn't budge until he's back within her comfort zone. It took her awhile to accept him but now she watches over him, too. When he's out in his puppy mode running amuck, all I have to do is ask Lucky where Indie is and she goes off and gets him.
November 22, 2002
Lucky had a hard time breathing last night. We were very worried. Then her breathing slowed and became shallow and she fell asleep and slept through the night. She woke up this morning her usual self. Stretching and giving puppy kisses and thumping her tail and getting up with a purpose -- you guessed it, FEED ME! After breakfast it had just stopped raining when we took a walk in the park by the river this morning. She is sleeping now and we are being brave and getting five days of predisone! She is just not ready to leave us. And truthfully, I can't stand the thought of her leaving me.
November 24, 2002
During the day Lucky is doing very well. She has spurts of energy followed by deep sleep. She is choking more after she drinks water and her breathing is quicker and more shallow but other than that, daytime is fine. Nights are different. She's woken up a few times during the night and stood up gagging. Then she settles back down to sleep. The vet told us that her decline will come on very quickly and in a matter of hours we will know that the cancer has gotten too pervasive. He is very pleased and surprised that she is still with us. Well, that is my Lucky, she'll do anything for a good meal :>) We are continuing her fresh antioxidant diet twice a day.
November 26, 2002
Wow - it will be 3 weeks tomorrow that we have been able to keep Lucky with us. She is still doing well during the day, taking her daily walks with us by the river and sleeping most of the time, but nights are getting worse. She stands up often during the night to catch her breath and then lays back down to sleep. We've also noticed that her breathing pattern has changed to quick shallow breaths and that her eyes are starting to bulge a little. The good news is that her gums are still pink so her blood is still getting oxygen and she is still sharing lots of happy tail wagging moments with us.
November 27, 2002
The ebb and flow of cancer and its intensity of how it affects the quality of life from day to day is bittersweet to watch. Lucky had so much energy yesterday afternoon and early evening and then she had the worst night yet. Up every four hours and painfully catching her breath. Then after we took her for her walk this morning, the cool air seems to invigorate her and her breathing and body signs have stabilized. I think sniffing and hearing the river and wildlife also calms her down. We saw so many blue birds flitting through the trees down by the riverbanks and a V formation of geese flew so close to the ground that we felt and heard the wind draft from their wings as they flew overhead.
Click the link below for another page from our journal. Lucky is still with us. We are at peace but worried about her.
* Lucky's poem
* Lucky's progress continues
* Page of beautiful links