When it rains...

... it pours...

If you remember, back on April 1st I posted about an adorable little pug named Casey who is very ill, with a Liver-Shunt; the very disease that we feared for a time Santi might have been suffering from. Well she is in desperate need of surgery to safe her life, but this doesn't come cheap and it costs $4000+ As she is a dog at the SPCA (being fostered at the moment by my friend Kristina) the money is hard to come by... she has no Doggy-Daddy or Mommy to claim her and cover her fees.

Well up to this morning $1400 was raised. Then this evening a very wonderful woman in BC named Erin Bessette, an animal lover and a Pug owner herself, donated the remaining $2600 !!!

How amazing is that!

So, yes, today is a very wonderful day for doggies here in Mtl... Santi's mouth, while having a little more room for his tongue... AND food, will be very much happier without loose wiggly teeth, infections and rotting teeth and NOW... fresh breath and SUPER CLEAN TEETH... but too, a sweet little dog who deserves a chance at a happy life, Casey the Pug, will now get that chance.

I've got a tough little pup!

As I type this, Santiago is asleep on my lap, in bed...

The Dental Surgery today was a success... 11 incisors were removed and 2 pre-molars. It appears as though the 12th incisor fell out sometime in the past 2 weeks... (That's just how bad things in his wee mouth were) Those that remained got a proper cleaning and within 15 minutes of the procedures being completed, he woke up and much to the Vet's amazement was hell bent on standing up and walking around.

He's of course on pain meds and antibiotics for the next little while; soft food and no chews... My only concern is no fetch for the next two weeks. Honestly I am already pre-emptively afraid for my life... Santi lives for Fetch and fetch alone....

Thanks to all for your kind words, prayers and positive energy. Any time a dog as small as Santi must be put under for a procedure, there's a risk. He's only 3.5 lbs... it's a very fine line to be walked, but as with his de-peanutization last March, he came through with flying colours.

... and dream of teeth...

There's a glimmer of light...

Well this is better, some positive news...

Home from the Vets. Ultrasound shows nuthin! Nada! Zip!

The Vet there says to hold off on the Biopsy for the moment and do more blood work to compare the results from the first two sets.

I talk to Santi's regular Vet demain to see where we go from here but for sure, no Liver Shunt, no inflammation, no abnormal shape or size...

It's true it could still be something internal that does not show, however with more specific blood tests this could be detected, and the Vet at the hospital tonight said there's really no reason to postpone the teeth extraction any further...

We'll see what the Vet says in the morning.

Thanks to all for your continued positivity.

News from the Homefront.

After yet another shit day at work due to the off-line Nuclear Reactor (story here) and stressing non-stop pressure at work... I received a wonderful phone call tonight from my folks...

Dad had his 5th chemo treatment yesterday and at that time received the results of a C.A.T. Scan he had a week ago. And the news was excellent. Very promising indeed.

It seems that his lymph-node's swelling is reducing and they are going back to 'normal' size. The Doctors are pleased with his progress, especially the lack of serious adverse side effects... so far only fever, some minor rash, loss of hair (not like he had much to lose) and some mild neuropathy in his hands. They said that he is in Partial Remission at this point and they will continue his treatments to the end of the eight cycles (this was week one of the fifth 3-week cycle).

Both my parents could not have been happier, and I know from hearing my Father's voice that this report has thrust his spirits higher and higher. Didier and I could not be more pleased.

It's not over yet but he's well on his way on this challenge of his life... and a positive resolution.

Thanks again to everyone for their continued positive support. We all appreciate it so much!