Lump/Bump on Leg ~ What is it?
Just before Christmas, I noticed a lump/bump on Jack’s front left leg. It was hard, slightly warm, but he didn’t mind when I touched it. He wasn’t limping, licking or doing anything to it. It was just there. We were still playing fetch with our brand spanking new LED tennis ball (http://www.amazon.com/Nite-Ize-MTLP-08-03-MeteorLight-ball/dp/B001QC0JRU) every night. Life was good!
We saw our vet at Bradford Veterinary Clinic (http://bradfordvet.com) on December 27, 2014. Dr. Dyer said, let’s take some x-rays. My 3 yr old neice and 5 yr old nephew were with me and very bored. Jacob is not really an animal lover and his sister Lauren is exactly opposite. I was trying to keep them busy and out of trouble when Dr. Dyer had me come in another room to see the x-rays. She said, “it’s cancer”. My stomach dropped, my entire face felt flush and I didn’t say anything. She continued on…”treatment is amputation”. I remember asking questions with no emotion, looking at the kids who were fighting about who would hold Jack’s leash. Jack, on the other hand, was just laying on the ground waiting to go home.
She suggested x-rays of his chest/abdomen to determine if the cancer had metastisized. More waiting…more bored/impatient kids…more thoughts running through my head ~ not a good combination! By then I was crying; I don’t know why I didn’t think that it could be cancer, but it never crossed my mind.
Finally, a tech came in and said the chest/abdomen x-rays looked clear. Phew! $268 later, I loaded up Jack, Lauren and Jacob. I didn’t stick around to wait for the amputation estimate, I asked them to email it to me.
The ride home was quiet, long and full of tears. (mostly on my part, but a few from Lauren; she was scared that I was crying and didn’t know what to make of it).
Next step – Get these kids back to their Mother so I can focus on my kid!
January 23rd, 2015 at 9:46 pm
OK, waiting with breath held for the next installment! You’re a good lookin’ dawg Jack! Hope all is well.
xoxo,
Codie Rae and the Oaktown Pack
January 23rd, 2015 at 11:25 pm
Ohhh Jack, you are sooo handsome!! And your pawrent writes about you in a way that keeps us glued to every word!
Of course, you aren’t worrying about a thing and just living in the moment! Ahhh, the bliss of “being dog”!
Remember, Jack doesn’t give a rip about any ole diagnosis and he certainly doesn’t have a time frame stamped on his butt!! Jack has a lot more living to do…and loving and spoiling to get!!!
We look forward ro more updates AND more pictures!!! We’re cheering for you sweet boy…really loudly!!! Stay connected!
Sending lots of healing hugs!!
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle too!
January 24th, 2015 at 12:08 am
Sooooooo sweet, look at that face, he’s saying “What, me worry?”
Cancer is a scary journey for humans, but for our animals, they just live every day as usual, soaking up the sun, having a ball, just loving the life that’s right there in front of them. It’s a fabulous way to live even when things get ruff. If there’s any blessing at all in this disease, it’s this lesson.
We are glad you’re here. Please keep us posted and let us know if there’s anything we can do for you OK?