Thursday of last week I took Dear to the vet. He'd been eating only about 1/2 of his dinner at night...I figured it was a bad tooth. Sometimes he rubs his face on my legs...
Its turned out to be worse. When I spoke to the vet that afternoon, he told me Dear's white blood cell count was 90,000 vs 10,000. There's either an absess, an infection or cancer. This was about 1:30 in the afternoon...so he told me to call him before I left work.
When I called back at 5, he said the ultra-sound showed a mass in front of his bladder, however when they asperated it, nothing but pus came out and no tumor cells were present. That's a relief.
I called on Friday, Dear was eating & pooping good. Drinking water & was alert & happy, but his fever was 103. He's staying for the weekend on an IV and taking injections of antibiotics for this infection.
When I called on Saturday, fever was gone...but he'll probably stay until Monday.
Called on Monday..."can you hold, the doctor wants to speak to you".
The white cell count was up to 100,000 & his fever is back. Another ultra-sound will be done & surgery probably Tuesday. Do you want to come visit?
So I took off work, I was pretty much worthless anyway. I got there & we sat & hugged for a good hour...just me & him. My vet came in & told me what the surgery was going to be about...he did another ultra-sound & the mass is the same...it hasn't spread anywhere & doesn't seem attached. But we won't know until we get in there....if its cancer...we just won't wake him up.
I can't stop crying about it. I'm just sick. He asked me if I'd like to be there while they do the surgery & I said yes. I can get there early & be with Dear until surgery & then wait.
Please pray for my big black dude...he's such a sweet heart...he's never complained, he's never acted like he hurt or was sick...today when I came home from the vet, everyone was smelling my clothes & looking for him...they miss him too.

Sending lots of prayers.

We'll be thinking about you and praying for your handsome boy.

Your precious Dear is in our thoughts and prayers. Hang in there and be strong for your baby.

We'll be praying for Dear. I hope this surgury will correct everything, and that he'll be alright. Sorry you have to go through this turmoil.

Sending you and Dear healing thoughts and prayers. Please keep us updated.
Tara

I'm home, I had to leave him there of course & that made me cry too. So we got the tumor & its off to the lab, results will be here on Friday. Dear won't go home before Friday or Monday.
I got there about 9:30 this morning & I sat on a stool with him leaning on me, then he straddled my leg & put all his weight on me....
I could tell something was different. He seemed depressed. Dr. B said he noticed it too & we both noticed his tummy was extended. Later he chose to lay down & he kept looking back at his tummy...as if in pain. My mind started into a whirl, should I skip the surgery & let him cross?
The surgery was scheduled for 10, but was delayed because of all the other things going on...it started a little before 11. He told me; when I open him up, if I see that its cancer...I'll stop the surgery & come get you. Twenty minutes passed. Thirty minutes passed, no word. Finally 40 minutes passed & his surgical nurse came out...there's a growth...he's trying to get it all, we've got about 15 more minutes.
Thirty more minute passed & Dr. Blackburn came out, he gave me a quick grin & then plopped down on the seat & said I'm happier than I was an hour ago.
The tumor was about the size of a cantelope/honey dew melon...where he had it hidden I don't know. It was attached to his liver & close to some large veins. It wasn't attached anywhere else & there were no other growths on any of the other organs. The tumor had become infected & there was pus...
I went to the "recovery" area & sat with Dear until he started to try to sit up & then I left. They had him covered with some warm blankets & about 45 minutes after surgery he looked over at me & he had this look like: Mommy...did I catch the rabbit? I said yes Dear...you sure did. He laid his head down & then looked at me: Mommy...did the rabbit kick me in the tummy cause I feel like a truck ran over me instead!
He has over 50 staples just on the outside... He has over 50 sutures on the inside.
We're not out of the woods yet, but we're more than 1/2 way there.
Thank you Jesus...and thank you everyone for your love support & prayers!
I will keep updating you all.

Oh my goodness, what a brave guy! Good news, good news! We'll continue to keep Dear in our hearts and prayers.

Thanks for the update!

Hilda, please keep us informed, and more prayers your and Dears way.

Oh my, what you and Dear have been through. The most heartfelt good wishes and lots of prayers for you and Dear are sent your way. You both are due for some good rest and recuperation. You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Sending many prayers to you and Dear. Please give him a hug from all of us here at EG.

Linda

I called at 5:30/cst & he was sort of sitting/laying up. Still groggy. They had turned him on his other side. She said he was facing the back of the crate & could see himself.
She said she did her best Miss Hilda call....Deeeeer yaaaar & she said he perked up his ear & looked behind him & wagged his tail.

What wonderful news. I know how you feel, I so happy for you and your family and of course Dear, keeping you guys in my prayers for a speedy recovery.

That's good news. Praying for a good recovery.

that everything keeps going in the direction it is! Good News!

Just got home from the vet.
Well Dear looks better...he's kinda doped up because of the pain, but he looks & acts alot better than yesterday, pre-op & post-op.
He nuzzled me tonight & he walked around the room with me & he'd put his head under my hand everytime we'd stop. When I'd move, he'd move closer...he wanted to be wiff heez mommy.
He ate a 1/2 Bil Jack...Dr Blackburn was pleased. He's drinking water, but doesn't feel like food. He did sniff of his dinner tonight. I suggested putting the food on the floor of the crate vs in a bowl, so Gerald is going to try that later before he leaves.
Just a few facts I found out tonight...the tumor was actually the size of a 4 yr old boy's head with a Mickey Mouse hat on. Its weight was about 4 lbs. He said cantelope was a good discription, but maybe add the hat to it because when he held out his hands, it was more like 2 very large cantelopes.
When I looked under Dear's belly for the scar, it goes from his sternum to his Hoohoo & has 50 staples in it. He has a "man boob" on his chest right now...its fluid...nothing to be alarmed. Of course my vet tried to be funny: What...you didn't bring him in for a boob job? I said Well at least give him 2!
His eyes were brighter tonight, gums are still a little pinkish grey, but he said all of this is normal. He's on pain relievers too, so that's why he was hanging his head...something Dear never does.
Over all, we're both very pleased!
However, I'm so tired, I'm not even going to play in the arcade tonight. Lisa Ming will have to fight aliens without me tonight.
Ya'll just don't know how great it is to have someone to unload on...dogless people just have no clue & don't care. Of course, they're lonely people also...
But to have a group of people who love you even though they've never met ya, and understand exactly what you're going through when even your sisters don't get it...its just such a relief.
Hugs to all of ya'll

Hello. I will pray everyday for Dear and for you (mom). I am an absolute Greyhound lover. I had two girls for 8 and 9 years and lost them one year apart. A year after that I adopted two sisters. I have had them for one year now. They are three. In fact, I am trying desparately to get pics on a post of them. I will check in daily with you and Dear on Greyhound 911. We want Dear happy and comfortable.

God Bless,

Lady Grey

I'm so relieved to hear he is recovering well. Continued prayers for Dear, you, and the rest of the gang.

What a relief!!! I'm so glad things are looking good for him. Please keep us posted.

Oh, relief and happiness! Where the heck was he hiding a two cantaloupe sized blob in his innards? *shakes her head in wonder* These guys really can be so stoic about the big things, can't they?

Sooo glad Dear's home and I bet he is too. Sweet dreams of bunnies during your recovery, Dear.

Still keeping Dear in my thoughts. Good news.

Nearly 5 months later and not a day doesn't go by that I don't think of him, remember all the events and then the day he left. I have his picture in just about every room in my house. I sure do miss him.

Sometimes that remembering is what heals the hurt. Still have Ryces Zebra stuffie on my night table. It was under my pillow for a year. Thats progress. My house is also full of pictures like that. Hugs to you and an extra for the memory.

Its friends like you & this website that helps me through this.
This afternoon, I took a nap...I had Banker at the foot of the bed & had just got settled in when Gogh my little black greyhound jumped on the bed, he curls up in front of me & buried his face in my chest, the puffed thru his jaws...just like Dear used to do. When I went to sleep, I had my arm over Gogh's butt. When I woke up, I had Banker, Gogh & Gabby on the bed plus 2 cats.
Just before Dear died, he would get on the bed with me at night & during naps...and we would sleep just like that.

How sweet that they are all cuddling up with you Hilda