[Sherry Lynn]

I feel strange asking for prayers for my dog when there are so many other more important prayers that are needed.....

But for those of you who know me - you know that our 13 year old dogs are referred to as our boys. Last May Odie was diagnosed with Lymphoma Cancer and we decided to do chemotheraphy --- he handled the chemo rather well AND has been in remission since last June (just days after his treatments started). But, from August on he has been bothered off and on by vomiting - this has been mainly at night (thus my tiredness from lack of sleep) and during his treatments we blamed it onto the chemo. The last couple of weeks it has been getting worse so I took him back to his chemo vet --- she did blood work and took some x-rays AND diagnosed him with Canine Megaesophagus - which basically is his esophagus is stretched out (there is no cure AND they're not sure why it happens) and can no longer carry food to his stomach, thus the vomiting. They can live with this but it is going to take some work on our part - I am now feeding him 5 times a day at an elevated level i.e. sitting upright. I won't go into all the problems that we are facing and what things we might encounter --- most of the time what happens is that they asperate into their lungs and get pneumonia.

Now it isn't enough that he have the Megaesophagus to deal with BUT he also has a kidney stone which his doctor said if it gets lodged (if it doesn't pass naturally) then we will lose him because there is no way that they could operate on him with his other problem.

We've been dealing with this since last week AND I've hesitated to post a prayer thread BUT last night was a really long and hard night AND I felt I needed to come here and let everyone know what is going on AND to ask --- if you have a moment could you say a prayer for my Odie boy!

Saturday - April 21st update: Odie has lost his voice and there seems to be a growth (I'm guessing maybe goiter) on his neck, today he was acting really lethargic and when we went out front to sit with the boys (one of our summer nightly rituals - we didn't think we shouldn't wait for summer to do this) he seemed a little better. Our neighbor came over to visit and Odie smiled at him so I knew he was good for now! Kevin mentioned taking the boys to hunting camp and ye olde swimmin' hole --- another one of their favorite summer places (which is on my neighbors property), he was like yeah let's take them down. Well 2 hours later Kevin and the boys came home, he said they had the time of their lives - they played at camp and went swimming 3 times!

Sunday - April 22nd update: Today might be the day, I let him out and he was wandering around (not totally unlike him) but there was a difference in the way he was doing it, it was like he was looking for something AND he kept looking back at the house - I just tried to feed Odie his morning meal and he turned his head away - he did eat a little but........................

On a lighter note I just wanted to let you all know these dogs hit the jackpot when they were brought to us by our son --- they have been our babies for the last 13 years and just like with kids Odie has had many nicknames --- we got Buddie and Odie when they were 8 weeks old AND Buddie has always been just Buddie but here are all the names that Odie has answered to:
Odie Boy
Oat
Sweet Oat
Mister Rister
Odie Bah-go-die
Hi Oat Not Coyote (Coyot-e with a silent e LOL)

Monday - April 23rd update: Sweet Oat is simply amazing, we made it through yesterday AND today he seems to be back to his ol' self, he had a pretty good night and has eaten 2 out of his 4 meals today. We are thinking that maybe it was the kidney stone passing. I called his oncologist vet and she is was off today BUT we have an appointment with her tomorrow morning at 9:30. Thank you all so much for your prayers, we all appreciate them tremendously!

Tuesday - April 24th udpate: Well it wasn't the best of doctor visits but at least we know what is going on with Odie --- his lymphoma cancer is back. We are going to try the prednisone again, we're not going to do the full chemo BUT last time the pred had him in remission in just a few days - hopefully this will be the same again. So now he has Canine MegaEsophagus and Lymphoma Cancer but if you ask him if he wants to walk the property or go anywhere he gets all excited. Stephanie (Dr. Monk, his oncologist) said she just can't get over how he is acting --- he smiles and kisses her when he sees her AND you would never know he had a thing wrong with him!

AGAIN Odie, Buddie, Kevin and I all want to say thank you very much for your thoughts and prayers --- we are going to do what is right for Odie and will NOT let him be in pain, which at this point he isn't!

Thursday - April 25th update: The prednisone is starting to work --- the lymph nodes are getting smaller and Odie is starting to get his voice back. We're still dealing with the MegaE but I am still in the learning mode with that --- here is what our normal day looks like:
6am - Dose of Reglan
7am - First Meal AND Dose of Prednisone
10am - Second Meal
Noon - Dose of Sucralflex
1pm - Third Meal
4pm - Dose of Reglan
5pm - Fourth and Final Meal of the day, dose of Prednisone AND one Prilosec tablet

His meals are supposed to be fed in the upright position so his bottom feet are on the landing of the stairs and his front feet are up 2 stairs - I sit 3 stairs above him and spoon feed him his VERY soupy meal (this lets gravity pull the food down into his stomach) - he is supposed to be in this position for a half hour but we normally don't last that long. His regurgitation has decreased tremendously since we've been doing this --- I can't wait for the day when I can report that he has gone a full 24 hours without any regurge! Every time he regurgitates there is the possibility of him asperating into his lungs and getting pneumonia --- so the sooner we can get to regurge-free the better!

Friday May 11th final update --- Saying goodbye to our Sweet Odie boy today --- he has the sweetest - gentlest soul, he could never understand when he ran up to somebody if they didn't pat and talk to him - he thought everyone loved dogs AND he had the cutest smile that he shared with everybody! He gave that cancer one heck of a fight! I am worried about Buddie - I'm not sure what is going to happen with him, they were born 13 years ago in March AND have never been apart.

[tiza126]

Sherry, I know how much our pets become like our children. I will send prayers for Odie!

[mbc72]

Paying for Odie,and for you as well, Sherry.

[teecee]

Oh Sherry, I'm so sorry and I'll certainly send prayers for Odie. HUGS!

[Becster]

Saying a special prayer for Odie and for you, too. *hugs*

[Sara Arell]

Adding my prayers for your Odie Boy, Sherry - I will keep you all close in thought and in prayers!

[yellowrose]

So sorry Odie is going through so much. You'll all be in my prayers.

[Bride]

Absolutely, Sherry ... I am praying for Odie. Raven and Kota send their love and licks!

[jenrou]

Sherrie, I know how much everyone cares for their dogs, and a prayer for Odie is also a prayer for you and your family. I am sorry Odie is having all of this discomfort and I hope all of you can rest easy however things turn out.

[AnnBK]

Girl friend, I know all too well how much this hurts. And I also know all too well how much you are going to invest in your Odie Boy...in time and emotion. I've enjoyed seeing him in pictures over the last few years, I think I may have been privileged to do a scrap swap with him once upon a time! Wish I could reach out and give you a big hug....a virtual one will have to suffice. I'll be back before too long asking for your prayers for Abby. God blessed us with these incredible companions, and I think they remind us of our own mortality, and our duty to take care of one another. You and Odie will be in my thoughts and prayers.

[Smiles]

Of course, Sherry! Don't hesitate! I don't know how I would have gotten through the 2 years of DJ's cancer treatments without the prayers and support from Scrap Girls.

May angels of strength and healing be with Odie and with you and your family as well.

Please let us know how Odie is doing.
hugs,

[luckyladybug]

A prayer for a friend, no matter the species, is never too much to ask for. Praying for Odie's human mom, too.
Hugs, Sherry.

[lorac]

Odie is in my prayers and I'm sending a special prayer to St. Francis of Assisi to ask him to help heal Odie.

[Syndee]

Poor Odie and poor you! Sending thoughts and prayers your way!

[CRS]

I will definitely keep you all in my prayers. I know my Buddy is just like my kids. If he was sick, I'd be devestated, too!

[Sherry Lynn]

Thank you all for the prayers - the outpouring of love AND support is felt AND we truly appreciate it!

I have joined a yahoo group that is devoted to ME (megaesophagus) and even though I haven't introduced Odie and myself - I am learning a lot from the messages already posted there!

We're still adjusting to how to feed and how much to feed --- we've been feeding 5 times a day at about 2 1/2 hour intervals and that seems to be working. The only thing I'm still working on is getting him enough calories.

[Becster]

Is there a supplement he could take? Something similar to Ensure for people?

[Jenna]

Don't feel weird asking for prayers, Sherry! If it's important to us, it's important to our Father. Our pets are our furry children, I will definately pray for your Odie. We have a 15 yr old cat, so I understand the love for these family members!

[Sherry Lynn]

Becster, on 12 April 2012 - 02:39 PM, said:

Is there a supplement he could take? Something similar to Ensure for people?

That is something that I asked the vet yesterday AND she says that if he is getting the same about of food he should be ok - but she also recommended taking him to our local vet's office and putting him on the scales once a week just to make sure he isn't losing weight.

[Sherry Lynn]

Just a quick update - I wasn't able to be around here yesterday BUT Thursday night Odie didn't vomit all night --- that was the first time in a very long time. Last night he did but it was just once and it was early, so I'm thinking that it was the water he drank when we came back from our walk, which may have caused that.

Thank you all for the prayers he seems to be doing better --- I'm feeding him 5 times a day AND it seems to be helping.

[tinkerbell11]

I will be thinking and praying for Odie and you as his primary care giver, he is a special dog and you are taking such good care of him, don't forget to take care of yourself. Big hugs to you both!

[Sherry Lynn]

Update in first post!

[lorac]

Sherry, my heart goes out to you. I am still praying for Odie and sending prayers to St. Francis.

[Belle]

The very first Swap that I took part in was a layout for Sherry. Here is the layout that I did of Buddie and Odie. I really enjoyed doing the layout for you Sherry. I'm so sorry your dog is not well. Buddie & Odie
I've learned a lot since doing this layout.

[Sara Arell]

Sending prayers for Odie, Sherry Lynn.

[AnnBK]

More hugs heading your way, Sherry.

[MariJ]

So sorry, Sherry. I know how big this is - my sister is going through this with her search and rescue dog right now and it's heartbreaking. So glad Odie has such a loving place and family to rest into.

[SodScrap]

Pets certainly are a part of the family! Adding prayers..

[CRS]

Thanks for the updates. I've been keeping you all in my prayers. I'm sure it's not easy.

[PBarnes]

It's so hard to see our beloved four-legged family members decline. We went through it with our chocolate lab when she was 13 and was diagnosed with a tumor in her head that they couldn't operate on. Hugs for you Sherry Lynn, and prayers that Odie's last days are comfortable.