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August 12, 2012

More good news today! Mentally, Lilly is so much brighter, alert, aware, and responsive. Physically, her motor skills still suck, but she can push herself up into a SIT. She needs help keeping her balance, but she can use her front legs to push up. There is a good chance she can come HOME tomorrow, so I have a boatload of housework and preemptive cooking to do. Just a few pix from today’s visit (Sunday, Aug 12, 2012).

Today’s visit began with a big pee puddle and then a monster poop, so the neurology technicians gave Lilly a quick bath for us. Apparently, the team calls the messes created by incontinent neurology patients with mobility issues “butt painting.”

In that case, let’s just say Lilly is a downright Picasso … since she still has like ZERO control of her rear legs.

best dog blog, champion of my heart, border collie
Once she was clean again, Lilly did her best to sit up for a while. She needs help once she is up, but she seemed pretty pleased with herself. From the beginning (in January), Lilly has been markedly weaker left than right, so she always leans left.

 

best dog blog, champion of my heart, border collie wrapped in blanket
Being a little damp from her bath, Lilly got a bit of a chill, so we wrapped her up in a fresh blanket. This is her YODA pose ... "Feeling strong enough to sit up, am I."

 

best dog blog, champion of my heart, border collie recovering in veterinary cage
Lilly's stamina is still quite low, so after the pooping, bath, sitting up, she needed to sleep, so we cuddled up for a while.

We’ve scheduled a tentative GO HOME appointment for tomorrow afternoon. Pending her morning in-hospital full neurological exam, our baby girl should be home recovering in her own bed Monday night.

The two 12-hour infusions of that chemo drug don’t have full effect for 7-10 days, so the improvements we’re seeing are purely from high doses of steroids (dexamethasone) twice a day since Wednesday.

Can a worried girl get an YAHOO?!

Have a nice evening. Thanks to everyone for their kind words, support, love, commiseration, help, etc.

We still have a LONG, tough recovery ahead, but we’ll be glad to have our sweetie-bug home.

 

 

About the Author Roxanne Hawn

Trained as a traditional journalist and based in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, USA, I'm a full-time freelance writer for magazines, websites, and private clients. My areas of specialty include everything in the lifestyles arena, including health and home, personal finance and other consumer interests, relationships and trends, people and business profiles ... and, of course, all things pet related.

I don't just love dogs. I need them in my life. Seriously.

  1. Official WAHOOOO for Lilly.
    Our prayers will continue indefinitely for this sweet girls recovery.

    Newfie Love and Prayers.
    Julie and the boys.

  2. Dear Roxanne, I don’t know how I’ve managed to miss your whole ordeal with Lilly until now. You’re a wonderful dog mom. I hope your writing, sharing, venting and the support you get from the pet community is helpful somehow. I’m so sorry you both are going through this …

    Love –
    Kristin, Cokie’s mom

  3. I am so happy to hear she might be able to come home tomorrow!! I can’t imagine how relieved you must be! I know it’s so hard to have to leave them behind.

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