Mel

I haven’t updated this in a while so i figured I would give everyone an update. Mel is doing GREAT! He’s had an awesome summer and has completely finished up his chemo treatment. He went in for an ultrasound of his lymphnodes with an oncologist and a radiologist and everything came back clean! He has gained all of his weight back and he is looking great. I couldn’t be happier!

Well Mel has been doing great these past few weeks. We went swimming in the lake last week with his new life jacket and he LOVED it! His golf outing was this past weekend and I was able to raise over $1000.00 dollars towards his treatment!!

Mel had his 3rd Lomustine treatment this week. Everything is going great as usual. On another note, I got a new job as a vet tech at a specialty and emergency clinic with a FULL TIME ONCOLOGIST!! I am going to keep Mel’s vet the same since they have been so great but it will be nice to have another set of eyes on him! One more treatment and he is DONE!!! WOO HOO!

Mel had his bloodwork done Monday. Everything was PERFECT! He got his second CCNU treatment yesterday and he is still continuing to do fantastic. Everyday I am more and more amazed at the things he has leaned to do without his leg. We went to the dog park Monday night after the vet and I swear he gets faster every time! Only 2 more chemo treatments to go and then he is ALL DONE!

I found this really cute picture of Mel from about 2 years ago. He has the BEST smile!

Mel is handling the new chemo just fine. I spoke to his vet and we are going to test his blood again in a week or so and as long as it looks good we will be on to another treatment!!  I cannot believe that my boy only has 3 treatments left to go. This has been such a crazy journey filled with ups and downs but I couldn’t be happier as to how he is responding. He is steadily gaining his weight back and may even weigh more than before we started treatment! (He has always been an active skinny boy!)

I got his lifejacket in the mail the other day and it fits great. I’m hoping the weather will warm up soon so that he can try it out!

So far so good with Mel’s first CCNU treatment. He seems to be handling it just fine with no side effects. We went to the park and to the beach today. Check out the video of Mel running at the park and playing with the hose!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg0AGMx_f3Y

Mel is all finished with his IV chemo and aside from the first treatment nearly killing him he has had no issues with the lowered dose. I am so excited that things went so well and that he seems so healthy and happy. Friday we are going to have another CBC drawn and as long as all his counts are good he will start CCNU. He will get that orally every three weeks for a total of 4 treatments and then he will be ALL DONE! He has been such a trooper through all of this. He got a new little foster sister the other day who has been keeping him busy, she’s adorable but quite a handful. It has been good to see him play and run with her and i think he enjoys her company.

Check out his article!!

http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2010/03/15/special-pooch-needs-to-be-rescued-again-friends-rally-to-help-with-bills/

Only 1 to go! Mel has been doing great! He is almost done with his IV chemo and I can’t wait. After this 4 months of oral chemo, 5 more months of Prednisone and then his treatment will be complete.  His separation anxiety has gotten a little worse in the past few weeks. Probably due to all of the extra attention, so that is my next battle.

I can’t believe how well he is hoping around. The weather is finally starting to get warmer so we will be at the dog park soon I’m sure!

Mel did great today as usual! Bloodwork was all normal and he is feeling great. We are going for a photo shoot tomorrow at Spectralight photography (they read about Mel in the paper and are doing a free portrait!) I will post his pictures as soon as I get them! I can’t wait! Thanks Spectralight!

I cannot believe how supportive and generous people have been to Mel and I throughout this entire thing. We have had overwhelming support from Love-A-Stray, the rescue where he came from as well as private individuals who have made donations on his account. Pit Bull Rescue Central was amazing enough to donate $250.00 towards his treatments. The local media has also been great about getting the word out about the golf outing I am holding for him and I think it will end up being a great success! Mel and I just want send a thank you to those of you who have helped us and we are very lucky to have met such amazing people 🙂