Update on Bocci

Thankfully, Bocci is still with us and feeling good. We brought her home from the ER Vet on Tuesday and have been giving her tons of TLC. She has a large, open mass near her anus (hate that word) that is not pretty. The sore bleeds at times, but we're able to keep it minimized with cold packs and powder from Petsmart.

I took her back to the vet on Friday and was told that if we can manage the sore, Bocci could be with us for some time. Since the meds were making her sick, we stopped all but the Tramadol (2x per day). She has been fabulous ever since and getting back to her old self. Ultimately, we know the cancer is growing, but since she is not in pain and her quality of life has not changed, we are going to cherish the time we have left. Having been down this path with Bailey, we opted to forgo surgery, chemo, etc. If it gets to the point where she is suffering, we will make the dreaded call. Until then, she is getting all sorts of treats and loving every bite.

One side note, Basil has been so good! I was worried about her pouncing/picking on Bocci like she has for the past year, but Basil must have a 6th sense and knows to leave Bocci alone.

Thanks again for all of the prayers and support!

Bocci - keep her in your prayers

We learned last night that Bocci has an aggressive form of cancer - likely hemangiosarcoma. What is it with this cancer?? Why can't it leave my family alone??

She was bleeding from the rear so Joe took her to the vet hoping it was a simple diagnosis. Unfortunately, she has a large mass that has ruptured and a few others in the same area. The vet shared that when a mass of this size ruptures, the cancer has likely spread to major organs. They were able to get the bleeding to stop, so now it's a waiting game. The worst kind. The mass could rupture again tomorrow or we could get lucky and it could take weeks. Because of her age, we are opting not to do xrays and chemo. One of the hardest parts is knowing what steps to take and when - especially when her mind is great and her demeanor even better.

I just don't get it. Bocci has been doing so good....full of energy and even a bit sassy with demanding more and more treats.

I'm out of town for work and taking the first flight home this morning. If you have a beloved pet, give them an extra hug because you just don't know what tomorrow will bring.

One Year

It just doesn't seem real - that a whole year has disappeared.

Why is it that the "firsts" always get to us? The first month, the first Christmas, the first birthday...the first anniversary. I suppose one way of coping is to mark the milestones and to morn a little deeper on those days so that the days in-between can be a bit easier.

We woke this morning and watched a ton of Bailey videos. I started with the most recent - about 2 days before she passed and worked myself backward to the videos before she fell ill. I wanted to end with happy thoughts and remember the world as it was when Bailey was full of life and healthy.

This afternoon, we hiked with Basil to Bailey's spot on the mountain near our house. It is here that I spent many moments going through the stages of grief. A few short hours after Bailey passed, I hiked up this mountain and found a special spot off the beaten track where I could come to escape. I placed a picture of us under a big rock to protect it from the weather and animals. Over the past year, Mother Nature and the animals have swiped little trinkets left for Bailey. Two things still remain, a cheesy butterfly glow stick and our picture ~ albeit a bit warn from the sun and rain. I cracked a smile today noticing that a sliver of Bailey's hair is still submerged in the frame.


It's amazing that a four-legged creature could capture our hearts like Bailey did. I miss her as much today as the day she left. I hope she knows how much she was and is loved.

XOXO Bailey ~ I love you.

Picture from our visit to Bailey's spot 10/23/10