The wonderful brave Golden retriever Max, and his Mom Pam and her daughter Julie, have just been dealt a real setback in his recovery from the amputation they did just a few months ago to stop the cancer that was found in his front leg bone. He’s been doing well with the chemotherapy (although it was ruinous financially since the VPI insurance Pam had so dutifully been paying for all four of her Goldens didn’t cover but a fraction of the charges, unlike the Pets Best Insurance I urge everyone to get, especially when hearing of a story like this). Here’s the update:
Max the Golden
Tracie -This has been another emotionally exhausting day. We had been playing ball with Max out in the yard and stopped throwing the ball when we realized the heat had gotten to him. But when trying to cool him off with ice packs to the armpit and groin didn’t seem to help, we took Max to the emergency vet clinic near us in West Islip. His blood pressure was very low, his white blood count over 40,000 and he had a moderately high temp. They had to bring him in on a stretcher, he was so weak. They put him on IV fluids and antibiotics and kept him overnight. They also did a chest x-ray which was normal so they took cancer out of the equation for the time being and treated him for dehydration. They wanted to stabilize him. I went home and stared at the ceiling all night.
Next morning I saw a different doctor. He said based on Max’s history we should do further tests to make sure the cancer had not come back. But first he wanted to bring Max in to see me to see how he would respond. Well, Tracie, Max came round the corner and practically pulled the doctor down trying to get to me. I threw myself down on the floor and my handsome 75-lb lap dog sat on my lap like he always does. We all laughed and remarked what a difference the supportive care had made. Max was excited and lively. The doctor still wanted to take x-rays of Max’s belly and repeat the blood work, even though he thought that Max had probably just succumbed to the extreme heat and had indeed been dehydrated. The doctor said it was just a precaution and I really wasn’t worried.
X-rays showed his intestines pushed back in his stomach. The doctor said this could be normal for Max but we should ultrasound it to make sure there wasn’t something there. I started to get a little worried but, for some reason, I was still optimistic. I went outside to call Julie at work to let her know what was going on. The doctor came out with the ultrasound picture in his hand.There was a mass. The size of a softball. And it was black which meant it was bleeding. Probably hemangiosarcoma, he said. It was between the liver and spleen and he wanted to do additional views to zero in on the exact location. If it was on the spleen, we could do a spleenectomy and Max would probably be fine. On the liver — that was a different story with not a happy ending.
I waited and chanted inside my head: spleen, spleen, spleen… please… please… please…
But, it’s on the liver.
This morning the ER doctor called to tell me the follow-up CBC showed Max is very anemic. This means the mass is bleeding into his belly. He faxed everything to Animal Medical Center in the city and had a telephone consultation with one of Max’s oncologists. I think Julie and I are going to AMC in the morning for them to do another ultrasound and possibly an MRI or CAT SCAN. I say “I think” because I have been lying with Max all day and he has become very weak again and I’m not sure I want to put him through anything else. If AMC feels that the tumor is operable, Max would have to undergo major abdominal surgery with extreme risks. This is not like the amputation and AMC is not sugarcoating it. Under the best circumstances, he may only get 4 – 6 months. Under the worst, he could die during the surgery and that is a very real possibility. If we do nothing, he will bleed internally until he can’t breathe and then he will go into shock. This could be tonight, in a few days, not more than a few weeks. Of course, there is always the “other” choice.
I go back and forth between sadness and anger. IT IS ONLY 3 l/2 MONTHS! We were supposed to get the summer. Max was supposed to run on the beach and swim after tennis balls and sticks. I sound like a 5-year old when I scream “IT’S NOT FAIR!!!” I sat in the chemo waiting room every other Saturday and listened to stories of cats and dogs who defied the odds and outlived their diagnoses. Max was supposed to be one of them.
But then I know that Max is 10. And we have had a 10-year relationship like none I have ever had with any human. We have had a wonderful, full life together. He has thanked me every day since the day I adopted him through LIGRR (Long Island Golden Retriever Rescue), and I have been privileged to have him by my side. I want to hold him until his last breath. He IS my breath. He IS my bones. He IS my heart.
I wanted to let you and your listeners know about Max because of the tremendous support I received through your talk show and your wonderful audience. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. If you know of a miracle, please send it our way. I’ll update you when I’m able.
Max’s Mom, Pam
I wrote to Pam & Julie:
Oh dear me. What a setback and blow to your dreams. In making the decision, just do your best to see it from Max’s point of view. You already know that. But being in your arms is what he wants, he showed you that at the vet’s. My thoughts are with you, as always.
Pam gave me an update:
We took Max to AMC. They took additional views on ultrasound. Three oncologist surgeons reviewed the pictures and felt it was a single liver lobe that could be removed. All 3 agreed it is definitely operable. And it COULD give him another 6 months to a year. Max is scheduled for surgery this Tuesday May 5th. There are horrible risks. If they get into his belly and find that it is much worse than can be seen on ultrasound they will tell us, and Julie and I have decided, in that case, we will not let them wake Max up. Even if all is well, Max could die during surgery or from complications after. But he can’t live with this thing growing inside him, so we have to give him this chance.
It is expensive. Another $4,000. I have to call Care Credit today and hope to God I get the additional credit. I will beg and plead. Max HAS to get this chance.
Julie and I are going to make this the most wonderful weekend for Max. I wish the weather was better because we would carry him down to the beach. We are going to take lots of pictures and movies. I’m praying for a miracle but we have to be realistic and know that this could be Max’s last weekend. I am going to try not to cry any more in front of him. The doctors are hopeful. Julie and I will be hopeful. Max is a dog FULL of love and hope and happiness. So that’s the motto for this very special weekend – love, hope and happiness.
I’ll write you after surgery. Wish us luck.
Max’s Mom, Pam
I honestly don’t know how you and Julie have the strength to go through this. I am going to post our correspondence and then put it on Twitter so more people can be praying and sending good vibes and karma your way for Tuesday’s operation. I admire your emotional strength and faith in Max’s will to live and thrive. You are a stronger woman than I am and an inspiration to all of us who call our pets family. I couldn’t even trust myself to talk about this on DOG TALK® yesterday — I was just going to lose it on the air, I know that. So instead am going to send this turn in Max’s story out by internet and maybe get even more people pulling for him
Blessings on all of you.
Tracie
I hope all goes well for Max.
This came in from kate@wrappedinkindness.com, who I met at my nutrition talk in Leesburg. In her spare time, Kate has raised $400,000 for the medical costs of pets in shelters, giving new meaning to the term “guardian angel.” She only just learned aobut Max but wrote this:
“If I had a magic wand, a bag of fairy dust or a genie in a bottle I would give them to Max and his family without hesitation.
Alas, I am only human and know too well what cancer does and takes from a family.
Please know you are in my thoughts and prayers and I have lighted a candle and asked my fur angels at Rainbow Bridge to wrap their wings around Max and give him strength
And to Pam and Julie I send love and hope
If there is something I can do personally please let me know”
Nicole in California had made a contribution to help with Max’s first surgery for the amputation and she wrote about the new turn of events:
“Oh no. That is not very good news about Max. Hope surgery goes well. Thoughts and prayers with max and family.”
Hoping and praying that things went well today for Max and his family.
Please let us know how things went and what we can do to support them.
Kate
I have had my paws crossed all day – and share your hopes. A message from Max’s Mom Pam any time tonight will mean he made it through the operation. So far, I am just waiting along with everyone who shares The Hope. Thanks for yours, Kate.
My dogs and I try to light candles for pets in need
All we have is hope and hope depends on all of us
I have people who can help Pam – I will reach out to see what we can do
And I can do a Max promo at WIK site and let folks designate the proceeds from what they purchase to help Max
Its my mantra
If not me then who
If not now then when
For all those who love from their heart without ever uttering a word
Dear Tracie -
Julie just showed me everything written here. I am sorry I did not write sooner. But Max did not go into surgery until almost 3:00 (after leaving him at AMC at 8:20 a.m.) and the surgeon did not call me until almost 6:00. I have been on the phone with friends and family and other doctors from AMC – but I HAVE THE MOST AMAZING NEWS!!!!!!! MAX IS ALIVE!!!!!!!!!
His tumor was the size of a softball and very fragile. It actually disintegrated in the surgeon’s hands as she attempted to remove it. There came a point where there were one or two cells left and she had to make a decision – try to remove them and risk damaging major vessels and possibly killing Max, or leave them there. She chose to leave them. I trust her judgment.
So 99% of the tumor was removed – I still can’t believe it but seeing it written in front of me in black and white I know it is really true. The E.R. doctor told me there was no choice but to euthanize Max. The AMC surgeons removed the tumor and they say tonight he is alert and doing as well as expected. One of the doctors that we have seen since January and who has taken a great liking to Max called me about an hour ago and said he was with Max giving him hugs and kisses from me and Julie. He wanted to know if I wanted to be put on speaker phone so I could say some comforting words to Max. I chose not to – I know my boy and he would be so stressed searching for me. He needs his rest. He’s been through so much – once again.
After Max comes home (probably Thursday) I am going to write to the ER doctor and tell him about the surgery. He gave my Max a death sentence when there was hope. I almost ended my beloved pet’s life based on his deadly prognosis. I have to let him know that he shouldn’t have done that, and that he should be more careful in the future with other suffering pets and owners.
I am exhausted. I know I will sleep well tonight. My boy is coming home again and, after he gets strong enough, he will enjoy swimming and chasing sticks on the beach. It will happen. Can you believe it, Tracie? Max is going to get his summer at the beach after all. My Miracle Golden Max. He was not ready to give up the summer. He fought for it. And he’s going to get it.
So, to those of you who lit candles – what you did for us – well, it was not in vain. Your prayers were answered. And I cannot put into words my appreciation for strangers who do not know me or Julie or our handsome Golden Boy. In this difficult time in the world, where people are out of work and struggling with their own personal problems – for them to include Max in their prayers – well, all I can say is – your love and kindness has moved mountains tonight. Max is coming home.
I will write again after I have Max back in my arms. For now, I say thank you once again and good night – and it IS A VERY GOOD NIGHT…
Love and Thanks,
Max’s Mom, Pam
Miracles happen and this one seems well deserved.
What great news!
We’ll be here to make sure Max and Pam and Julie have what they need – that’s for sure
Kate
I have a listener to CAT CHAT down in Ft Lauderdale who does Dobermann rescue and says I don’t respect synchronicity enough and the astounding way that I meet people who have something to offer others I am in touch with – right when they need it. I am in awe of how I have become a bridge between need and goodness. Kate would never have met me at the Pet Nutrition lecture I gave in Leesburg VA organized by Everything & the Dog if she hadn’t shrugged off the chemo treatment SHE had had that very day and forced herself to come anyway. And I wouldn’t have invited her on CAT CHAT immediately if I didnt sense that she could be a conduit to inspire others to give and do for those who need it. What will Ann Marie make of all this tomorrow on CAT CHAT? Oh! And wonderful Mario Bosquez – afternoon host from Martha Stewart Living radio – has been writing in to ask how Max is doing and now we can say Hallelujah! at 1 PM tomorrow on the air at 1 PM.
I asked Kate to explain how Wrapped in Kindness began – it was Max’s similarity to Shadow (her inspiration for W.I.K.) in his photo that inspired Kate to reach out:
Shadow was 3 when he was diagnosed in July 2004. He had canine lymphoma. His mom is in law enforcement/criminal justice – single mom with 2 boys and a dog that meant the world to all of them. She took a second job and a second mortgage to pay for Shadow’s medical care. We raised more than $6k to cover medical bills. He died in January of 2005 – he got to celebrate one last Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas – and his brothers got to say goodbye. I raised the money by knitting scarves myself (having never know one before) and sold each for $50 – $100 a piece – that’s a lot of scarves – but that was where the name hatched from. Wrapped in Kindness – wrap yourself or a loved one in a beautiful scarf and wrap a stranger – a pet in need in kindness and give them hope for tomorrow. Simple premise. Almost everything I raise comes form the sale of W.I.K. products – like the L.L. Bean pastel Treat Totes you saw in Leesburg – ALL of the net proceeds (and sometimes just ALL of the proceeds) go to help pets. But I also have people I call on when I need a lot of money fast like in Max’s case. The folks I turn to in Los Angeles are very private but who get what I do and like to help when I need them most. Most of my W.I.K. money comes form people who spend $20 – $25 on a tote or another product – but I sell a lot – on my site, at events, through retailers – most people who have helped are anonymous to me. Those who help when I need it tend to do it without any fan fare. I’m sure there are lots of folks who would like to say why they support WIK – retailers, the woman who owns the bakery that provides all my organic treats, the rescues and families WIK has helped – but it needs to be about Wrapped in Kindness, not Kate Bland. It’s not about me – it never ever has been about me. It’s about 2 beautiful souls – Sammy and Maddie Bland who died in 2003 – 5 months apart – from the ravages of canine cancer. It’s about doing for another – for many others what I could not do for the 2 I loved with all my heart and soul – give them a chance at tomorrow – at many tomorrows – to play – to love – to chase tennis balls and romp in the ocean. There was no amount of money or medical science that could save Sammy or Maddie – and for a year it ate me up inside that I failed them – then reading Shadows story I realized I could make a difference – if not for them – than for another. And it was the same when I read your Blog post about Max – it reminded me all over, once again why it is so important to keep doing what i do – what you do – they need us. W.I.K. makes it easy – I don’t ask for anything – I offer people the chance to own, gift or sell really wonderful things and make a difference in the world all at the same time – it makes it hard to say no. Get good and give good – really pretty simple.
Pam called into CAT CHAT tonight just as he loaded Max into the car in New York City to bring him home from the Animal Medical Center where they have done such miracles to buy him more time. Ann Marie, the Official Animal Communicator of both my radio show was able to make a connection to Max’s Golden brother at home, Buddy, who Pam felt she had been neglecting. Here was Pam’s note tonight:
Max is home. Max is alive. All is well again. Thank you Tracie. Thank you Kate. Thank you Ann-Marie. Thank you fabulous doctors at AMC. and Thank you to everyone who has had Max in their thoughts and prayers these past few days or even months. All of you helped to bring my Max home again.
My Angel is on his bed sleeping soundly. I will be beside him as soon as I hit “send.”
Today was a very good day. Sweet dreams to all of you.
Max’s Mom, Pam