Author: Kathryn Trabucco

Well it’s been a long morning, but my baby boy is home and resting peacefully! Meekah has yet to leave his side, she is such a good sister!! It was definitely a lot harder seeing him for the first time than I had thought..I tried to prepare myself with research photos and videos, but I guess there’s no preparing yourself for these things. It was really rough at first, and very difficult for him to walk at all, but now he’s settling in and starting to learn that he’s gotta do things a little differently now with the help of the slings until he can walk alone. At first he was basically hitting his face on floor everytime he walked, but he’s realizing to lean on us and the slings to help him. Is this normal? To those of you with Rotties and other big breeds – when your tripawds first came home was it very slow going and tough to get around at all even with help?? I worry that it’s going to be really hard for him because of his displaysia..any help??!? suggestions?? it kills me because it makes me question our choice. I assume you’ve all gone through these emotions and struggles to??

He also wouldn’t pee at first, I think he Disnt want us to have to help him – too proud! But when he finally peed it was 10 minutes! haha. He is also very excited to be home with his toys, and has even played ball a few times while laying down! And I know our road will be slow, and long, but seeing that his personality is still him is a very big help for me moving forward! Well be spending the next two days cuddled in the living room and loving on our baby boy!!!

Our handsome boy is out of surgery and recovering well!! I just got another update from the surgeon that he is alert and doing great – he’s already rolling over on his incision so she’s know that he’s feeling good in happy land with a nice doggie cocktail! 🙂 I’ve been keeping myself super busy today cooking his meals for the next couple days, getting stuff caught up around the house, and preparing the house ready for his return home…oh, and lets not forget moving our bedroom downstairs to the living so he can avoid stairs for a few weeks. I also ordered the ruff wear harness for him and overnighted it. I know that this battle is nowhere near won – but if this cancer thing has taught me anything so far..it’s to take one day at a time!! To celebrate the small wins everyday, and to stay positive and take things as they come! Next chapter is to get my baby boy home and take recover slow and easy as we learn together how we do things with 3 legs. 🙂 A HUGEEE thank you to everyone who’s been supporting us through this past 7 days..your support honestly has gotten us through and kept me so strong!! Now, mama bear can finally breathe for a bit and sit down to relax tonight and rest up for tomorrow!

Sloppy Rotty kisses,

Kate & (my currently high as a kite) Bentley 🙂

 

Heres our morning pre-surgery pictures, and pictures of my stand-in cooking assistants today! 🙂

As I write this my handsome boy is curled up on my legs snoring away, getting his rest for our big day tomorrow! Bentley had a blast tonight surrounded by family and friends – everyone brought toys and treat, and of course lots of hugs and kisses!! It makes me so happy to see how much love he has and support for our family and friends!! Everyone is finally gone and  it’s time for Mama Bear to try to get some sleep too! Here are a few pictures from out impromptu family photoshoot with Bentley in his cancer-beating badass shirts for after surgery tomorrow! 🙂

Sloppy Rotty Kisses,

Kate & Bentley

 

 

 

 

What a day we have had today!! We did get his biopsy back from the nodule in his spleen and it was cancer free waaahoooo!!! We had our consult this morning with the surgeon for tomorrows operation. I was not at all prepared for the consultation with the surgeon. I know it’s good that she is honest, but I guess I wasn’t as prepared for this operation as I thought! She was explaining that because of Bentley’s hip displaysia, that his recovery was probably going to be much slower going. She also told us to bring a T-shirt for him post-op as we will not want to see all of his incisions and bruising. That is when it hit me what we were about to do. I assume that everyone goes through these same emotions, all of a sudden I started second guessing what I was doing in deciding to remove one of my dogs limbs. So I came home and decide to look up online to see pictures and videos of recently amputated big dogs..I guess in hopes to prepare myself more. What I found instead of second guessing myself, was a renewed hope that I was indeed doing what was best for my baby. I cannot even fathom the pain that this stupid cancer is causing him – and seeing the videos of other dogs running and jumping into their peoples arms when they come to pick them up after surgery was absolutely amazing. It brought me to my knees in tears, in a good way though! After a week of crying, cursing, asking myself why? and not knowing what to do..I find myself with a fierce fight in my heart, and more love for this furry baby than I could ever imagine. He has always been my rock, my best friend, and now it’s my time to fight for him! I am so hopeful about the future we will have together, 3 paws and all! 🙂

So tonight we got our our bad-ass cancer beating surgery T-shirts from Daddy’s closet and we’re throwing an impromptu “pre-surgery” party for him with our closest family and friends. 🙂 He goes in tomorrow morning for surgery, so we ask for paws crossed, prayers, and healing vibes for an uneventful day tomorrow!!!!

 

Big Rotty Kisses, Bentley and Kate xoxo

 

Bentley was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in his front left leg on 11/27/2013. It was by far the worst day of my life thus far. CANCER. That word in itself, can give chills to most people. It ruins lives. It stops a mother in her tracks. Human child or not, this boy is my world. To say my world was turned inside out, and the wind knocked completely out of my sails in an understatement! I cried for 4 days straight, but then I woke one day with a new fight in my heart. We have vowed to fight the good fight, and will do everything in our power to beat this monster – until the day that my sweet boy says it’s time to let go. We have heard so many positive stories, and although we know that statically this disease in 95% fatal in the first year…we are determined that we can be part of that 5%. Here will will document our journey, prayers and healing thoughts are more than appreciated! Thank you SO much to our friends and family for all of our support!

11.27.13:       OS Diagnosis

11.28.2013:     Began home cooking the “anti-cancer” diet and supplements, he loves it!

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12.3.2013:   Visit to Oncologist, elected to put him under anesthesia and do a complete CT scan to asses the progression of cancer

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12.4.2013:   Results from scans back – no spread of cancer wahoo!!!, found tiny nodule on his spleen, took him in to biopsy nodule