I noticed our two radiation therapy patients, blind Callie and blind Gabe, lying on a cot together yesterday evening in the living room. As soon as I started taking photos, Callie sprang to life and gave me this funny nose-up-ears-out look. (Gabe's ears, on the other hand, are always up-and-out.) Both Callie and Gabe had spent weeks last year at Washington State University's teaching hospital for cancer treatment, Callie for a brain tumor and Gabe for a nasal tumor. I wondered if they had been trading stories about their time at WSU.
I had just mentioned to Alayne the day before that the hair on Gabe's face was really beginning to grow back. After his surgery and then radiation, he had lost all of his hair in that area, his skin pigmentation eventually turned black, and we worried for months that the hair wouldn't grow back. But all of a sudden, little hairs started growing around the edges of the radiation field ... and then more and more, they began filling it in. You can still see the outlines on Gabe's face, but not too long ago, that was pretty much bald and black.
Because of the location of her tumor and how the radiation was directed at it, Callie never really lost any hair ... though she did kind of lose her bearings for a while after the treatment. But fortunately, both dogs are doing just great now.
Great to see Gabe doing so well. He was a great patient and I hope I can visit soon.
Ida
Posted by: Idaliz | February 14, 2010 at 09:41 AM
Great little story and picture of Gabe on the Facebook page for The Animal Rescue Site.
Posted by: Phyllis | January 19, 2010 at 03:57 PM
What a wonderful update! I just adore Callie & love the silly pose. Gabe you are just beautiful no matter how many hairs & I'm glad to hear they are growing back. Thanks again for the update. I think about these 2 quite often. Hope Helen is doing well.
Posted by: Colleen & Sweet Kitty Erin | January 18, 2010 at 03:19 PM
It's awesome to see these 2 little cuties doing so great after radiation therapy! Good for them!
Shirley, I'm so sorry about your Border Collie. Nasal cancer is supposedly not common, but online I've found that there are plenty of dogs affected.
My Chi was just diagnosed with a nasopharyngeal adenocarcinoma, and I have a consultation with the radiologist tomorrow. They said they would shrink it first, then scoop out what's left later. Can anyone please give me anymore details on Gabe's successful protocol? I hope he and Callie both live many more happy, healthy years! And hopefully, my little guy will be just as lucky.
Posted by: Maggie | January 18, 2010 at 01:15 AM
WOO HOO!!! Way to bounce back woofies!
Posted by: Rhonda | January 15, 2010 at 06:34 PM
It's good to see them. They look great!
Posted by: Ev | January 15, 2010 at 02:32 PM
My dog, Jenny, had radiation (on her armpit/chest area) last year. Her last treatment was 16 months ago. The skin healed nicely, but she still has a bald spot in the middle that will not grow back. The rest of the fur around it came in nice and soft (and white), but it did take several months.
Like you, we cheered when we saw the first signs of whispy fur!
Hange in there, Gabe! You are handsome no matter what, and that fur just needs time to decide what it wants to do...
Posted by: Linda | January 15, 2010 at 12:19 PM
I am so glad to hear they are doing well! Wish I could reach through the computer screen and give them both a belly rub.
Posted by: Angela | January 15, 2010 at 11:51 AM
Sweet Callie and Gabe. They are the best! No doubt they are sharing the same thoughts: "How wonderful it is to be at Rolling Dog Ranch and be so well taken care of....and this cot is just so comfy....but can you move over just a little tiny bit, please?"
Posted by: Penny | January 15, 2010 at 11:15 AM
I can see the hairs growing back now Gabe....didn't think it was possible for you to become even more handsome.
So glad you and Callie have each other to share treatment stories with. I'm sure that makes things easier for both of you.
Wonderful to hear and see how well you both are doing.
Posted by: Chloe | January 15, 2010 at 10:38 AM
Glad to know they're both doing so well!
Posted by: Vicki Small | January 15, 2010 at 10:09 AM
Thanks a lot, Steve, for this great update (and picture of) on Gabe & Callie!
Please give them a huge hug for me.:-)
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | January 15, 2010 at 05:33 AM
Looks like Callie was calling roll at a meeting of RDR's Cancer Survivors Club ("Hey, where's everybody else?"). Gabe looks *worlds* better than the last time we saw him. Callie, of course, is a little doll as always.
Posted by: Moon Rani | January 14, 2010 at 09:42 PM
Thank you for the update. I love that little Callie! And Gabe too...
Posted by: Vickie | January 14, 2010 at 09:07 PM
Thanks for doing a blog on these two; I've been wondering about both of them since their cancer treatment. They both look great and I hope they are both around a long, long time.
Posted by: Cora | January 14, 2010 at 08:30 PM
Thanks for the update on these two good looking doggies! Yeah RDR!!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | January 14, 2010 at 08:23 PM
Yeah for them! How is Helen doing? Hopefully she is on the sweet side of life again. Thanks & give Gabe a special pat for me! I lost my Border Collie X in May to nasal cancer. It was heart wrenching & I'm so tahnkful for the 5 yrs. I had him.
Posted by: Lynn | January 14, 2010 at 08:23 PM