Darla's left eye going blind wasn't the only bad news last week. There was plenty. On Tuesday, I had taken Widget in for her post-chemo "re-staging" to see what the status of her lymphoma was. Since our oncologist, Dr. Kendra Knapik, had already determined Widget was in remission just a month ago, and since Widget just had her final chemotherapy treatment two weeks before, we weren't very concerned. She was her usual happy, active and bossy little self. The oncologist was out that day, so our internal medicine specialist, Dr. Marielle Goossens, did the tissue aspirates of her lymph nodes for pathology and supervised the rest of the tests performed by Kendra's team of vet techs.
On Wednesday afternoon, as that big snowstorm was roaring in, I was up at the hay barn feeding the goat bucks in their shed when Marielle called. She had just received the pathology report. Widget's lymphoma had returned. I was stunned. We had just finished the chemotherapy, Widget looked and acted like she was perfectly healthy, and we were expecting at least several months of smooth sailing ahead. It wasn't to be.
Kendra called later that night to review the findings and discuss our options. They ranged from putting Widget on a maintenance dose of prednisone, which might buy us weeks, to last-ditch "rescue" chemo drugs used in cases like this, to re-opening the original protocol and starting over.
What struck us as so strange is that Widget's remission had come in the wake of a steady treatment of the vinblastine/Cytoxan combination of drugs ... but for the last several treatments, spanning about 6 weeks, she had been only on a single chemo drug called Mitoxantrone. I asked Kendra if it were possible that for whatever reason, the Mitoxantrone just wasn't as efffective in her as the vinblastine/Cytoxan combination. She said there was no way to know for sure, but it was possible. Clearly Widget had gone out of remission quite quickly, and the only thing that changed during that time was the drug.
We weren't about to give up. If you watched Widget march around the place, tail up, bossy as ever, you'd never know she had cancer. As I write this on Monday morning, I can hear her at the other end of the house in the dog room, wooing away, demanding one of us come down and offer her a snack of her choice.
We decided to re-open the protocol and resume the vinblastine/Cytoxan treatment. The goal will be to knock the lymphoma back into remission, and then see how she's doing.
Kendra wanted us to bring Widget in right away to start treatment again. That was a problem, with the worst of the snowstorm descending Wednesday night and Thursday. I had already plowed Wednesday to keep up with the snow, and Thursday morning I got on the tractor again to open the drive once more. Just before noon I bundled Widget into the front seat of the truck, put Darla in the back seat (more on that in a minute), set the truck in 4-wheel drive, and headed off to Burlington. It took well over three hours, including time to stop and assist briefly at a roll-over accident along the way, but eventually Widget, Darla and I made it to the clinic.
While Widget was getting her vinblastine intravenously, I took Darla in to see our ophthalmologist, Dr. Sarah Hoy, again. I was still getting pressure spikes in her left eye in the morning, despite the additional glaucoma meds Darla was on. Sarah had hoped that after a few days Darla might regain a menace response, and thus vision, in that eye, but the pressure spikes I was registering before her morning eyedrops were troubling. It meant she was having significant spikes overnight.
Although her left eye looked much better than it did on Tuesday, it still didn't seem to have a menace response. Finally, Sarah taped a bandage over Darla's good right eye, put her on a leash, and walked out into the hallway with her. I could tell from how Darla was moving that she couldn't see. Her steps were tentative and her body language was fearful. My heart sank when I watched her walk into the wall. No, that left eye was blind and vision was not coming back.
Dang.
Now, instead of laser surgery to prevent glaucoma in that eye, we will be looking at removing that eye (enucleation) or doing an injection of Gentamicin, which "kills" the part of the eye that produces the fluid (called aqueous humor). It's the inability of the eye to adequately drain out this fluid that builds up the intraocular pressure, resulting in glaucoma and thus blindness. We haven't decided which option to take, but we'll make that decision by Wednesday, when we take her back to the clinic.
The (only) good news was that the three of us made it safely back to the farm Thursday evening. Widget has been getting her Cytoxan treatment here during the past few days (it's a pill we give her once a day).
I think I hear Alayne heading back down the stairs to see what Widget wants now. Full-time concierge service, I suspect.
Widget - may God keep you pain free and in His loving care - you have the BEST parents ever!
Darla - hang in there - be strong!!!!
Posted by: Nancy | April 04, 2014 at 12:38 PM
Tell Widget I have been battling the weather as well to make it to my radiology treatments for 6.5 weeks, but only an hour to drive it. I have these babies in my prayers. Thanks for all you do for these special animals.
Posted by: Phyllis Smith | March 28, 2014 at 11:13 AM
Widget, honey, you are SO loved!!!
Posted by: Heidi, Emmett the Beagle and Moxie the Kitty | March 24, 2014 at 10:38 PM
Oh dear. Hang in there.
Posted by: Ev | March 19, 2014 at 01:22 AM
Deep breath. One foot in front of the other. Sigh. Hugs for everyone.
Posted by: Mary H. | March 18, 2014 at 04:19 PM
I'm so sorry to hear about Widget and Darla, so disappointing for you. My thoughts with all of you.
Posted by: Dawn | March 18, 2014 at 11:03 AM
I first found your site many years ago when we knew that our oldest golden retriever would lose one of his eyes due to glaucoma that we could not control, despite concerted efforts from his specialist and us. Your experiences comforted me with the assurance that he could again be a happy dog without the pain of the glaucoma. I wish I could return that comfort to you with Darla's situation, but I know her case is a special one with extra hurt for her to lose that vision again. I, too, send you good wishes and good healing vibes for Darla and Widget and all the animals under your care.
Posted by: Linda P. | March 18, 2014 at 06:59 AM
My Mom has glaucoma. A specialist attached a tube to her eye to drain the fluid. Now she only has to use one drop per day in that eye. Could that be an option for Darla?
Posted by: Lynda in Michigan | March 18, 2014 at 06:47 AM
I will be praying that things go the way we all want them to go and that Widget and Darla are able to come out of all this doing well. They are both spunky, strong girls! Please make sure you and Alayne take care of yourselves during all this as well.
Posted by: Ann | March 17, 2014 at 10:56 PM
Very sad to hear about the girls. I can tell how attached you are to all of your dogs, and I am sorry to hear this news. Our dogs are so brave and they help us through THEIR problems with their strength.
Posted by: Nancy Towne | March 17, 2014 at 08:44 PM
Sigh................
Sending love, light and prayers.
Scary to drive in those conditions.
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | March 17, 2014 at 08:17 PM
Just read your current blog and I am so very, very sorry about all the bad news. I think all of us reading the blog become so attached to the dogs that when the bad news happens it just hurts so much. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. It is so unfair.
Posted by: Betsy | March 17, 2014 at 07:50 PM
I'm thinking good thoughts. Widget and Darla need to stay feisty and spunky.... It helps to kick out all the bad stuff if you stay feisty and spunky! (You too, Steve..... stay feisty!).
Posted by: Penny H | March 17, 2014 at 06:46 PM
Two of your dearest little ones have the big time "miseries" and you have to duck the storms to get them treatment. I understand, having been in that position many a time myself. You seem to hold up better than I. Sending much love to all of you and starting a "Winter Go Away" dance!
Posted by: Kathleen Rivard | March 17, 2014 at 04:59 PM
Oh, this must feel so frustrating! Treatment is working, and then it isn't. What a sad week you've had. I feel hopeful about Widget since she did so well on the treatment the first time around. I think I can hear the woo-ing from here!
Posted by: Tonya Allen | March 17, 2014 at 04:55 PM
Not good news, indeed. Prayers will be said for all involved. We know that all decisions made will be what's best for the doggies.
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | March 17, 2014 at 04:17 PM
Each time I read of a setback with any of the dogs, I am just crushed. I can only continue to marvel at all the two of you do to care for them and give them the best lives possible. Love and hugs to the humans and canines alike.
Posted by: Shirley Mc Fall and dachshunds Dieter the Dude and Phoebe Ann | March 17, 2014 at 02:17 PM
Stunned is right. Can't do anything but hope and pray for breakthroughs, and give thanks you all are safe at the farm.
Posted by: Linda | March 17, 2014 at 01:48 PM
First of all, I thank God you all made it there and home safely. And secondly, praying for both sweet girls and you guys.....so sorry for all the hard news. Trusting you will be led to make the right decisions in each situation.
Posted by: Leila - Allyn, WA | March 17, 2014 at 01:41 PM
I do not like this news. My thoughts are with all of you- here's hoping the chemo regimen works for Widget; that whatever the decision with Darla's eye that it goes well; and that you and Alayne weather this all, too.
Posted by: Ashley | March 17, 2014 at 01:38 PM
Dang it...So sorry about Darla and Widget!! Hopefully Darla will be able to keep her vision in her right eye...for her to be blind, get her sight back and then go blind again,how terrifying!!
I hope the protocol for Widget will put her back in remission so that she may continue to be her bossy self!!
Posted by: Laura, Levi & Timmy | March 17, 2014 at 12:44 PM
My heart sinks along with yours as
I read this post. The only saving grace is that these 2 adorable dogs are in your care and will receive only the best. Thank you for being such loving caregivers.
Hugs from me to you both (ALL)
Posted by: Shelly Entzminger | March 17, 2014 at 12:26 PM
So sorry to hear this news. Praying for Widget and Darla.
Posted by: Bev | March 17, 2014 at 12:17 PM
Bummer! Will send good thoughts and healing vibes.
Posted by: Miranda Brooks | March 17, 2014 at 11:41 AM