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Roscoe P. Coltrane, XXVI 12/2/95 – 8/29/08 Miracles Happen! After a summer filled with uncertainty, on August 22nd, 2006 we were given the sad news that our black lab, Roscoe was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. We were told that he would probably live for 1-3 more months. He was 10.5 years old at the time. It all started earlier that summer when we noticed one of Roscoe's eyes was very watery and swollen. He had to travel to Vienna, VA to have an MRI and surgery to determine the cause. A tumor was putting pressure on his eye. Unfortunately, they couldn't get to the cancer, determine the exact type, or treat it, because of where it was located. All we could do for him was to make his remaining days as comfortable as possible. So that's what we set out to do. We were concerned about whether or not he would suffer, and how would we know when it was time to take him in, if it got to that point? Our wonderful vet, Dr. Lori Elliott at Shady Grove Animal Clinic said that if he was in intense pain, we would see it in his eyes and know. Roscoe was prescribed steroids to stop the swelling, along with painkillers. Every time he had a bad day, we'd get the sinking feeling that it was the beginning of the end. But then he'd have some good days. What a roller coaster. I prayed every day that he could stay with us as long as he was comfortable. We did not want him to suffer. But I really wasn't ready to let go of him. The drugs made Roscoe super hungry and thirsty. To help him avoid gaining weight, we fed him canned vegetables with a little bit of dog food, because it is lower in calories. He ate 4 cans of vegetables each day! And he loved rice cakes for snacks. Holidays and milestones came and went, and Roscoe hung in there—for two more years. He began to lose his muscle mass because of the drugs and well, because he was old. In January 2007, we started taking him to ‘Paws to Swim’ in Rockville, VA. He swam in the pool every week to build his strength. It helped his quality of his life tremendously, and I believe the length of his life. ‘Paws to Swim’ was so wonderful to Roscoe. Roscoe had many medical issues and side effects since being diagnosed—arthritis, loss of muscle mass, and surgeries to remove growths and tumors. But through it all, he was such a trouper and maintained his spirit. He was worn and tattered, walked like an old man, had his good days and bad—but Roscoe was still Roscoe. Dr. Elliot confirmed along the way that emotionally and spiritually, he was still Roscoe. I hope that Roscoe brings hope to those with pets who have cancer, other medical conditions, or just old age. Every little thing that you can do to make their life more comfortable and to show how much you love and appreciate them gives encouragement. Whether it's laying rugs on slippery floors, putting heating pads on them, massaging them, installing ramps, or modifying their diet—you are doing all you can do, and most importantly they get the love and care they so deserve. As long as they are not suffering, your love and attention along with continually improving medical advances can beat the odds. I am so very thankful for having Roscoe in our lives and for the two extra years that we never expected. He is our super dog. He was an encouragement and a joy to me, every single day. Survivor Stories Please submit your pet's story to our web-site. We would love to hear from you and encourage you to share your story so that others may benefit from your situation. Submit stories to info@fetchacure.com |
