Still Waiting and Hoping

Friday 5:55 a.m., edited to add: 

I have good news to report on our little dog Beaux. Her PCB is at 19 and holding (that is the percentage of red blood cells--normal is 30, it was 6 when she went in) after her 2nd blood transfusion. This likely means the medicine is helping her body to not destroy it's own blood cells. We are now not just "possibly" cautiously optimistic, but "actually" cautiously optimistic.

When the fog clears I will write a comprehensive post about this whole experience and things you should think about before you find yourself bawling your eyes out while looking at a high/low cost estimate in a veterinary emergency room

Just over 24 hours after our sweet Beaux was, quite literally, at death’s door she is resting comfortably and improving very, very slowly.

The very slowly part is actually a positive sign. If her condition, Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia, was a secondary symptom of cancer, rather than the primary disease itself, the blood transfusion would have perked her right up.

We elected not to do the 1500 dollars worth of CAT scans, x-rays and sonograms that are needed for a cancer diagnosis because we know we would not do chemo for an animal. We are treating her according to what the odds say her disease probably is based on her breed and her symptoms.

It’s looking right now as though we wagered correctly—which doesn’t mean she’s out of the woods (she is far from it they are sure to remind us). Once her blood count is up the immunosuppresant drugs will hopefully begin to work.

It is beyond difficult to put a price tag on the love you have for a pet; our price is high, but will it be high enough? I hope so. I really do.

Comments

[allmycke]

I was going to ask if you can insure pets, but then I realised how dumb it sounded... Of course you can, but what are the premiums like?

I'm happy for Beaux and your family - I know the heartache.

[jenrantsraves]

I'm so glad she is doing okay!

[Manic Mommy]

The math is truly surreal. The ultimate "death panel."

My thoughts are with you and your little girl.

[jenn]

I'm so glad to hear Beaux's improving. We faced a $3700 surgery (with a 30% chance of survival) once for our cat, when there was no possible way we could afford it. It made me physically ill, but we had to have her put down. It's not just human health care that's broken in this country.

[Slow Panic]

It's such a hard thing to determine -- how much you can or are willing to spend on pet care in times like this. I'm so glad she's improving. I've been thinking about all of you.

[busy bee suz]

I am glad that she is improving...keep on hoping for the best. Fingers crossed here!

[MamaHenEm]

So glad that she is getting better. My mom kept a cat on dialysis for almost two years once. As much as I say I wouldn't spend the money, there is NO WAY I could watch our kitty suffer if there was something we could do! Sometimes the cost IS worth it!

[green girl in Wisconsin]

Good news! I'm glad to read she's comfortable.

[Smalltown Mom]

It's good to hear she is doing better.

[Mamie]

Super Scout the Beagle sends Beaux his best wishes and hopes for a good recovery (and so do his people)!

[kcinnova]

Breathing an optimistic sigh of relief here over your good news.
Health care costs --for anyone-- make me shudder.

[Fannie]

Hard decisions to be sure. Hope she continues to do well.

[Tammy]

Still sending healing thoughts her way!

[Suzy]

Yay!

[Kelly, The Glass Dragonfly]

Hopeful news...I will still be keeping her in my thoughts.

[phd in yogurtry]

Gosh, what a difficult set of decisions you faced. Hoping you continue to get good numbers. We're in same category as you all - we're not going to cash in the college savings to save our dog. Fortunately our veterinarian understands "it's just a dog." That said, I hope I'm never standing in a clinic faced with these "dollars and sense" decisions.

[Deb D]

I'm glad to hear that Beux is improving. Our 12 year old, Mindy has cancer. Before getting the official diagnosis we had decided that there was no way we would treat it aggressively - her age made this decision much easier for us. She is currently on a low dose chemo aimed at shrinking or at least slowing down the tumour growth. It's not working and the chemo seems to have knocked the stuffing out of her so we won't be continuing it. We'll do what we can to keep her comfortable for as long as we can.

[JCK]

Sending big hugs to you, Jenn. Keeping all of you in my thoughts. So glad that your doggie is hanging in there.