Flurry's Cancer...a Battle to be Won!
Skunkles Story is here, as a beginning to Flurry's Story...
Anne Nichols has become a dear friend of mine, and now...she is my angel. She helped my dog. Read on if this is of value or interest to you.. and start with Skunkles story above! Only do so if you have an open mind. If you are stuck in traditional/conventional veterinary medicine, and you choose to read on, its at your own risk! This is a bit of voo-doo; witchcraft; crazy shit that may not fit your thought process. And I am ok with that! All that matters is that Flurry is better because of this! And for that, we are so grateful...
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Flurry's Story follows here:
I returned from the BMDCA National Specialty on Sunday May 6, 2018, about 11:30pm after a 15 hour ride to Burr Ridge from Sturbridge MA. On my ride home, on the phone, Scott told me that "Flurry is bad, real bad" He didn't want to worry me while I was away, so that is when I got this info. (ugh!) I knew he'd run out of prednisone while I was gone, but I had no clue how bad the ramifications of that decision would be.
Got home and the tumor on Flurry's back was triple the size it was when I left just 5 days earlier. I was sooo upset. Prednisone was called in. I even convinced my vet to give antibiotic over the phone and via photos. Flurry was shaking in pain on that Monday...and my heart was breaking. She declined food for the first time in her life.
Then the guilt...I should not have left her. I should never leave an older dog again, its stressful for them and me, even though she is with Scott who loves her just as much as I do. I got pred into her late Monday. After a day, Flurry was not showing marked improvement, but she was back to eating by Wednesday morning, drinking and peeing a lot. Thank you, pred, for the midnight and 3am potty breaks. Thank you Flurry, for not peeing on the floor - good gurl!
Out of nowhere, on Friday, Anne texted me about a dog named Skunkles and her blog post about him. I laughed at his silly name, and went and read his story. Skunkles is a cancer dog that Anne helped, and as we communicated back and forth I realized that I too needed Anne's help.
I could not help but think that there was a higher power telling her to reach out to me. I had actually remembered that she did a session for a friends dog and had just thought of her, and wondered if she might be helpful to Flurry. Flurry has mast cell, spots all over, a bad one on her toe (where we first noticed it) and a really bad one on her back - large as the palm of my hand and while mostly floating in her skin, clearly it was infected and oozing. Mast cell tumors rot from the inside out, so I am told. Doesn't that sound just awful...it was happening before my eyes.
After some back and forth, by Sunday we had a session planned. I followed some pretty basic instructions, and Flurry and I just "made space" to allow Anne's energy work - a room free of distractions and noise, we simply sat together. It wasn't anything fancy or rigid. We just hung out. Anne and I texted a bit and the session was underway within a few minutes. Flurry and I just chilling out on the living room floor. I rubbed her tummy, and I cried for a multitude of known and unknown reasons...regardless of the long term outcome, I will treasure this hour - we were so well connected for the first time in Flurry's life. Was it guilt for not being full-on BFFs with my dog? For not treating her the same as the others? Maybe a bit...but then I also realized that Flurry didn't want the same. She was a "cool" dog. She wanted to lay by the door, instead of by my bed. She doesn't like to cuddle and gets restless when I force myself upon her - thinking she wants this too. Nope. She is a different, unique dog.
Flurry and I came to an agreement during this time, surrounded with Anne's energy work. I realized that SHE is happy watching her people's lives flourish, watching her daughter's life and watching her granddaughter's life. She thrives with others being happy...she is an observer...a guardian...a role model with utmost class. Flurry is well-trained, was easily trained, is so polite with people and other dogs. She is sweet with kids. She is always only "tolerating" the cats. She is the consummate mother and grandmother. This is where she shines. She does not want to be smothered with "lovies" and "kisses" and "snuggles"...she is just an ever-present calm around the house and pack.
These are the things Flurry and I "talked" about during our session. The fact that she chooses to sleep by the front door is not a dis of Scott and I...it's actually an honoring of us. She is the dog that is always on duty, putting herself under pressure, accepting and volunteering for jobs not even assigned to her. To be completely honest, Flurry and I have not been the very best of pals as relationships with dogs go, but we have trained together and raised puppies together...we trust and love each other. I haven't bonded with her the way I typically do with my dogs, and I have no explanation for this...but she made up for our relationship lapse 100-fold in that precious hour.
After our session, I talked with Anne. She let me know that there is no guilt - berners are willing participants of our lives and recipients of our pain, but that Flurry has accepted responsibility, and taken on the job of carrying my sadness about losing my dad. This, among other things, has become her personal mission. I had no idea. Whenever I have a rough day, about my dad's sudden death, or other stuff...there is Flurry. She literally kisses my mouth, breathes in my exhalations, and licks my tears away. This girl, the dog I thought to have the least strong bond with, is taking on the heaviest of burdens. My Flurry is literally sucking up my sad, and it's caused her health issues. Even though Anne said there is no blame, of course there is that...I caused this within her. I am sad and it made her sick. We all went to bed...simply exhausted. Scott's going to think I am completely insane.
Last outs and off to bed. Everyone, and I mean everyone...sleeps like a log. 5:45 I wake...no one else woke me. Flurry didn't have to pee at 3am. I rush to her. Out we go cuz "someone is about to piss on the floor"...but no. The birds are singing and the air is freshly cleaned from rain and smells like spring. We spend quite a bit of time out, then inside we go. Flurry rushes the door...excuse me? Flurry is running? Inside, the light goes on. I see her back...except what I do not see is evident. I touch her back, and she does not wince, I touch the tumor. It is soft and supple. What? It was hard as a rock and huge just last night. The area of her tumor is flexible, pliable, not painful...and I can feel her spine through it. I grab my camera. I photograph it...then I know Anne will want to see this. Video on. This is our outcome just 12 hours later.
This evening...she is still good, only pred 1x a day for now and we will wean off. I am no longer skeptical. I love this experience for so many reasons. We will maintain as long as possible. I cannot and will not give up on her. I love this dog and we are both loving this process. Scott has no clue what has happened while he's away. I can't wait to tell him! Even better, to show him.
Flurry...you are a star!
And Anne, you are an Angel. You are Magic!!!
At the time of this posting 5/25/18...Flurry is still doing really well and continuing to improve...I will update this as thing proceed.