 TO HELP MORE DOGS LIKE CLOVIS  |
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Clovis is a 7-year-old Great
Dane/Lab mix...a rare breed, but for anyone who knows dogs, there
couldn't be a better combination of sweetness and loyalty. A face that
melts your heart, she recently developed a tumor in her mouth. What
seemed like a simple infection turned out to be bad news for her mamma
who raised her from a helpless puppy from the pound,and moved her from
Texas to California to help her get through law school at Pepperdine
University. The news was grim when Karri took her to the most reputable
cancer center for dogs in Los Angeles. She was told that major
reconstructive surgery to her face would result in horrific side
effects. This was her initial diagnosis. Alternatively, heavy radiation
would be excruciatingly painful and disfigure her for life. This was
Clovis' second opinion.
Karri would not accept this. Clovis runs 5 miles a day in a canyon maintaining a healthy spirit....she is not a sick dog. Karri had taken time off work to take the bar exam before she could secure a job in a law firm. And while the good news came that she passed the bar exam and was offered positions in law firms, this good news came at the same time Clovis was diagnosed with cancer. There was no way she could leave Clovis alone. Instead of spending her time on job interviews, she sacrificed her time to search the internet for the best doctors and clinical trials that could help Clovis. She had been told by Clovis' vet that there were none. In a matter of a week of endless internet research, she came across a clinical trial program where dogs with the exact type of cancer as Clovis were being saved. Finally, a sliver of hope. Although all the research indicated that traditional surgery and radiation was Clovis' best hope for a healthy life, she applied for Clovis to be in a clinical trial program in San Diego due to her financial situation. Concurrently, Karri had no idea how she was going to pay any of it. Karri headed to San Diego, and on her way she got the message that the Magic Bullet Fund would help with medical costs. Amazingly, every door seemed to open for them. Because of The Magic Bullet Fund, Clovis now has every option available to her and the possibilities are endless.
Through tireless effort, bordering on insanity, Clovis and Karri have found the most aware and competent doctors in San Diego. Her team of Oncologists have nothing but hope for her success with traditional treatment. Clovis is set to have her much needed surgery on June 28. From there, Clovis will proceed with radiation therapy. Although they know it will be a rough road for the next 3 to 4 weeks, because of The Magic Bullet Fund, Clovis will have treatment. We can all rest assured that Clovis will soon be chewing on a bone and running in the Canyon just as she has always done, and her precious intuition will continue to guide all of those who love her.
JUNE 26, 2006
Wow. I don't know what to say. I haven't had any
good news in what
feels like an eternity. We are so grateful. I am taking Clovis to get a
second opinion today in San Diego with the possibility of getting her
into a clinical trial for antiangiogenic therapy. From everything that
I have read, her best option is to have the surgery and conservative
radiation (once a week for 3-4 weeks) and then begin the clinical trial
3-4 weeks after her last radiation treatment. That may actually be
possible now with your help. I simply do not have the words to tell you
how much this means to me. I am actually crying out of happiness for
once! I am overwhelmed with gratitude.
Thank
you so very much,
Karri and Clovis
Karri and Clovis
JUNE 27, 2006
Laurie,
I can't believe how fast everything is moving now! My boyfriend is a
writer and he really wants to write something special about her. We
have been together for eleven years and he loves her (almost) as much
as I do. I will also have an update about her treatment plan,
prognosis, etc. on Wednesday. We are going back for her CT scan and a
consult with the surgeon and radiation oncologist. I just can't believe
how hopeless I was feeling just two days ago! We have been so
blesssed! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Karri
and Clovis
July 6, 2006
Clovis has required round the clock
attention, so I have lost all
contact with the outside world. The surgery went well according to all
sources. However, they had to put tubes in her nose to keep her nasal
passage open and to prevent scar tissue from forming in her nose.
Absent the tubes, she would be fantastic. It would be an understatement
to say that she is uncomfortable.
Clovis was in ICU for two days.
As for additional treatment, the surgeon informed me that Clovis will need radiation treatment in order to insure that the cancer is gone. He told me that with the surgery and radiation Clovis should live her normal, healthy life span. I have not been told what the radiation treatment will cost. I am trying to focus on the here and now since she cannot begin the radiation until she is completely healed from the surgery- roughly four to six weeks.
Long story short, we still need help!
Karri and Clovis
Clovis was in ICU for two days.
As for additional treatment, the surgeon informed me that Clovis will need radiation treatment in order to insure that the cancer is gone. He told me that with the surgery and radiation Clovis should live her normal, healthy life span. I have not been told what the radiation treatment will cost. I am trying to focus on the here and now since she cannot begin the radiation until she is completely healed from the surgery- roughly four to six weeks.
Long story short, we still need help!
Karri and Clovis
July 11, 2006
Clovis had surgery on June 28. I don't know
which was more nerve wracking for me - the 3 1/2 hours that she was in
surgery or the 2 days in doggie ICU. Clovis has never been in a
cage/kennel of any kind so I'm sure she was terrified on top of all the
pain and discomfort. According to all sources, the surgery went as well
as anyone could have hoped. The only problem was that she was extremely
anxious and had to be given sedatives in order to keep her calm and
still. I'm sure I drove all the techs crazy with my constant
calls, but no one made me feel like a crazy mother.
I picked her up on Friday and she was definitely ready to get out of there. It was a little shocking to see her. Her face and nose were really swollen and she had orange tubes coming out of her nose and alot of bright blue stiches around her nose and lips. When we first got into the car, she seemed incredibly anxious and uneasy. I can't (and don't want to) even imagine the trauma that she went through. After a couple of hours in the car, she started to relax. I'm sure it took her a while to realize that the nightmare was over. However, the first few days at home were a little rough. I could tell she was in pain and had a hard time getting comfortable with the tubes in her nose. She would only sleep in 15-20 minute spurts, which meant that I only slept in 15-20 minute spurts. By Tuesday the 4th, she was weaned off of all the pain meds and started to come around. I could see the spark in her eyes again. But coming off all the meds also made her much more aware of the tubes in her nose so she really started fighting them.
We had our post-op follow up on Friday, July 7th. Although the original plan was to keep the tubes in for 2-3 weeks, her surgeon decided to remove them because they were causing her such distress. Her surgeon assured me that she is healing very well so there should not be a problem with nasal stricture. I was nervous about taking her back to the hospital because I was convinced that she would not go willingly through those doors. To our astonishment, she ran right in like nothing had ever happened!
Her next appointment is this Friday when she will have her sutures removed. We will also be getting the complete pathology report which will determine how much radiation she will need.
Now that the tubes are out, she is getting back to her old self. She really wants to run and play. The only issue we are dealing with now is boredom. Clovis is not used to laying around the house all day, and neither am I! We are gradually increasing the duration of her walks so that she will be back on the hiking trail as soon as we get the green light.
Thank you to the fund and to everyone who is donating toward Clovis' treatment,
Karri and Clovis
July 18, 2006I picked her up on Friday and she was definitely ready to get out of there. It was a little shocking to see her. Her face and nose were really swollen and she had orange tubes coming out of her nose and alot of bright blue stiches around her nose and lips. When we first got into the car, she seemed incredibly anxious and uneasy. I can't (and don't want to) even imagine the trauma that she went through. After a couple of hours in the car, she started to relax. I'm sure it took her a while to realize that the nightmare was over. However, the first few days at home were a little rough. I could tell she was in pain and had a hard time getting comfortable with the tubes in her nose. She would only sleep in 15-20 minute spurts, which meant that I only slept in 15-20 minute spurts. By Tuesday the 4th, she was weaned off of all the pain meds and started to come around. I could see the spark in her eyes again. But coming off all the meds also made her much more aware of the tubes in her nose so she really started fighting them.
We had our post-op follow up on Friday, July 7th. Although the original plan was to keep the tubes in for 2-3 weeks, her surgeon decided to remove them because they were causing her such distress. Her surgeon assured me that she is healing very well so there should not be a problem with nasal stricture. I was nervous about taking her back to the hospital because I was convinced that she would not go willingly through those doors. To our astonishment, she ran right in like nothing had ever happened!
Her next appointment is this Friday when she will have her sutures removed. We will also be getting the complete pathology report which will determine how much radiation she will need.
Now that the tubes are out, she is getting back to her old self. She really wants to run and play. The only issue we are dealing with now is boredom. Clovis is not used to laying around the house all day, and neither am I! We are gradually increasing the duration of her walks so that she will be back on the hiking trail as soon as we get the green light.
Thank you to the fund and to everyone who is donating toward Clovis' treatment,
Karri and Clovis
The diagnosis is now officially multilobular osteosarcoma, a
much
friendlier cancer. We will find out in the next couple of days about
the margins. According to her surgeon, if the margins are clean
we just might be done with all of this! No radiation, no chemo
neccessary. This is all so incredible. Just one month ago, the first
oncologist that we saw said that she would be dead in 9-12 months with
or without treatment. I made Dr. Aiken repeat "she will live her
normal, healthy lifespan" at least three times.
At her appointment on Friday, Clovis' stitches came out. She looks so much better. Hospital staff that I had never seen were coming out to see her and take pictures. Even her surgeon was taking pictures- he is really proud of his work. The swelling continues to come down. It's almost like nothing ever happened. Her nose is shorter and her bottom teeth on one side stick out like a bulldog. A little different, but still beautiful. She continues to breathe easily through her nose. At this point, the only thing we have to watch is nasal stricture over the next few weeks which does not seem to be an issue at all. I can't stop thinking about what could have happened if I had listened to the first doctor who also said that any surgery would have "gruesome" and "horrific" consequences. God bless the second opinion!
Dr. Aiken is supposed to call me with the complete path report this week. Once everything is in, I will have them fax it all to you. Clovis is not scheduled for any more appointments at this point- unbelievable!
Karri and Clovis
At her appointment on Friday, Clovis' stitches came out. She looks so much better. Hospital staff that I had never seen were coming out to see her and take pictures. Even her surgeon was taking pictures- he is really proud of his work. The swelling continues to come down. It's almost like nothing ever happened. Her nose is shorter and her bottom teeth on one side stick out like a bulldog. A little different, but still beautiful. She continues to breathe easily through her nose. At this point, the only thing we have to watch is nasal stricture over the next few weeks which does not seem to be an issue at all. I can't stop thinking about what could have happened if I had listened to the first doctor who also said that any surgery would have "gruesome" and "horrific" consequences. God bless the second opinion!
Dr. Aiken is supposed to call me with the complete path report this week. Once everything is in, I will have them fax it all to you. Clovis is not scheduled for any more appointments at this point- unbelievable!
Karri and Clovis
August 10, 2006
Clovis may need to have 15-18 radiation
treatments! We are waiting to
hear from two onco radiologists in New York for their opinions.
Needless to say, I am devestated. We have finally gotten back to
normal, tho. Clovis is running 5 - 6 miles a day and devouring bones -
her personality is back in full force. At this point, I figure my best
plan is to await the opinions from the other doctors. I am trying not
to freak out, but it is no easy task. After everything I went through
to find the right doctors for her, I am starting to feel like I should
start seeking a fourth (or is it fifth?) opinion.
Karri and Clovis
Karri and Clovis
September 1, 2006
Clovis will need 15-18 radiation treatments
in the next couple of
months. I will schedule an appointment with a local radiation
onclogist soon. I wanted to give her a couple of
months "off" after everything she went through which the doctor said
was fine. I have no idea how we are going to handle the
radiation. From what I have been told, the treatment schedule
will be Monday through Friday for three to four weeks which essentially
means that I will have to take off work for a month.
Clovis is doing great- running 5-6 miles almost everyday, eating like a champ (she has gained back most of the weight that she lost post-surgery) and begging for bones. Her personality and energy are back to "pre-cancer" levels. We are trying to live in the present and not dwell on the next round of treatment hanging over our heads.
Karri
Clovis is doing great- running 5-6 miles almost everyday, eating like a champ (she has gained back most of the weight that she lost post-surgery) and begging for bones. Her personality and energy are back to "pre-cancer" levels. We are trying to live in the present and not dwell on the next round of treatment hanging over our heads.
Karri
March 8, 2007
Clovis is still amazing. The only
vestige of her ordeal is her
precious underbite and crooked snoot. Absolutely adorable. Most
people assume that she is some kind of rare breed. She is, but not yet
recognized by the AKC. Right now,we are getting ready for a road trip
home to Texas. My friends and family back home are quite anxious to see
her with her "surgically enhanced" appearance. She continues to run
with me like a champ - we're back up to 35 miles a week!
Every day with Clovis is a blessing!
Karri and Clovis
Every day with Clovis is a blessing!
Karri and Clovis