While I was waiting, one of the surgery techs stopped to chat. Apparently she assisted on his amputation, though I had never met her before. She told me what a great dog he is and how everyone looks forward to his visits. She also mentioned that he gets to go on a tour of the hospital each time he comes in so that all the different departments get a chance to see him. I'd never been told that before and it cracked me up.
Dr. Janson came and sat with me for a bit while Hudson was in back getting his treatment. Our next step is to take chest films at his next appointment (October 19.) Once we assess the effect that chemo has had on his tumors, we will evaluate and determine next steps for treatment. He's still asymptomatic and Dr. Janson does not hear any difference or difficulty in H's breathing. We are keeping our fingers crossed that his tumors will have either remained the same size, or gotten smaller. If there has been growth, we will likely stop chemo and begin pain management regimens to keep him comfortable for the time he has left.
Once Hudson's chemo was done, he hung out with me in the lobby while we waited for our discharge instructions. AHSC has a giant freshwater aquarium and Hudson is absolutely fascinated by the fish.
Dr. MacGregor came out and went over discharge instructions with us. She also mentioned that there was going to be an amputation surgery the next day for a pit mix with a pathologic fracture. (This is when the tumor in the bone weakens the existing bone structure so much that the leg breaks. It can break over something as simple as chasing a ball in the backyard, or even just going for a walk.) The dog's family was very torn about making the decision to amputate, so the doctors had used Hudson as an example of how quickly and beautifully a dog can adapt to three legs. Dr. MacGregor told me that they were taking pictures and video of Hudson walking around in the back to show the family. Additionally, she asked if I had any words of wisdom or encouragement to offer the family. I basically said that amputation was the best decision we could have made for Hudson. After he had recovered from surgery, he was a completely different dog. So much of his personality had leached away because he was in pain. It happened gradually, so we didn't even notice and just assumed he was getting old. After the pain was gone, my boy was back! The dog that loved to play and wrestle and toss his toys in the air reappeared. Even if we lose him in a few months, I will know that his last few months were happy and pain-free. I don't regret amputation at all!
