follow Loki
on Twitter @LokitheDoberman
and of
course on Facebook! LokiFightsCancer or lokipuppyface@gmail.com
I 'got' Loki when he was 8 weeks old, and
while I was administrator at a group home for boys in partial custody of the
state. He was about the size of a
football at the time and I was able to bring him to work with me almost
everyday. All the clients and staff
alike fell in love with Loki and he became a major part of everyones lives
there. When the 'State' came in to
verify the policies and procedures of the group home, they found him laying on
his back offering his belly to a crying and deescalating client. Needless to say, Loki officially was
recognized as being the 'house dog' of the group home.
During our many years working over sixty
hours a week there (plus overnights), Loki made an enormous impact on many
children and adults. From a young
morbidly obese boy with gall stones who used his relationship with Loki to lose
weight, a young non-english speaker who was able to use Loki's 'presence'
during therapy to communicate, and multiple staff members who Loki reminded
what it was like to be a kid; Loki was part of the team.
LOKI THE
DOG:
I recently was an educator at a school
for children with different abilities.
Many of the students there were diagnosed with Autism, RAD, PDD, and
many other emotional/behavioral conditions.
Loki was unable to visit my students there, but I would call in to the
classroom on days that I was absent to check in with the students and allow
them to 'talk' to Loki on speakerphone.
Loki would bark, whine, howl, and even sing with accompaniament of a
harmonica or guitar for the children in response to their voices. I was able to bring Loki to a baseball game
for children with multiple physical impairments. On that day, my student did it like Big Papi
and hit the ball right out of the park!
LOKI THE
SICK:
I was about to fly out to do faciliate
some learning style observations on a very bright little girl, when my father
suggested to me to bring Loki in to have his back leg checked out. Loki had been limping for a week and I
assumed he had just sprained it jumping off of the deck, falling through the
deck, hiking, playing with our other dogs, or bouncing around the yard. I called and spoke to the amazing
receptionist at Ayer Medical Clinic who instructed me to bring Loki right in to
have it checked out.
As usual, Loki was greeted with open arms
and cookies as he galloped into the office.
I think he is one of the very few dogs who gets excited and brings me
the leash when I mention going to the vet!
He happily disapeared with the Vet. Tech. and I was instructed to come
back in about a half hour (I live a few doors down from the Vet) to get the
results. Those damned results.
As I entered the building I could see
something a little off about the eyes of the very kind and gentle
receptionist. The Dr. immediately met me
and brought me to look at what the x-rays were explaining was the cause of
Loki's limp.
OSTEOSARCOMA
It hurts me to even type the word. It's a very uncomfortable bone cancer thats
goal is to eventually spread to the lungs.
If I do nothing, we lose him in a couple months potentially. The other options would be to save the limb,
cut out the cancer, and replace the area bone with a Titanium alloy weave, or
take the entire hind quarter. Both
options come with some Chemo therapy to ensure/prevent spread or new
growth. Either option won't allow my
little buddy to live forever, but both could help enjoy perhaps a year or more
with a good quality of life.
Good of limb sparing: Still have a limb.
Bad of limb sparing: Recovery time almost
three months, and possible to have another surgery if things dont go
perfectly. Again, its all about the
quality of living at this point.
Solution?
Amputation. When the Dr. told me
recovery time was a few weeks and that Loki would be on his feet a few days
after the surgery, I thought he was full of balogna.
Because of the time sensitivity of the
Cancer, Loki had his rear right leg amputated on July 13, at Tufts Veterinary
Medical School in North Grafton, Ma. My family all squeezed in his little pen
and stretched out on the floor with him to rub his big face. It was Loki's first time not sleeping with
someone that he loved, and I didn't sleep the entire time that he was there
either. On th 15th of July we got to
pick him up and bring him home.
Was the Doctor full of balogna? NO!
Although he is a lot of work, Loki is doing very well and is doing five
stair steps at a time, doing all of his business, and finally sleeping through
the night. He has also gone to visit the
awesome people at Ayer Medical Center to show off his recovery. He still is uncomfortable, but stitches come
out soon and the Cancer treatment begins soon as well.
LOKI THE
EXPENSIVE:
During his very rich and positive life,
Loki has brought out the best any person who interacts with him. Cushioning the bills for all of his clumsy
stumbles and minor medical issues over the years has always been a little
struggle, but my entire family has made sacrifices in order to make sure that
Loki continues being a happy and healthy dog.
The surgery was obviously expensive, his
Cancer treatments and medicines will certainly be costly, the special bedding
and bowls and such will add up, and thats not to mention the Bully Stick bill!
(he's got to stay happy, right?)
I want the rest of Loki's life to be as
amazing and happy as it has always been.
I would love to be able to bring him to visit hospitals, vets, and group
homes to be able to continue to share and spread his love for life and
motivation.
LOKI THE CAUSE:
What Loki, myself, my family, and all
those that Loki has affected is asking for any type of donation to help cushion
the cost of all of his care.
Please donate any amount that you
can. Every cent goes to all of Loki's
bills, care, medicine, and supplies.
follow Loki
on Twitter @LokitheDoberman
and of
course on Facebook! LokiFightsCancer or lokipuppyface@gmail.com
