Walking without Keeper . . . and a Keeper update
 

Keeper had a second operation last week to remove a wider area around the cancer mass, as well as a lymph node, the latter for biopsy.

On a preliminary basis, the surgeon believes Keeper will be in the 80% to 85% of canines who will have no further issues with this particular cancer episode, based on the smaller size of the mass, location and the fact the lymph node wasn't enlarged/inflamed.

So everyone can hope Keeper isn't 15% to 20% unlucky when the biopsy results come back. Hopefully we'll know before I leave for Africa on Tuesday and I can update the thread with, double hopefully, good news.

Earlier in September, Keeper had a mass removed from her throat/chest area with a biopsy revealing it was a Class 2 skin cancer.

However, with a gigantic scar running down her throat/chest, we elected to leave Keeper behind as Abby and I charged up an arbitrary hill/mountain in K-Country Sunday morning. I'd run the Melissa's 22 km race the day before in Banff so the human was still a little sore!!

Below, Abby, without Keeper, on the way higher . . . .

[IMG]http://www.goldentales.ca/DSC_0301-edit1.jpg[/IMG]

Below, Abby on the edge, Fall colours starting to come out in force west of Turner Valley, Alberta.

[IMG]http://www.goldentales.ca/CSC_0406-edit1.jpg[/IMG]

Below, it was a hot walk on a deceptively cold morning . . . only about plus six celcius but pretty much straight up, hence the panting.

[IMG]http://www.goldentales.ca/DSC_0375-edit3.jpg[/IMG]

Below, going home . . . .

[IMG]http://www.goldentales.ca/DSC_0389-edit3.jpg[/IMG]

And, if you're interested, the previous weekend, with Keeper under the knife and Abby on the limp from her earlier misadventure (an unauthorized dive into the forest) and Rick needing a semi-serious climb before Kilimanjaro this coming week, it was up, up, up into the mist and rain of Mt. Indefatigible's north summit, about 3,000 feet altitude gain in roughly 2.5 hours, from 5,600 feet at Upper Kananaskis Lake to roughly 8,700 feet . . . . only my second walk without Abby or Keeper in about 10 years (the first was a week before that with Abby seriously limping and my brother in town).

Below, a nice surprise, the larch pine already turning golden.

[IMG]http://www.goldentales.ca/DSC_0067-edit1.jpg[/IMG]

Below, the view from the north summit. The south summit, across the valley, would have probably plunged me to my death on a slippery day like this!! I was wondering why there was no signage on this usually very popular trail but such is the frequency of bear encounters that the authorities don't want anyone to actually use it. I was alone in this place, encountering one chap near the bottom and then another fellow starting up as I was finishing. Upper Kananaskis Lake is in the background.

[IMG]http://www.goldentales.ca/DSC_0124-edit1.jpg[/IMG]

No bears this day but, below, a very friendly and lonesome deer lass encountered on the way down:

[IMG]http://www.goldentales.ca/DSC_0177-edit1.jpg[/IMG]

The good news, this hike didn't tire me out. And on Tuesday, it's off to 19,340 ft Kilimanjaro, which likely WILL tire me out. Badly.

Rick C
[url]www.goldentales.ca[/url]

[QUOTE=Rick C;664664]

On a preliminary basis, the surgeon believes Keeper will be in the 80% to 85% of canines who will have no further issues with this particular cancer episode


[COLOR="Red"]This is looking good Rick C ! I will :pray: for Keeper [/COLOR]

The good news, this hike didn't tire me out. And on Tuesday, it's off to 19,340 ft Kilimanjaro, which likely WILL tire me out. Badly.

[/QUOTE]

Will you be able to take any pics ? Good luck on mount Kilimanjaro , I'm sure you can do this , a friend of mine did and wasn't that much into shape :laughing:

Are you really climbing Mt Kilimanjaro?

Good vibes from Willow and I that Keeper is in the 80-85%.

Love this one
[quote]Below, Abby on the edge, Fall colours starting to come out in force west of Turner Valley, Alberta[/quote]

What a beautiful view & pic of Abby :lovestruck:

Loads of :goodvibes::fingerscr:pray::goodvibes: for Keeper

Musta been very strange going w/out Keeper this time & before without either dog :grouphug:

love the name Mt. Indefatigible :laughing:.
:goodvibes: for the Kilimanjaro trip - don't forget the pain killers & muscle relaxers :goodvibes:

I agree it must have felt strange to Abby going hiking without her best buddy. :D

Good luck for Keeper's biopsy results. :fingerscr :goodvibes:

Georgeous pics as always and I really love the "going home" one. :cloud9:

Wonderful pics :lovestruck:

Glad to hear the surgeon is optimistic about Keeper's prognosis. :thumbs up :goodvibes: :fingerscr :pray: for a full recovery so Keeper can continue to accompany Abby on thier hikes.

I do hope that the best outcome is the result. I always love the pictures you post here, but they did seem a little sad with just Abby in them since we are use to them being together. Thinking of you

:pray:for Keeper and 85%:fingerscr
To me the mounts you are walking in Alberta would be enough to do me in:laughing:but to you Kilimanjaro will be no problem,sounds like a great adventure.

lots of prayers & good vibes for keeper from us here too.

the pics are beauties! minus Keeper Abby must miss her :sad:

good luck with Kilimanjaro Were all rooting for ya.

[QUOTE=Frenchy;664667]Will you be able to take any pics ? Good luck on mount Kilimanjaro , I'm sure you can do this , a friend of mine did and wasn't that much into shape :laughing:[/QUOTE]

If you walk slowly enough, anyone can do Kilimanjaro. But altitude sickness can afflict the best athlete while leaving a granny without complications. Lots do it. Lots also fail. It's an adventure.

This is a New York Times interactive, if you're interested, with the author doing the same route and same trek company I'll be using.

[url]http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/10/26/magazine/20071028_KILIMANJARO_GRAPHIC.html#step1[/url]

[I][B]love the name Mt. Indefatigible .[/B][/I]

Most of the mountains in the Kananaskis Range are named after World War I British battleships and battle cruisers that fought at the Battle Of Jutland in 1916. Names like Inflexible, Indomitable, Indefatigible, Black Prince, Galatea, Romulus, etc or names of key players like Beatty and King George.

[I][B]for the Kilimanjaro trip - don't forget the pain killers & muscle relaxers [/B][/I]

Don't worry, I got lotsa drugs!!!

Rick C
[url]www.goldentales.ca[/url]

Rick, I'm praying Keeper will be one of the lucky 80-85%. Please keep us updated. And good luck on your climb!

[QUOTE=Rick C;664849]
Don't worry, I got lotsa drugs!!!

[img]http://www.pic4ever.com/images/Ghelyon.gif[/img]

Rick C
[url]www.goldentales.ca[/url][/QUOTE]

Thanks to sweet [COLOR="Red"]Growler [COLOR="Black"]who sends me your pics 1 by 1 Rick, I get to see them all.[/COLOR][/COLOR] :pray: for Keeper that God is in his court. Good Luck to you on your trip, I'm sure you will enjoy immensely.

I remember a song The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Sacha Distel (sp). Frenchy should be able to correct me on that :rolleyes:

[QUOTE=Rick C;664849][I][B]love the name Mt. Indefatigible .[/B][/I]

Most of the mountains in the Kananaskis Range are named after World War I British battleships and battle cruisers that fought at the Battle Of Jutland in 1916. Names like Inflexible, Indomitable, Indefatigible, Black Prince, Galatea, Romulus, etc or names of key players like Beatty and King George.

[I][B]for the Kilimanjaro trip - don't forget the pain killers & muscle relaxers [/B][/I]

Don't worry, I got lotsa drugs!!![/QUOTE]

:cool: Cool

:laughing: :thumbs up

And [COLOR="Red"]Chris[/COLOR] your welcome as always :D

:grouphug: and lots of :goodvibes: for Keeper. I hope and pray she will be one of the lucky ones.

The pics as usual are breathtaking! :thumbs up

And it goes without saying...... good luck on your upcoming climb and the runs before/after? Can't remember which one.

Rick! Sending you lots of good luck for both your trip and Keepeer on the road to recovery! I guess it must have been a bit weird not having Abby and Keeper to walk with you!

Once again your pics are so wonderful and always a pleasure to look at!

Good luck on your trip!

:grouphug::grouphug: Abby and Keeper!

Cindy

[QUOTE=Chris21711;664873]I remember a song The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Sacha Distel (sp). Frenchy should be able to correct me on that :rolleyes:[/QUOTE]

Sasha Distel Chris ? :laughing: I'm too hip to know his songs :cool:

:laughing:

[QUOTE=Frenchy;665568]Sasha Distel Chris ? :laughing: I'm too hip to know his songs :cool:

:laughing:[/QUOTE]

But, but you are French [img]http://www.pic4ever.com/images/prariedog1.gif[/img]

Wow, those pics are stunning :cloud9:. I'm glad the Keeper's surgery went well and I hope you get the good news we are all hoping for :fingerscr.

Just checking in Rick to see how Keeper & Abby are doing and as well how your trip went! Hope all is well!

Cindy

[QUOTE=Winston;676967]Just checking in Rick to see how Keeper & Abby are doing and as well how your trip went! Hope all is well!

Cindy[/QUOTE]

Thank you for asking.

Unfortunately, the news isn't as good as we'd hoped for Keeper.

When I was away, her biopsy results came back indicating the cancer had spread. She has had numerous tests since then and we are going to hear about her bone marrow results later today with a specialist. She has another lymph node that's about four times it's normal size that may have to come out for biopsy as well to see if its an infection or more cancer.

Keeper will have to do chemo. Just lining up the ducks right now. Keeper has a very shaved look from all of the tests. More later.

Made the summit of Kilimanjaro at 19,340 feet about a week and a half ago and did run the half-marathon in Amsterdam on Sunday. I'll post some pictures in the pet-free photo zone in a day or two.

Rick C
[url]www.goldentales.ca[/url]

Oh no! I was hoping for much better results for Keeper. :sad: She is such a sweetheart. Giant :grouphug: for her and you and your wife as well!! :fingerscr chemo helps.

Welcome back RickC and congrats for Kilimanjaro .....

I am so sorry for you and Keeper. :grouphug:

So sorry to hear it was not good news for Keeper :grouphug:.

Congrats on making it to the summit of Kilimanjaro:highfive:

Rick, I'm sorry to hear the news. I'll keep Keeper in my prayers. Getting her treatment fast will hopefully keep anything from spreading.

:pray:

:goodvibes: for Keeper, Rick. We'll keep her in our thoughts and prayers. :grouphug:

And congratulations on conquering Kilimanjaro! :thumbs up

:goodvibes::goodvibes::goodvibes: for [FONT="Book Antiqua"][I][SIZE="5"][COLOR="SandyBrown"]Keeper[/COLOR][/SIZE][/I][/FONT]

:grouphug::grouphug: for you and your wife and for Abby

I'm sorry about the test results for Keeper. I hope the chemo works well for her.

Cindy

I'm sorry about the cancer spreading :sad: :goodvibes: for the chemo
:grouphug: for Keeper, You, Mrs. C, Abby, Polly & Skyler

Congrats for Kilimanjaro :highfive:

:goodvibes::goodvibes:for you, your family and Keeper, of course. Hopefully everything has been caught early enough and that she will sail thru the chemo and pick up where she left off :fingerscr

:highfive: on Kilimanjaro and the half marathon. I can't wait to see your pictures. No doubt they will be spectacular, as usual.

So sorry to hear that Keeper's news was not good. Prayers to you all that her Chemo goes well. Congratulations on Kilimanjaro and your marathon Rick, looking forward to the pics.