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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 . . . . Below, Abby on the edge, Fall colours starting to come out in force west of Turner Valley, Alberta. Below, it was a hot walk on a deceptively cold morning . . . only about plus six celcius but pretty much straight up, hence the panting. Below, going home . . . . 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. 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. No bears this day but, below, a very friendly and lonesome deer lass encountered on the way down: 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 www.goldentales.ca
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"Dear Lord, help me to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am." - Anonymous Last edited by Rick C; September 28th, 2008 at 09:20 PM. |
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Are you really climbing Mt Kilimanjaro?
Good vibes from Willow and I that Keeper is in the 80-85%.
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www.dogster.com/dogs/563959 If you learn one new thing from each person you meet, you will be a fountain of knowledge and your life complete. --Me |
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Love this one
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Loads of for Keeper Musta been very strange going w/out Keeper this time & before without either dog love the name Mt. Indefatigible . for the Kilimanjaro trip - don't forget the pain killers & muscle relaxers
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Avoid biting when a simple growl will do The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying |
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I agree it must have felt strange to Abby going hiking without her best buddy.
Good luck for Keeper's biopsy results. Georgeous pics as always and I really love the "going home" one. |
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Wonderful pics
Glad to hear the surgeon is optimistic about Keeper's prognosis. for a full recovery so Keeper can continue to accompany Abby on thier hikes.
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Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
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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
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Abby's Mom |
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for Keeper and 85%
To me the mounts you are walking in Alberta would be enough to do me inbut to you Kilimanjaro will be no problem,sounds like a great adventure.
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"The cruelest animal is the Human animal" 3 kitties,Rocky(r.i.p my boy),Chico,Vinnie Last edited by chico2; September 29th, 2008 at 07:41 AM. |
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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. |
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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. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...HIC.html#step1 love the name Mt. Indefatigible . 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. for the Kilimanjaro trip - don't forget the pain killers & muscle relaxers Don't worry, I got lotsa drugs!!! Rick C www.goldentales.ca
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"Dear Lord, help me to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am." - Anonymous |
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Rick, I'm praying Keeper will be one of the lucky 80-85%. Please keep us updated. And good luck on your climb!
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There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1. http://nuriaandthegang.shutterfly.com/ |
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I remember a song The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Sacha Distel (sp). Frenchy should be able to correct me on that |
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And Chris your welcome as always
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Avoid biting when a simple growl will do The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying |
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and lots of for Keeper. I hope and pray she will be one of the lucky ones.
The pics as usual are breathtaking! And it goes without saying...... good luck on your upcoming climb and the runs before/after? Can't remember which one.
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Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me. We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD! |
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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! Abby and Keeper! Cindy
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Tabitha April 10, 1995 - August 23, 2013 Bomber April 10, 1995 - July 12, 2010 Winston Nov 15, 1999 - September 15, 2011 Sophie Aug 30, 2011 "UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED" He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -Unknown |
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But, but you are French
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Wow, those pics are stunning . I'm glad the Keeper's surgery went well and I hope you get the good news we are all hoping for .
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"Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead |
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Just checking in Rick to see how Keeper & Abby are doing and as well how your trip went! Hope all is well!
Cindy
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Tabitha April 10, 1995 - August 23, 2013 Bomber April 10, 1995 - July 12, 2010 Winston Nov 15, 1999 - September 15, 2011 Sophie Aug 30, 2011 "UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED" He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -Unknown |
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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 www.goldentales.ca
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"Dear Lord, help me to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am." - Anonymous |
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Oh no! I was hoping for much better results for Keeper. :sad: She is such a sweetheart. Giant for her and you and your wife as well!! chemo helps.
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Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me. We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD! |
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Welcome back RickC and congrats for Kilimanjaro .....
I am so sorry for you and Keeper. |
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So sorry to hear it was not good news for Keeper .
Congrats on making it to the summit of Kilimanjaro
__________________
Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
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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.
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There are only two rules at my house: House rule #1. Cats rule. House rule #2. See rule #1. http://nuriaandthegang.shutterfly.com/ |
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for Keeper, Rick. We'll keep her in our thoughts and prayers.
And congratulations on conquering Kilimanjaro!
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"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference." "It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!" "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." |
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for Keeper
for you and your wife and for Abby
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Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts." |
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I'm sorry about the test results for Keeper. I hope the chemo works well for her.
Cindy |
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I'm sorry about the cancer spreading :sad: for the chemo
for Keeper, You, Mrs. C, Abby, Polly & Skyler Congrats for Kilimanjaro
__________________
Avoid biting when a simple growl will do The Spirit Lives As Long As Someone Who Lives Remembers You - Navaho Saying |
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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
on Kilimanjaro and the half marathon. I can't wait to see your pictures. No doubt they will be spectacular, as usual. |
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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.
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