“The love of a dog is a pure thing. He gives you a trust which is total. You must not betray it.”
– Michel Houellebecq
Booma, The King
March 16, 2015 - August 23, 2024
Booma is our amazingly funny, smart, and beautiful 9-year-old German Sheperd. I took the above photo in February 2024. He was loving the snow and posing, as usual.
When we were considering adding a furry family member 9+ years ago, we did a lot of research and ended up at this wonderful place called Painted Blessings Ranch that was located in northern NH. After a few visits and several correspondences, we went back to visit and meet a newly born litter of cuteness, and the rest is history.
As you can imagine, the pups were adorable. How would we choose? We took them, one by one for a quick little walk outside of their space and played and let them walk and stumble around over their own cute little feet. But there was one puppy who made his presence known.
After placing this one pup back, he continued to cry and even tried to crawl his way out of the pen to get our attention. When we went back into the area, he was literally jumping on his hindlegs with excitement. And his eyes were fixed on one person: my husband, Mike. Wherever Mike went, the puppy followed him and if Mike was out of his sight, he cried until he saw him again.
It was clear as day; our puppy had just picked his new family. Meet 5-week-old Booma, happily sitting on his new best friend's lap. I love this photo so much. It's a true reflection of the unconditional love they have for one another. A bond that was created from the first touch that cannot be broken. True love.
Fast forward to March 2024. At the time, symptoms were there but too subtle to see. He had just turned 9 that same month and also had his annual physical that included blood work. Everything looked good. He was sleeping more and taking a little longer to recover after playing ball but again, he's 9 years old and that must be normal at his age. His veterinarian wasn't concerned, and we weren't concerned either. Everything else was normal; eating, sleeping, potty patterns, it all appeared to be life as usual until it wasn't.
We're in April now and beginning to notice changes in his eating patterns. There are inconsistences appearing with eating his AM meals and we're noticing that he's eating grass on occasion. Sometimes he's interested in his food and sometimes, he won't even look at it, but he'll eat a treat and he's eating his PM meals and they're the same as his AM meals. What gives? Maybe along with feeling his age, he's also becoming finicky? Mike and I talked about a visit to the vet, but he was just there and then suddenly, he would start eating and appearing to be in better spirits. It would be another few days or so before vomiting would start.
A dog vomiting is not something to take lightly. Usually, you're able to work backwards to identify the cause. Sometimes, and with some dogs, you don't know how they managed to do it, but they've eaten a sock or some other obscure object that is unthinkable. However, when your dog is vomiting, eating grass and then graduates to eating dirt, rocks and even pieces of large branches, you know something bad is happening. The conversations with our vet went from observations we were noticing to urgent, worrisome concerns for our fur baby. We found ourselves with multiple visits to the vet and leaving there no more informed about what was happening then when we arrived. Despite weight loss, vomiting, lack of appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, and worsening signs of PICA, all symptoms that we shared with and/or were recorded by our vet, bloodwork would not be completed until two weeks into what was becoming a nightmare, and it was only completed because we demanded it. In that time, there was an Xray given to see if Booma had gotten into something that could be causing a blockage but again bloodwork would not be performed for another week. During conversations describing Booma's symptoms to our vet, they never once used the term PICA. It was something we discovered on our own while researching Booma's behavior and symptoms. If you're unfamiliar with the term PICA, it's categorized as a phycological condition with three major causes and is a significant symptom of gastrointestinal cancer in dogs. The three major causes are:
-Behavorial Disorders
-Medical Conditions
-Medications
It's May 15th and we're finally on our way to the vets for bloodwork. At weigh in, he's lost 3lbs from the week before and based on his lack of appetite, we're not surprised but it's leaving a pit in our stomachs. The morning of May 16th, we get a call from the vet with bloodwork results and they're showing that Booma is anemic. The tone is urgent. The anemia diagnosis combined with his other symptoms is telling a scary story, and the next step is for Booma to have an ultrasound performed immediately. And off we go to have an emergency abdominal ultrasound. It would be another four agonizing hours before we receive the heart wrenching results.
The doctor is on her way with the results and we're trying to prepare ourselves for the news, but we were not prepared for this. They found a large mass in the lining of his stomach and after a fine needle aspirate, they've confirmed the diagnosis of gastrointestinal lymphoma. Gut punch is all I can recall feeling. For the both of us, the feelings of guilt were overwhelming. The feeling of fear for Booma was almost unbearable. The life light of our home for the last 9 years was critically ill, and we were feeling helpless and, in that moment, hopeless. The doctor is compassionate and is delivering this horrible news as gently as she possibly can. She continues that based on his symptoms combined with the ultrasound and biopsy results, it appears he is stage 5 of 5 and in that moment, our hearts are breaking.
We have so many questions. Where is our puppy? We want to be with him now. What caused it? Is he in pain? Has he been in pain this entire time? And the question we were both most afraid to ask, what are his options?
There are two options to consider:
Option 1, and the reality of his diagnosis was he would be sent home with prednisone to treat his symptoms. Prednisone is a steroid that most people are familiar with. The short-term role that prednisone would take is to shrink the tumor, which in theory will stop the bleeding and allow Booma to "heal" so that he can return to somewhat of a "normal" state. Eat without vomiting, and feel lively, alert and vibrant again. Unfortunately, this option yields results for about 2 weeks before the disease overpowers the drug, and the symptoms are back with a vengeance.
Option 2, consult with an oncologist about treatment options. Despite Booma's diagnosis, he is in good health and may be a good candidate for what's called the CHOP protocol. A chemotherapy treatment plan specifically for dogs with lymphoma. Gastrointestinal lymphoma is uncommon however, can be treated with this same protocol. Most dogs handle chemo treatments well and depending on their overall health and the type and stage of their disease can continue with a high quality of life for months and even years.
Okay, we have our option.
After several calls and many emails later, we were able to land an appointment the following week for an oncology consult with the Maine Veterinarian Medical Center in Scarborough, ME. They are 1 of 26 facilities in the US that offers this type of urgent care, and we were relieved to have an appointment to talk through Booma's options. To date, the entire experience with MVMC has been wonderful. They have been incredibly responsive, and even anticipating our questions and sharing the information we need in advance, which has helped with planning ahead.
On May 21st, Booma began is chemotherapy treatment under the CHOP protocol at MVMC. Booma handled his first treatment like a trooper! That date was also our first consult with Dr. Jeffrey Philibert, who was extremely helpful, and upfront with us about expectations regarding Booma's treatment options. The CHOP protocol is an 18-to-26-week chemotherapy treatment plan with treatments scheduled for the first 4 weeks consecutively followed by bi-weekly treatments throughout the remainder of the protocol. During the first four weeks of treatment, prednisone is part of the CHOP protocol with the dosage reduced each week up to entering week 5 of treatment.
May 21st: Week 1 Chemo (Vincristine +/- L-asparaginase <-one time dosage)
May 21st: Week 1 Chemo (Vincristine +/- L-asparaginase <-one time dosage)
May 28th: Week 2 Chemo (Cyclophosphamide)
June 4th: Week 3 Chemo (Vincristine)
Upcoming treatment: June 11th: Week 4 Chemo (Doxorubicin)
While Booma is doing well with his treatments, they do present challenges related to his everyday care. We're able to work around them but feel like it's important to share what they are in the event you find yourself in a similar and unfortunate situation.
Today is Tuesday, June 11th and week 4 of Booma's chemotherapy, CHOP treatment. He received the most powerful drug of the protocol today called doxorubicin and he's home and resting. It was a long day for him today. Poor guy is exhausted but when he got home, he drank his water, ate his dinner, and hung outside with his BFF watching him water the lawn, listening to the birds, and watching the traffic go by. It was the perfect afternoon to be outdoors, and Boom Boom took advantage of it!
Each of his treatments begin with bloodwork. This is to confirm that Booma meets the criteria for his treatment. It's all about his CBC or his Complete Blood Count to ensure that he is in a safe condition to receive his treatment. So far at each appointment, he gets a thumbs up, which is positive and gives us hope. It doesn't mean that his numbers are great. Booma is anemic and that number is not improving. He needs for his hematocrit or HCT to rise significantly. A normal range for a dog is 35% to 55% of their blood will be red blood cells. As of this morning, Booma's red blood cells are at 18%. At 15%, he'll be in a critical state, and we will need to consider a transfusion, which introduces an entirely different set of challenges and hurdles.
So, with his HCT continuing to be low, we went in today knowing that he would have an ultrasound to see if there were any changes with the mass or if something else was contributing to his anemia. The ultrasound results were not as positive as we had hoped for. There were no changes in the size of the mass; it hadn't grown, and it hadn't shrunk either. Not the results any of us were expecting.
With the DOX and an increase in his prednisone dosage, we are hopeful that this is the combo that will start to show positive results. We'll know more during next week's CBC check and will share those results with all of you.
Thank you again for the love and support for our amazing Booma! He's a fighter and trying so hard to get better. We appreciate everyone's kindness and share it with Booma through lots and lots of extra kisses, hugs, and ice cream.
We are three days post Booma's week 4 doxorubicin treatment and like his earlier treatments, he's handling it extremely well. His mornings have been slow, and as you can imagine, he does not have an appetite in the morning. What we have noticed since this round of treatment that includes a 20mg daily dose of prednisone, which is a 10mg bump up from what he was previously taking, is his panting has decreased significantly. With anemia, his blood struggles to carry enough oxygen to his body and that impacts its ability to perform and work as well as it should. Panting is his body's way of trying to recoup that oxygen. His breathing has returned to a normal rhythm, and his sleep and resting times are not interrupted by a need to pant. This is a significant improvement towards his quality of life and gives us further hope that we're making the right choices for our sweet four-legged family member.
Feeding time and nutrition have been challenging. Mike found this great article from the Animal Cancer Foundation that has helped us confirm that we're doing the right thing for his diet, and it's been a great resource. If you're interested in learning more about this topic, a link to the Animal Cancer Foundation is available below.
Feeding A Dog That Has Cancer is a white paper written by two doctors from the Animal Cancer Foundation. The foundations slogan is "Uniting Pet & Human Research for a Cure" and amazingly the similarities and importance of healthy eating to avoid complications related to malnutrition and increase survival times when battling cancer is the same for humans and their canine companions. Feeding time has been difficult. Actually, it's been one of the most stressful aspects of this process. Getting the proper nutrition into him is so important towards his road to remission and to say it's been challenging is an understatement.
Cancer cachexia is a condition that can occur in dogs with cancer. In cancer cachexia, both fat and muscle are lost at an equal rate versus what occurs during starvation, which is body fat is lost first and then muscle is impacted. Cancer cachexia can be associated with severe malnutrition and loss of muscle mass even if adequate amount of food is being eaten. Often the food intake is decreased in dogs with cancer, and this only worsens the problem. Fortunately, Booma is NOT experiencing this condition. While it's been challenging to find the right combination of food that is nutritious, and that he finds palatable, he is actually maintaining a healthy weight. Over the last two visits, he's gained weight, and is maintaining his muscle mass which is simply amazing and speaks directly to his will to live and thrive.
Yesterday was Father's Day, Sunday, June 16. What a day! We celebrated the dads in our lives, including our very own and incredible leader of our family, my amazing husband, Mike. We were also able to reconnect Booma with one of his siblings, Koda. It was the sweetest experience, and she is as adorable as we remember her being. Early in their lives, they spent time together pretty regularly up until they were about 8 months old before Koda was rehomed and we lost touch. After Mike did a bit of research and digging, we were able to connect with Kodas new mom and set up a reunion. With her long hair and dark face, Koda very much resembles her dad. She's much more petite than him or Booma but she's a spitfire! And at 9 years +, she is not showing her age. Really sweet and adorable!
It just so happened to be an extra great day for Booma too. He was feeling so GOOD yesterday! Definitely one of the best days for him in over month. Coming out of day 5 of his dox treatment, he was feeling those energy stores and making the most of it. Eating, playing, herding, and talking; all of the attributes that make a Sheperd a Sheperd and it was a joy to experience. The morning was slow starting as they have been and today is no different. Well, one difference is he did his potty in his "usual" potty area this morning. That hasn't happened in weeks. Normally it's been taking a walk to get the potty ritual going but today, he was satisfied with his usual space. Smelling all the smells, carefully selected an area, and finishing with the signature coverup.
We're anxiously awaiting tomorrow's appointment for his CBC check. Each Tuesday for the last 5 weeks he's had a checkup and treatment. Following the CHOP protocol, this week is just bloodwork. What results are we looking for? Well, improved CBC and HCT would be incredible however, being realistic, we would be satisfied with stable results. That would equal no change from the week prior, which would most likely indicate that last week's treatment made a difference. Numbers improving is the goal, stable is promising, very promising.
Tuesday, June 18th. We are preparing for Booma's week 5 CBC checkup. His morning has been an extremely difficult one. His behavior is very different this morning versus how he was yesterday and over the weekend. He's struggling to stand and carry his own weight more than a few steps without laying down to rest. As of late, a walk down by the river has been his morning potty ritual and today will be no different, especially today. Mike picked him up to place him in the truck and together, they drove to the river so that Booma could enjoy his morning ritual and experience one of his favorite spots, the Exeter River.
What's changed since Monday and the weekend? We're so worried that this could be it. Has he hit his recovery wall and is no longer able to continue fighting? We're packing up and heading to his week 5 Complete Blood Count checkup and our hearts are heavy with worry that we'll have to be strong and make a tough decision today for our loyal and handsome boy.
Post week 5 checkup update. Despite this morning's dire situation, his CBC & HCT have risen! The doxorubicin is yielding positive results, and we are over the moon with excitement for him and for us too. The results are small however they are positive results heading in the right direction. Along with his improved numbers, he continues to maintain his weight with toggling between 103 - 104lbs. A good healthy weight. There are no signs of malabsorption. His coat, eyes, and gums all appear healthy. So, what was happening to him this morning? We provided an update of his morning situation during check-in, and he was still showing signs of lethargy at that time, so the medical staff was able to observe it too. Well, part of the checkup is a temperature check and Booma's temp was increased. A dog's normal body temperature range is 101.0 to 102.5; Booma's was at 104 and it's possible that earlier in the morning, it was higher and that led to his weakness and lethargic condition. He has a fever however, his white blood cell count is NOT indicating an infection so at this point, it is diagnosed as "Fever of Unknown Origin". Despite the unknown origin diagnosis, antibiotics are prescribed and by the evening, we're already seeing positive improvements. Walking and standing on his own, alert, playful, and vocal. Interested in eating and drinking water. To the universe, thank you, thank you, thank you!
What's next? To remain a step ahead of the disease and stay on top of his symptoms, we're transitioning to a weekly check-in. The doxorubicin and prednisone combo does appear to have made a difference. So, with that, he will be evaluated during week 6 and if his numbers have continued to improve or have remained stable, he'll receive another round of DOX.
Sunday, June 23rd. Booma's weekend has been a relaxing one. He's maintained his energy levels, and meals, sleep and rest have been consistent. On Thursday, Booma and Mike went swimming and they loved every second of it! Booma is still very interested in herding and policing the cats, which used to be something that could drive you crazy, (if you've ever owned a German Sheperd, you know what I'm talking about!) and now were thrilled to see that he has the energy and drive to be himself.
An observation we made today appears to be related to prednisone. Booma is on a 20mg daily dose and is experiencing two of several common side effects, and those are increased thirst and urination. The increased thirst has been prevalent since he started taking prednisone back in late May, however the increase in urination has peaked to new levels today that we're managing on the hour to avoid him being in distress or discomfort and try to minimize any accidents in the house. We will bring along a urine sample to his appointment scheduled for Tuesday, 6/25 to be on the safe side.
Tuesday, June 25th. Booma had his 6-week checkup and did so well! His complete blood count (CBC) is up 7 points since last week and that is just simply amazing! He is now at 26 HCT versus his 19 from week 5. A normal range for a dog is 35% to 55% of their blood will be red blood cells so Booma's is heading in the right direction! What does this mean for his recovery? It means that his bone marrow is no longer suppressed and is doing its job. It means that the treatment he's been receiving is working and producing incredible results.
His weight was up one pound as well from 103 to 104. He's been hovering around this weight for the majority of his treatment and we're happy for that! His clinical behavior between week 5 & 6 showed signs that he was feeling more like himself and that symptoms of anemia were improving. Lots of energy, much more interest during mealtimes, sleeping more soundly and a general appearance of brightness and happiness.
Part of his is 6-week checkup included doxorubicin treatment and he's doing well with it. It's a difficult treatment that can take a toll but as we shared earlier in Booma's Blog, canines do extremely well with chemo treatments and their side effects. He's definitely tired and resting but he also is maintaining his appetite, which makes our hearts happy. Tonight, he'll have his traditional ice cream celebration with his dad and of course, we shower him with lots of kisses and hugs and all of the love he can take!
Thank YOU for following Booma's journey to remission. We are so appreciative for the outpouring of love and support and truly hope that our updates are as helpful and as meaningful to you as they are to us.
Sunday, June 30th. Booma's appointment and treatment earlier in the week went well however, he has since experienced a setback. On Wednesday evening, to celebrate his amazing progress, we allowed him to have one of his favorite things, a lamb bone which eventually landed us back at MVMC and Booma in the ICU in critical condition. He's been there since Friday, and we have been beside ourselves with worry.
On Thursday, I noticed that his demeanor was changing. He wasn't excited for breakfast like he's been as of late and only ate half of it. His water intake was reduced as well. He was still going potty without any issues, but he seemed to be feeling the effects of his doxorubicin treatment, which we figured would be "normal". What we didn't realize as we were all settling in for the night on Thursday, was that the bone we gave him, while appearing harmless at the time, was wreaking havoc in his tummy and started a chain of events that would end with Booma severely dehydrated and showing signs of shock.
Friday morning, 4:30AM. I'm up to check on Booma. Mike had interacted with him at 4:00AM while getting ready for work and things appeared normal then. Why wouldn't they? It's 4:00AM and as of late, Booma's wakeup time is closer to 5:30/6:00AM. We went to bed the night before concerned about his behavior and general health, but he appeared to have slept through the night. Still the experience we had a couple of weeks back with his fever seemed to be repeating itself and that could definitely be a possibility especially with his cancer and aggressive treatment. I check his ears, his pads, and his tummy near his groin and all are feeling very warm. He is showing signs of lethargy and drooling badly; I start to apply cold compresses to his ears, pads, and cover his fur with a cold wet towel to try and cool him down before contacting MVMC for support. I knew in my gut that things were critical. I had that sinking feeling on Thursday as well, but you force yourself to work through it, to stay positive and ignore that siren in your head telling you to take action. Ugh!
I put a call into MVMC at 5:00AM and follow up with an email as well and send Mike a text to prepare him for the inevitable trip to the vet and he starts to make his way back home. It's 5:30AM and as the morning progresses, things are definitely not right. Booma manages to make his way outside to go potty and I can see that he is struggling to move his bowels. Eventually, it's productive but very small and not the usual experience. He's also unable to carry himself more than 20 feet at a time without stopping to lay down and rest. At this point, I know that time is of the essence, and we start making our way north to MVMC for an emergency visit where they are waiting for him.
We arrive and Booma does not look well. He's shaking and it's hard to watch and maintain our composure while getting him checked in. He refuses water again and the drooling is off the charts. They take him away into the ER area and even though he is clearly in a critical state, glossy-eyed and seemingly out of it, he's looking for Mike and me to come with him and mustering up whatever strength he has remaining to resist losing sight of us. Are you kidding me? The struggle to maintain our composure is real and there is no stopping the emotions from flowing. We are terrified for him, and our hearts are breaking just a little more.
The waiting room at MVMC is full of other fur baby parents all either waiting to hear news on their treasured family members or waiting to be seen with their furry loved ones, and in that moment, I turn to Mike and say, "I have to get out of here". The anxiety is off the charts and causing my fight or flight to go into high gear and I need to be outside where it's quiet and away from the chaos. We're worried, really worried about what's happening. And at this point, we are still in the dark but that's about to change.
The nurse who took Booma away is walking towards us outside and begins to provide an update on his status. Her tone has urgency, and her body language is telling. Booma is in trouble. He is showing signs of shock, and they are attempting to stabilize him now. His stomach appears to be extended and we need to perform an emergency radiograph on his abdomen and need your approval. We sign away and await the next update.
A very long 45 minutes later, we have another update that includes some details about what might be happening to Booma. Though his heartrate and lactic acid levels still remain elevated, he is stable, and has an IV for fluids. He's dehydrated and his body is under duress from an unknown source. They do not believe it's due to his lymphoma condition, but they did find contents in his stomach and small intestine that they're trying to identify, and we immediately know what it could be, the lamb bone from Wednesday night. And while there is some skepticism on their end that the bone is the culprit, there is also a high probability that it is. Honestly, I think they were trying their hardest to not make us feel any worse than we were already feeling about allowing him to have the bone in the first place.
Another hour or so goes by before we're able to talk with the ER doctor about Booma's condition and next steps. Dr. Benevides is not 100% sure but she feels that the bone showing in his stomach is the underlying cause of this emergency visit and based on Booma's delicate condition and current state, he needs to stay overnight in their ICU to monitor his shock symptoms, dehydration treatment and constant observation of his stomach contents. There is not one second of hesitation in our agreement with him remaining overnight and with our complete faith in the Maine Veterinary Medical Center's ability to care for and treat our handsome boy. He's in the right place, he's heading in the right direction, and that small amount of relief is felt immediately by the both of us.
Today is Sunday, June 30th at 9:20AM and Booma remains at the MVMC's ICU. It was determined late Friday night that he would most likely benefit from an additional night's stay and based on the updates we received throughout the day and night, we agreed. Saturday's updates started with concern, but things took a more positive tone towards the evening where Booma began to show signs that he was feeling better. He showed interest in eating, was interacting with the staff, barking and talking to everyone and showing his usual friendly and loving behavior. Great news! We're expecting a call this morning letting us know when we can pick him up today. Fingers crossed that his Saturday night continued to improve, and he's showing signs of passing the remaining segments of bone. If that is not happening and the bulk of the bone mass showing in his stomach still remains this morning, he will most likely need an emergency endoscopy to remove those pieces from his stomach. The endoscopy is a last resort but necessary in order for him to heal and successfully continue with his chemotherapy treatment. We'll share the news with you as soon as we know.
We are three days post Booma's ICU stay and he's been improving every day! We had a follow up on Monday to check his anemia and were thrilled to learn that his number climbed to 29%! Despite his ICU setback, he's experiencing amazing results! At last check on Tuesday, June 25th, his HCT was 26%, so a 3-point increase indicates that his doxorubicin treatment is working!
Many radiographs later, the doctors were confident that he would pass the small amount of bone remaining in his tummy on his own, which meant no endoscopy needed and that was welcomed news!
So based on his stomach's delicate condition, we are back to a bland diet but finally have food that he is loving. Royal Canin, Gastrointestinal Formula, Veterinarian Prescribed, this along with an equal parts bland mix of boiled chicken, hamburger, green beans, and rice that we mix into the prescribed food is making for a very happy puppy during mealtime!
I'm hesitant to type this but Booma is thriving and defying the odds! It's almost unimaginable to think about considering 6 1/2 weeks ago, he was diagnosed with stage 5 Gastrointestinal Lymphoma and had at best 2 weeks remaining. We feel blessed and are so grateful to be able to continue with the best treatment and care possible that allows Booma to continue living a high quality of life despite having this horrible disease.
Booma's next checkup and treatment is scheduled for Tuesday, July 16th. The three-week reprieve is a welcomed break for all of us. The break in-between treatments allow Booma's body to continue the healing process and to feel the positive effects of his treatments and it provides some normalcy to our lives or at least the illusion of it.
Saturday, July 6th. We are 8 days post Booma's ICU weekend stay at the amazing Maine Veterinary Medical Center where he was treated for bone ingestion and dehydration and he's doing so well!
Booma has definitely been taking advantage of his energy stores and living his best life! Going for walks, light running, playing ball, swimming and just being his usual silly self and we're loving every second of it! With the PICA symptoms no longer plaguing him, for the first time in months, he's able to join me on my photoshoot excursions and not be tempted or feel compelled to eat dirt. I've missed our "my backyard" shoots with my buddy. The second he hears the click of my camera's on button, he's almost unable to contain his excitement. It makes my heart happy.
Looking at Booma, you would never know that he's 7 weeks into his chemotherapy treatment for gastrointestinal lymphoma. He has so much life in him and has so much more love to give and right now, we need his love, we need his strength, we need his fighting spirit.
Hello, friends! It's Friday, July 12 and we're heading into week 3 post Booma's second Doxorubicin treatment and things have been going well! His ICU stay did not affect the chemo treatments impact. On last check his hematocrit had improved to 29%, a 3-point improvement in under a weeks' time and that's pretty amazing! Booma's next checkup and treatment is scheduled for Tuesday, July 16 at 2pm and he's had a great "break" between treatments! It's allowed him time to rest and his body to heal and the effects are visible in both his appearance and his behavior. He's returning to familiar routines that include quality sleep, playtime with lots of swimming, which has been a great alternative to playing fetch in this heat, and nutritious and fun mealtimes! His new normal does not include doggie daycare, something he probably misses, and we feel sad about that but it's for his health and safety. Booma's immune system is compromised and attending daycare would not be a good choice. We are considering coordinating a visit with the staff as he has lots of fans that miss him terribly.
So, what are we looking for during next week's appointment? Improved hematocrit of 30% or higher is the goal however, results remaining at 29% would be considered a positive result. Weight gain or again, steady stable weight of 103/104lbs is welcomed! Improvements in these areas tell us that things are heading in the right direction and towards remission. A diagnosis of remission is the ultimate goal however, continuing to live a quality life despite being diagnosed with gastrointestinal lymphoma remains our focus. Quality of life is paramount over all else.
Stay tuned for Tuesday's post treatment update and thank you again for taking the time to follow Booma's Blog. Your love and support mean so much to all of us!
Good morning! It's 5:59AM on Thursday, July 18 and we are heading into day three post Booma's checkup and doxorubicin treatment, and he is doing fantastic! We're happy to share that Tuesday's checkup went well with Booma's hematocrit results coming in at a whopping 30.4%! Amazing results that are mainly due to a shift in his chemotherapy treatment from following the CHOP protocol to a doxorubicin / prednisone protocol. Both are part of the CHOP protocol however there are studies that show the results of these two drugs combined, depending on the type of cancer, can yield positive results and this is the combination that is crushing Booma's GI Lymphoma and giving him the chance we've been hoping for.
There are limitations with this treatment protocol with 5 to 6 being the suggested max. Studies have shown that beyond 6 treatments, doxorubicin can negatively affect a patient's heart and long-term use of prednisone can have damaging effects to muscle and other critical structural aspects that can impact the overall quality of life. This most recent treatment was #3 with #4 scheduled for August 6th. At that checkup/treatment appointment we will begin strategizing steps for treatment beyond #6. At checkup/treatment #5, Booma will have an ultrasound to check on the status of the tumor that's in the lining of his stomach and those results will help to develop a treatment plan beyond #6 dox/pred treatment.
Other good news that came from this week's checkup & treatment is Booma's weight. He gained 6lbs over a 3-week period bringing him to 110lbs! He's definitely returning to his usual appetite and while prednisone can cause an increase in appetite, the dose Booma takes is very small in comparison to his size so clinically and medically, his increased appetite can be directly related to his much-improved anemia symptoms.
At Booma's prime, he weighed an impressive 120lbs comprised of mostly solid muscle. He exercised every day with running, fetching, walking, and swimming during pool season. It was easy to ensure that he maintained a healthy weight and joint health and now, we need to be mindful that his diet has changed from an all-raw, high protein diet to a mainly nutrient dense, grain free kibble and that along with his condition and age can lead to reduced or limited exercise which can lead to unhealthy weight gain. We aren't at that point, just something else that requires daily management and consideration.
We are beyond grateful to be in this moment and to have the opportunities that provide Booma with the care he needs for a second chance. He's a fighter and we draw strength from him and his will to not give up. Thank you for following Booma's story and for all the kindness, love and support!
Happy Friday Booma's Blog followers! Today is July 26th and it's a bittersweet day for us at the LaChance household. With a compromised immune system, Booma has officially resigned from daycare, and while we're loving and appreciating our special time together, we are sad for Booma and the friends he's having to leave behind. Booma's immune system can only do so much and right now, it's working so hard to fight his cancer and the effects of his treatments and because of that, daycare is no longer a safe space for him.
We are forever grateful to what quickly became Booma's second home and extended family at Play All Day in Exeter, NH. He LOVED his time at school, and everyone LOVED Booma! The original GOAT, the King of PAD, the best puppy wrangler ever...Booma, the German Shepherd. Without a doubt, he has left his forever mark on those who were fortunate enough to spend time with him during the 9+ years that he attended school there. From photos with Santa and the Easter Bunny, to the annual School Photo shoots, he enjoyed it all. The genuine love he received each and every day helped to shape the amazingly patient and gentle soul that is Booma. It was an emotional day back in June of 2015 when Mike and I walked him into daycare for the first time and today, we've come full circle with emotions flowing knowing that this chapter of his life has closed, and he'll no longer experience the joy and excitement of "going to school".
So, we move on to and embrace this next chapter. Not at all what we envisioned but we're making the most out of what we have. Booma is continuing to do amazingly well with his treatments and with 3 weeks between visits, he's able to recover quickly and really have quality time, officially retired from school and living his best life! We hope you enjoy the collage included with this update. It's just a few of the photos from Booma's daycare journey.
Thanks to each and every one of you for your continued love and support! We appreciate our amazing Booma's Blog followers!
Good morning, friends! Today is Tuesday August 6th and exactly three weeks since Booma's last checkup and chemotherapy treatment. He has had a GREAT three weeks with lots of pool time, summer walks, and ball time with his BFF <- my husband Mike or as Booma recognizes him, Dad. Throughout these past three weeks, Booma has maintained a high level of energy, a healthy appetite, and he's sleeping well. We lovingly refer to him as "pork chop" as we may have gone a bit overboard with treats, which we've since adjusted to ensure he continues to maintain a healthy weight. At 110lbs, he's a big boy and a handful if we have to assist him physically. We love that he's enjoying eating but we don't want to add to his list of health concerns (or pull our backs out!).
So, we head into this afternoon's appointment with the amazing staff at the Maine Veterinarian Medical Center with hopeful optimism that over these last three weeks Booma's body has continued healing, that the doxorubicin once again did its thing and is kicking his cancers a$$! We left three weeks ago with the best numbers we've seen since early May, and today, we'd love to see his hematocrit rise above the previous 30.4 mark, his weight maintaining that healthy 110 range, and his vital organs staying strong despite the toxic drugs running through his system. Clinically, he looks amazing and we're hopeful that rings true from a medical perspective.
We've had the amazing opportunity to be reacquainted with our beautiful, smart, sometimes silly, and always courageous four-legged family member and while we would give anything to rewind the clock and not have him sick, we wouldn't give up this opportunity to love him with everything we have, the way he deserves to be loved unconditionally.
Okay, Booma's Blog friends, here we go! If you are a new Booma's Blog friend, welcome!
Today is Wednesday August 7th and we're so happy to share that Booma had a Five-Star checkup during yesterday's appointment! His hematocrit increased from 30.4, where it was three weeks ago to 33.0 leaving him two points away from the "normal" range of 35...A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! And despite the amount of physical activity, he's had since his last checkup three weeks ago, he gained 5lbs (whoops!) It's not entirely all bad that's he's put on some weight however like we mentioned during yesterday's blog update while we've all enjoyed the happiness that comes with giving extra treats, it's time to get back on track!
With these incredible results, Dr. Philibert Booma's oncologist suggested that the next follow up appointment should be in six weeks versus 3 weeks which puts us well into September. We're also beginning the process of reducing the 20mg of prednisone that is already a low dose for Booma's size, to 10mg per day for the next 7 days and then 10mg every other day for 7 days. This 6-week treatment plan will be a nice long break giving Booma the ability to recover and hopefully reveal a clearer picture of where the disease is from a treatment free perspective. At his six-week checkup, he'll receive an ultrasound to continue monitoring the tumor in the lining of his stomach, and based on his recent numbers, it's very possible that the doxorubicin treatments have annihilated that nasty growth! The good news is we do have two additional doxorubicin treatments banked in the event their needed, but fingers crossed they remain banked.
Tomorrow will be exactly 12 weeks since we learned about the gastrointestinal lymphoma diagnosis. It will be 84 emotionally filled days that have felt both never-ending and like they're going by too quickly and as we head into this next phase of Booma's treatment to recovery journey, we have so much to be grateful for. We are grateful for having the ability to provide him with this level of care. We recognize our good fortune and know that without it; Booma's story would have most likely ended within two weeks of the cancer diagnosis he received back in May. Mike and I are grateful for and very much appreciate the support of our family and friends, the people in our community, our neighbors who stop to ask how Booma is doing and for our respective teams at work who have offered their incredibly caring support so that we can continue to show up at work despite the weight of what's happening in our personal lives. And we are grateful for time. The time we've been given to spend with Booma and with each other. In all of the chaos of our everyday lives, this experience has forced us to slow down and really appreciate one another and what's truly important and most valuable to us.
Today is Sunday, August 25. We are writing this final entry of Booma's Blog in honor of our love, the center of our universe, our heart and soul, Booma. During the early morning hours on Friday, August 23, our brave boy lost his battle and succumbed to the cancer that relentlessly pursued him.
Somewhere soon after his fourth treatment of doxorubicin, he began to show signs of anemia and despite best efforts, we could not identify the source of his blood loss. On Thursday, August 22, we rushed him to Maine Veterinarian Medical Center for an emergency visit praying against all odds that it was anything other than what we suspected but knew in our hearts it would be the last time we would make this trip, the last time we would bring our boy home alive and doing well, the last time.
At approximately 3:00AM on August 23rd we stayed close to our best friend, hugged and kissed him and told him it was okay, he was a good boy, that he tried so hard to please us and we loved him for every single second of his beautiful life. It was as if he heard us and felt relieved to let go. He closed his eyes and in the moments that followed, he left us peacefully and no longer in pain.
I'm not sure of what to write next to bring Booma's Blog to a close. The ending was supposed to be joyous with a celebratory announcement that Booma was in remission and beat that nasty cancer but that is not how his story ends. Instead, we closeout Booma's Blog honoring our faithful and loyal friend who fought for his life for us, to make our lives better, to give us purpose and perspective on what is truly important, and for that we will be forever grateful. We love you Boom Boom.
"A dog is the only thing on Earth that loves you more than you love yourself"
~ Josh Billings
