Thankful Thursday - Tanner Celebrates

Today, July 23, 2015 I am incredibly thankful.  Today marks one year since Tanner was diagnosed and started his treatments for Renal Lymphoblastic Lymphoma.

We started the journey with many unknowns and a super cute shaved belly!  This shaved belly would stay with us for the rest of our treatments.  For many months, it was the only outward sign that Tanner was going through anything at all.

As treatment continued, other outward signs began to appear, as the chemo took its toll on his body.  In the photo above his potassium was low, so he was weak in the back legs and wobbly.

This photo shows some bruising from one of his aspirates needed to determine if he was in remission or not.  Thankfully, he was in complete remission at this visit!  This was in January 2015. 

Tanner is a survivor! 

It took a few months of being off treatment for Tanner to truly bounce back medically.  The undercoat of his fur has returned.  The shaved belly is mostly gone.  He has gained back two of the pounds he lost and eats like a champ!  My boy is a blessing and I am thankful for him, all the vets that have helped his through this disease and continue to work with him, and for you our blogging friends.  We could not have made it through this journey without your continued prayers, words of encouragement and support.

Our journey isn't completely over, as Tanner will be monitored for the return of lymphoma for many more months, and hopefully years to come!

I thought it would be neat to look back at our journey and add up Tanner's treatments and procedures.  Since July of last year Tanner has had:

22 Visits to the Vet School in Raleigh

12 Visits to his regular vet

11 Abdominal Ultrasounds

33 pokes for blood work

17 rounds of chemotherapy

3 Aspirates of each the kidney, spleen and liver

2 overnight stays at the vet school

1 Echocardiogram

1 Neurology consult

I'd say that is enough to have earned a HUGE party!!  Let's Celebrate!!!

Grab your party hat!

There's yummy fresh fruit

Spoils of the sea 

CAKE!!

And all sorts of other snacks and treats...

Help yourself to a party favor and stay as long as you want!

Wacky Wednesday

Today's Wacky Wednesday is brought to you by Oliver.  He is the official nut of the family and is always doing something crazy it seems!

Today, we find Oliver discovering lettuce...Enjoy!

Here is the YouTube link if the above doesn't work.

Oliver Eats Lettuce

Tanner Tuesday

Tanner went to the vet on Friday of last week for his annual visit.  The vet was VERY impressed with how good he looked.  Tanner has gained half a pound since seeing the vet last, which was 4 weeks ago.  Great job Tanner!

At the appointment, we talked about all that has been going on with Tan.  The vet felt that Tanner's weird aggression was probably a seizure, or a blood clot could have broken off and lodged in the brain causing problems for a bit.  He doesn't feel it is a brain tumor because he said those are usually very fast growing and we would be seeing a lot more signs.  He also didn't think it is the lymphoma spreading because Tanner is gaining weight and doing so well.  He totally agreed with a wait and see approach.

Tanner was checked for arthritis and his back left hip is extremely stiff.  We are continuing to give the Adequan weekly but have increased his dose slightly.  He also mentioned that glucosomine can help with the kidneys, so we should continue with the injections because they may be benefiting more than just his stiff joints.

Tanner was given his rabies and FVRCP injections and we decided he has had enough blood work this year that we can skip!

Tanner does not have to go back to the vet until the end of AUGUST!!!  I'm going to try and get his appointment on the 31st, so we will have 8 more weeks off...this is so exciting!

Update on Tanner's Medication Schedule

Morning Pills

Atenolol, Benazepril, Potassium

Evening Pills

Atenolol, Clopidogrel, Potassium

Monday - Wednesday - Friday

Injection of Pepcid

Monday - Thursday - Saturday

Sub-Q Fluids

Sunday

Injection of Adequan

Thank you all for your continued purrs and healing thoughts sent to Tanner...we could not have made it through this year without your support!

Mancat Monday

Today's Mancat Monday is a flashback as well...I was going through some photos and realized that I had a photo of each of my black fellas sitting on the dining room table.  I'm thinking I may get one of those frames with three photo openings and put these in it.

This is Devon...my crazy but sweet boy that left me way too soon.

Gorgeous Smokey...we are coming up on a year of your trip to the bridge.

Oliver is a total nut and has brought such joy to me...it amazes me when I see him and a photo of Devon how much they look alike.

Wacky Wednesday

Today's Wacky Wednesday is brought to you by Oliver!  Many of you commented when Oliver was a kitten about how incredibly long his tail was.  In fact, his tail was so long that when he walked, it didn't stand up straight...it curled over his back and would touch his head!  Well, this long tail makes for a great built in toy...Oliver loves to chase his tail...Enjoy this video.

If the video above doesn't play, you can watch it here on YouTube.

Oliver Chases Tail

Do your cats chase their tails?

Tanner Tuesday

Tanner and all the cats had a great week.  They enjoyed us being home an extra day for the 4th.  I certainly wish we could have three day weekends every week!

A package came with some great brown craft paper...Tanner used it as a tent.  This was his safe spot when our neighbors shot off some fireworks. 

Tanner and Cousin Pirate enjoying a nap.

This week, Tanner goes for his annual vet visit for his Rabies and FVRCP shots.  I'm not sure if they will do more blood work or not but we'll see.  We are almost 1 year out from his diagnosis...what a wild year!  I believe a party will be in order on D Day.