I didn’t give you thirsty bastards a picture yesterday, so here you go:
All in all, she is doing quite well. Her gums are salmon pink and healthy, the bruising on her belly from injections and what not has completely healed, she is active (well, the same level of activity she showed before she became ill), sleeping well, and looks comfortable and happy. All the areas where they shaved are slowly growing back, her coat feels good and she is not shedding abnormally, so from an owner’s standpoint she looks pretty good. I don’t know what the oncologist is going to tell us on Monday, but I have my fingers crossed.
Truth be told, I’m hella more traumatized than she is, because she has no idea what is going on. For her, she was fine, then she was not fine, then she went some place and they did weird things to her and then she started to feel fine again, and now she is back home and the human won’t stop looking at her with that very attentive look and god damn I am hungry all the time. And since we have no idea how long she was actually sick, she probably feels better than she has in a while.
She’s still eating like a damned horse, and I can tell that she is a pound or two heavier than when I took her home and her ass feels less boney and her ribs are showing some meat on them. Yesterday she had an omelet with cheese, two cans of chicken, a can of unsalted sardines in water, and some treats. I’ve basically been feeding her anytime whenever she wants it. Need to fatten her up and we don’t want her flying into a roid rage.
Overall, the hardest part for me is remembering the difference between her normal level of lazy and the lethargy she showed prior to her hospital visit. But she seems normal, and I am just cherishing every moment together.
LAO
Paws remain crossed re: Monday.
Also, today I sent Maggie’s DNA sample in. I sort of can’t wait until the results come in!
Soonergrunt
That’s great news, John. Glad to see it.
Elizabelle
“You again, with the camera.”
She does not look roid-raged. Kinda chill, actually.
Betty Cracker
So glad to hear she has a good appetite and seems happy. That’s really the important thing right now.
zhena gogolia
“Cherishing every moment together” is the key thing. We love you, Lily!
Gin & Tonic
“Yesterday she had an omelet with cheese, two cans of chicken, a can of unsalted sardines in water, and some treats.”
Just re-posting that for the lulz.
eclare
Thanks for the update! Fingers and toes (and eight paws at home) crossed for Monday.
Fair Economist
LOL. Different ‘roids.
skyweaver
I am so glad, John! I really like that photo of her. Honestly it’s probably a little odd that I only post on pet threads here. I genuinely enjoy the political threads and the commentary that comes from them. But these posts are so thoughtful that they make me want to write back and just say I’m so glad your baby is better. At the end of the day my animals mean as much as my humans, and in certain situations more than my humans. I guess that’s why I want to say something about how it’s so familiar to me, your experience. Anyway, I really am glad she’s better.
Elizabelle
@Soonergrunt: Great to see you here, too. Cheers.
Chacal Charles Calthrop
Such great news!!!
Anyhow in celebration I was wondering if anyone in NYC is in the mood for a meet-up. We could schedule it around a showing of Infinity War if anyone wants to do so.
Monkeyfister
Every bit of news like this is GREAT news for you and Lily. We love you both so very much.
Cckids
Yay, Lily!
John, this is how I felt when my Pixie (a Pom) took a fall off our terraced back yard. Seemed ok, but two hours later, he couldn’t lower his head to eat or drink & was in obvious pain. The vet said he had damaged two vertebrae; they were compressed and pressing on his spinal cord. She gave him pain pills & muscle relaxants, told us that the only “permanent “ fix was a $4500 surgery that had maybe a 20% chance of success. He was 12 years old.
We elected to not do that, took the pills & him home & loved on him as much as possible.
For the next SIX years. He stayed on a low dose of the pain meds, we carried him up and down stairs, but he loved his life. Every time the vet saw him, she’d say “Boy, he’s just beating the odds every day, isn’t he?!”
May Lily have the same luck!
SiubhanDuinne
This is a wonderful report, and Lily looks beautiful and contented. Thank you for the post, John.
Lizzy L
Sweet. Cherish each moment, John.
Alain the site fixer
@Soonergrunt: nice to see you, hope all is well. You’re missed here
Keith G
When my feline girl, Meredith, came back from a hospitalization every meal she ate on her own and every trip to the water bowl was a cause for celebration. It’s been almost a year now, and every time she does something just a little bit out of the ordinary my chest still gets tight with a flash of concern.
During the four days she was in care, I thought about every time I had to shoo her away because she was blocking something I was trying to do. I vowed never again
The bill was huge, worth every damned penny. Thank Athena the wonderful vet clinic let me pay it off over time.
Coffee at dawn ☕
Lily makes my day! Thank you, Cole.
MomSense
Lily girl, you are so lovely.
BG
Such a sweetie
ruemara
There’s a pretty pup. Keep getting better, Lily.
rikyrah
Lily looks beautiful.
Thanks for the update, Cole.
Tata
Not enough treats in the whole world.
Heidi Mom
Wonderful photo and report! You’re a great dog dad, John.
HeleninEire
Thank you for the update. She will be fine. She will.
spudgun
@Soonergrunt: Coming out of lurkdom to say HEY, good to “see” you here! Hope you are doing well.
Aww, Lily is so cute…poor boo with her shaved belly. So extremely relieved and happy to see that she is bouncing back from her ordeal. Go Lily-girl!
Elizabelle
@Cckids: That’s a great story. I hope Lily and all the petz have a lot longer with John.
low-tech cyclist
Good to see your girl feeling well again, John! Rooting for good news on Monday.
Amir Khalid
We need a Lily update every day for the next few weeks. I for one could look into those beautiful eyes all day.
trollhattan
Lily’s fur looks like she’s being fitted for a coat, good to hear it’s growing back. She certainly looks cozy and content–good on ya both!
Mnemosyne
Just remember that you need to provide a Lily pic a minimum of once a day or the jackals get restless.
Chris
That sweet face just wrecks me. Thanks for the update John, glad she’s doing so well.
Noncarborundum
@Gin & Tonic: Dog eats better than I do.
Josie
Good for Lily and for you, John. One day at a time.
TaMara (HFG)
Keeping her weight up is so very important when dealing with cancer. She looks great. Yay for Lily and John.
Anotherlurker
I am so happy for you and Lilly. Enjoy every day!
jeffreyw
Now I’m hungry.
WaterGirl
Hi sweet girl. Yesterday was a long busy day so I couldn’t really read BJ but I checked multiple l times for Lily updates.
Cole, glad you see you are getting with the program today with a thread about our Lily! Once you have an estimate for the rest of her treatment, can you let us know so we can do another round of donations? I get paid on the 1st, so I hope you let us know by sometime next week.
Love and pats for both of you! And the rest of the critters.
raven
Make sure you “need to fatten her up”. You are supposed to see her ribs.
Nicole
I’m so happy to hear she’s gaining weight. That’s a relaxed dog in that photo. You’re right; animals live in the moment and it looks like she’s just chilling and enjoying the moment.
Nicole
Also I suggest we all go reward ourselves with some treats. You know, to show Lily some support.
WaterGirl
@jeffreyw: May I take your order, sir? Specials today are canned chicken and sardines in water.
J R in WV
@Soonergrunt:
Good to see you still look in from time to time. Take care!
mardam422
Enjoy every minute. Good dog!!!
Rosalita
We love a daily Lily, keep them coming. I am so happy for both of you that things are in a much better place. Positive vibes to continue in your direction. Hugs to both of you.
Sis
Great! I’m so glad she’s feeling well and that her appetite is back. She’s such a little dolly.
schrodingers_cat
Her is full of win and awesome. And I seldom say that about non-kittehs.
raven
@jeffreyw: All the groundpounders are here today.
Planetpundit
Great report, John; stay strong sweet Lily.
MaryL
I relate to this post so much, as it is almost exactly what I went through 9 months ago (including the overfeeding and weight gain in the immediate aftermath of trauma). The doctors told me my pooch had just a few weeks to live, but within a day she was back to normal, and 9 months she’s still her stubborn self, with about as much energy as any 11.5 year old dog has the right to.
Lily is clearly as happy as a clam, so whatever the ultimate outcome, keep on enjoying every day!
d58826
ot Cosby guilty on all counts. What a tragedy. His public persona gave so much to so many but his private persona destroyed it all
Barbara
I think most dogs would not even notice something so desirable as extra attention long enough to find it strange. They would just appreciate it. They are smart that way. What a pretty girl she is!
geg6
OT, but Cosby is guilty of sexually assaulting Andrea Constand. Oh well, they may have Jello pudding pops in the state pen.
bluefish
Thirsty bastard is right — so, whew, thanks for that! She’s such a beautiful dog … That face! But, yeah, I think sometimes I get on my dog’s nerves when I get too fretful and then wear myself out. Keep taking lovely fotos — this one is a beaut. She’s a classy looking dame.
Mary G
????????
debit
Whenever I see a picture of Lily, I just want to pet her and tell her that she’s a pretty girl and good dog. After all the tears last week I’m so happy and grateful for every positive update.
Elizabelle
@Amir Khalid: Yeah. Lily photos, and cedar waxwings, or whatever bird or creature Betty Cracker serves up. We need a break.
I think it’s in our contract.
Elizabelle
@debit: True. Never take anything for granted. Hold on to the good.
trollhattan
@d58826:
The greater tragedy is his reputation gave him the freedom to abuse women at his whim for decades–we will never know how many. That he squandered everything–which was considerable–is trivial by comparison.
I was as taken in as anybody.
Miss Bianca
Yay, Lily update!
And jackals, you would not believe what has just happened…well, yes, of course you would. Most all y’all know I buried my poor old Stella on Sunday. Well, on Wednesday…up pops a rescue pup on my neighbor’s doorstep. Very shy, very sweet…collar, no tags, no chip, covered with bite marks. Guess who is the sucker hauling him up to my vet? Aww, you guessed it…updates to follow!
Elizabelle
@Miss Bianca: Is a rescue pup about to rescue you? That would be great. But — bite marks?!
Stella was a cat, right?
Spanky
@Miss Bianca: The universe works that way sometimes. Enjoy!
Ella in New Mexico
Awww, sweet girl! Hugs, Lily!
Glad she’s got an appetite, but a word of warning: if she’s on steroids, she can get really fat pretty quick if you don’t watch out–it drives their blood sugar up and makes them think they’re starving all the time.
My daughter’s cat had this weird autoimmune thing going on in his eyelids-they swelled up so bad he was almost blind. He had to be on 1mg a day of prednisolone plus steroid eye drops every 6 hours and he went from 8 to 13 lbs in like a month cuz he’d scream his freaking guts out to be fed every half hour and she felt so sorry for him. Even though they had an energizing effect and he spent an enormous amount of time running up and down the stairs chasing ghosts, whereas before he pretty much just slept on the kitty tree 20 hrs a day.
LAO
@Miss Bianca: Congratulations!
geg6
@Miss Bianca:
Ooooooo, this sounds like my kind of story in the making!
And Lily! Who’s a good girl? Why, you are, Lily! Yes, you are!
Yarrow
Lily girl! So glad to see her. She’s a a soothing tonic in these crazy times. Wonderful news she’s eating well and acting like her normal self. Awww…. Who’s a good girl? Lily is! Good girl, Lily!
zhena gogolia
@Miss Bianca:
Good for you!
ruemara
@Miss Bianca: Poor baby. And the universe felt you needed someone to care for.
Mary G
@Miss Bianca: Aw, you are a good egg.
EPL;AINED IT
@trollhattan: TRUE. My point but U phrased it better
hedgehog the occasional commenter
@Miss Bianca: Awww!
Mingobat (f/k/a Karen in GA)
Go Lily! Of course, now I’m counting the minutes until the Monday post-oncologist update.
@Miss Bianca: That’s why they’re called rescue pups — because rescuing is what they do for us. Welcome home, baby puppehbeast!
Ella in New Mexico
@Miss Bianca: Awww, Yaaaayyy! Love blooms!
Chyron HR
@geg6:
Hey, prison rape jokes are NOT COOL, man.
Patricia Kayden
Lily is so chill. Glad to see her looking calm and healthy. Go Lily!!
Patricia Kayden
@Chyron HR: I didn’t read that as a rape joke but a joke about how Cosby used to be a spokesperson for Jello pudding.
CaseyL
Yay, Lily update!! Those eyes get me every time; they seem too big for their orbits. Oscar and Jeannie also send their regards, and thank Lily for the extra attention/treats they’re getting in solidarity.
@Miss Bianca: We eagerly await your updates, too!
Yarrow
@Miss Bianca: Yay! Look forward to pupdates.
Mary G
The latest in dick moves by Republicans:
The chaplain, Father Patrick Conroy, is a Jesuit and is probably being fired for the prayer he gave on the day they debated the tax bill:
Either that or he asked a Muslim imam to fill in one time.
Chyron HR
@Patricia Kayden:
(I was joking.)
Ruviana
@Amir Khalid: Definitely this. I got so worried last night that I went through John’s twitter feed to make sure there was no bad news. Whew!
The Moar You Know
Your dog is eating better than I am!
I’d be doing the same thing, John. I love my not-so-little doggie.
ruemara
@Mary G: God, they are such terrible people. Horrible, awful people.
mad citizen
Her ears remind me of Sally Field’s Flying Nun headgear.
spudgun
@Miss Bianca: Yay!! I hope this works out for you! If it does, please to front page it – would love to see the cutie-poo!
The Lodger
@Miss Bianca: Dog karma strikes again! Good luck with the pup.
trollhattan
@Patricia Kayden:
Back in the midst of his America’s Dad reign I was in a theater where in the middle of the pre-movie trailers they inserted a Cosby Jello Pudding Pops ad. Somebody yelled, “Is there no escaping this man?” and the entire place erupted in laughter. Seems oddly prescient today.
Patricia Kayden
@Mary G: Evil people. That Chaplain should put a curse on Ryan as he leaves. Whoops, Ryan is already a pathetic human being. No need for additional curses.
Skepticat
This is very happy news, and I hope Lily continues to be her beautiful, happy self for a long time.
This is especially poignant because I got an early phone call yesterday from my insignificant other that his beautiful German shepherd had a tumor that suddenly ruptured his spleen, and he ended up having to put our cherished companion to sleep. His previous shepherd endured a long and agonizing decline, so this was awful but still the right thing. So there we are, two olds sobbing on an international phone call–when all three of my cats climbed into my lap to lick away tears and comfort my shredded heart.
Patricia Kayden
@trollhattan: He was quite popular back in the day. I remember the rumors that NBC wouldn’t sell the network to him because he was Black. How the mighty have fallen.
Grover Gardner
Dang, I wish I could feed our Golden Lab delicious stuff like that. Apparently she has a pancreas the size of a peanut, because even the tiniest table scrap means days of cleaning up around the house. :-(
schrodingers_cat
@Patricia Kayden: I am surprised that they even have a chaplain. What happened to the separation of Church and State?
Mnemosyne
@trollhattan:
He was a genuine trailblazer with his career in the days immediately following the Civil Rights Movement. Now white supremacists will use his crimes to try and make that movement seem like a bad idea.
Patricia Kayden
@Chyron HR: My bad.
pluky
“Yesterday she had an omelet with cheese, two cans of chicken, a can of unsalted sardines in water, and some treats.”
So, you’ve basically turned into a {insert enthnoreligious stereotype of choice} grandma. Eat! Eat!
Patricia Kayden
@schrodingers_cat: Good question. My only question is why do they need a chaplain to pray over their nastiness and bigotry. They’re active destroying the lives of poor people and support a bigoted President. Oh well.
Mary G
@Skepticat: Condolences on your loss. Poor pupper.
Trinity
Lily! Don’t skimp on the pics John and continue to spoil her silly :)
EPL;AINED IT
@Mnemosyne: Before the 80’s Cosby show there was I Spy with Robert Culp. I think he was the first black male lead in a TV series.
nicdanger
Great news on Lily and her health,and appetite Keep up the fight you two.
Shell
Fatten up? Sounds good to me!
schrodingers_cat
Sorry, wrong thread.
Joy in FL
Lily photos are always welcome. I’m glad she’s doing well & you are, too : )
mere mortal
Hope, and time.
Somehow you got both of those things that most of us pet owners did not have.
Never feel embarrassed for doting on your dog during the moments you never expected to have.
Some just don’t get those opportunities.
Xytiel
She is sooooo adorable. No wonder you’re in love. That face!
Kristine
Just got home from an out of town trip. I stayed at a B&B where the rooms were named after flowers. My room was “Lily.” So I thought about her and wondered how she was doing. Didn’t have time to check BJ until now.
May the good news continue.
Bex
@Mary G: @Kristine: Watch it Ryan. As Charlie Pierce says, “Do not mess with the Society.”
Bex
@Mary G: Watch it Ryan. As Charlie Pierce says, “Do not mess with the Society.”
Mary
Thanks, John, for the update on Lily. I didn’t see anything last night and realized that I really need my Lily update every day. She looks fabulous. What a lovely dog she is. –
PaulB
“Yesterday she had an omelet with cheese, two cans of chicken, a can of unsalted sardines in water, and some treats.”
She’s eating better than I am! Please keep us posted. Lily has only one John Cole but she has hundreds, if not thousands, of aunts and uncles rooting for her.
Skepticat
Our new tattoo.
jill tasker
I love Lily so much and I hope that she lives forever–for all of us. Cole, you are so lucky to have her as your heart animal. I send her daily virtual hugs for as long as she lives on this planet.
jnfr
Good to hear that you are not deliberately starving her.
Much hugs, Lily.