Time flew quickly.

I was hoping to update this post-trip blog frequently but time flew by without giving me the opportunity. 

First there was Erde's cancer operation, which so far has turned out to be successful.

Then there were the issues with the Defender that kept it in the garage for almost 16 weeks from October until April.

Leben's situation is pretty much the same but managing him has taken a lot of time, more of my own choice than his demands.  He demands very little.

Other pesky issues that form the reasons for my wanting to escape DC each year also chipped away at my time, more because I want to deal with them than anything else.

My plan from here is to start using the blog for 2014's trip, www.OTR7.blogspot.com to record any post-2013-trip reflections.  Also, the main menu for my blogs from now on will be www.OnTheRoad.camp (also, temporarily, www.OpenRoad.camp). www.OTR6.com is no longer active.

I have been neglecting this blog

My hope was that after I returned home, I would post a number of my post-trip reflections at this blog.  Unfortunately, time slipped away fast and I neglected this blog. My hope is that I can start this task soon and I begin my planning for our next trip this year.

10/19 Erde's home

Just got Erde back from the hospital.  She is in much better shape than I expected her to be after I spoke with the vet last night.  The nurses had one comment about her: she sure is a stoic dog.  Probably learned that from me.  The jury is still out on whether they got the complete tumor and how her recovery and ultimate normal functioning will go, but I am optimistic.  I am also relieved that this is over and confident I made the right decision to go through with this as opposed to radiation or not done anything at all. This dog has been such a sweetheart (despite  her rebellious nature) that I had not choiuce but to do it.  But I would have done it for any dog for whom I was his/her guardian.

10/18 Erde

6:00 pm  Erde went in for her surgery today.  I am still waiting for the vet to call me to give me a status report on the operation and her recovery.  I will post it here where I learn of it.

Needless to say, this matter has been heaviest on my mind and schedule this week.  I still have not had time to make a dent in my unpacking and other things, including thinking and writing more about the trip, but I will have plenty of time to do those things later.

8:00 pm  The vet just called. the operation went as well as could be expected.  He is not sure if Erde will be able to come home tomorrow.  When asked how she is doing now, he said average, but when I asked him further questions, he changed that to worse than average.  I will hold back on the details here, but I suspect this just means that she will stay a bit longer at the hospital or that the recovery will be rough for the next several weeks.

10/17 Erde

Dr. Breheme, the surgeon at the animal hospital, called me last evening to tell me that his preliminary review of Erde's CAT scan indicated that surgery would be the recommended treatment for her cancer, and not radiation or chemotheraphy.  In a sense, that is good news because it means that the tumor is definable and not invassive upward to the nasal passage where surgery would be impossible.  The downside is that the maxillectomy, which the surgery is called, will disfigure the left side of Erde's snout.   No big deal.  With a 100 percent chance of success going two years out, I'd way more prefer an Erde with a "funny face" two years out than an Erde who is suffering, or no Erde ar all.  That girl showed me on this trip that she might have a lot more life in her and that she loves life, so I have a responsibility to let her have it, without suffering.

I am waiting now for the call from the vet hospital for the final report and to schedule the surgery, which could be as early as tomorrow.

10/16 Erde at vets

I dropped Erde off at the vet hospital today for her CAT scan.  Theyj ust called me to tell me that she is ready to be picked up.  I do not know what the result was, and may not until tomorrow. They told me that when I get her back, she will have a number of shave points on her head painted various colors for either the surgery or radiation treatment.  And, of course, if surgery is indicated, the maxillectomy will result in the left side of her face becoming caved in somewhat.  Regardless,  she will still have the same beautiful face I have known for more than 12 years and still be the same dog.  She, of course, will not know the difference and act as the same dog.  But more importantly, compared to so many other unfortuante dogs, she will have a home to come back to, and that's all that matters to me, as fare as she is concerned anyway.

10/15 Erde's situation

Just got back from the oncologist's with Erde.  She agreed that the tumor is slow growing, but discussed my options.  Doing nothing is not an option considering Erde's high level of activity.  Tomorrow, Erde goes in for a CAT scan to see how extensive the tumor is.  If it is only superficial and definable within margins and does not extend upward toward her nasal passage, surgery only is indicated, but major surgery (maxillectomy).  If the tumor is otherwise, 15 sessions of radiation will be called for.  Chemotheraphy is not a good solution for this one.

The bottom line is that taking the trip and postponing the treatment was a good decision.  I hate to admit it, but Erde had one hell of a ball on this last trip, more so than her brother or I did. One thing about that girl is that she knows how to enjoy herself.  It's almost as if she knew what was coming and decided to have one more fling, all at my expense, of course.

ED