Life After Bailey

The past few days have been full of sadness--I can't remember ever shedding so many tears. I want something I can never have again, Bailey. Though I have lost many pets--my mixed breed dog, Tinsel, died from Cushing's Disease four days before Bailey's transplant, Bailey's death has been the most difficult for me to cope with. Maybe, because I had such a close bond with her, or maybe because of all the hard work I put into trying to save her. I really believed that she was going to make it!

Bailey's full name was Serendipitous Bailey Girl--I had the word, Serendipity tattooed along with the flower, a single forget-me-not on my wrist, a few months ago, as I want to remember Bailey and the past twenty months for the rest of my life. I know the pain of losing her will fade with time, but the memory of my precious Bailey will be with me forever!

Today I returned Clifford, Bailey's donor brother, to his owners in Eastern Washington. He was so much like Bailey in looks and personality--98% the same! We will all miss him, especially Bella. We want to adopt a rescue beagle in a few weeks, a young adult, so Bella will not be alone.

I am thinking of ways to work through my sadness-- I need to get back to work on my book about Bailey's story, however, painful it will be. Her story will not have the happy ending I had worked so hard and wanted, but hopefully what we did for Bailey will give other pets a chance to beat their lymphoma!

I want to thank everyone who has expressed sympathy for our loss.

Cathy

Bailey is no more : (

Today at 6:15 am I received the phone call I was dreading the most! I could tell by the caller ID that it would not be a good call. Bailey died this morning at the clinic in Bellingham a little after 5 a.m. Though she had a peaceful night she simply stopped breathing. Sunday's visit was really so great--I took her for a walk in a local park. I am glad I have our walk as one of my last memories of her as she really seemed to be feeling quite well. She developed a fever on Monday associated with a bacterial kidney infection. Her blood work was better yesterday, and her temperature was back to normal, but when I saw her yesterday, her breathing was labored, and since she was sedated, she was somewhat lethargic. She held on long enough for the journalist from Great Britain to photograph her for a story, yesterday, however (this had been prearranged weeks ago before she had to go back to the clinic). Her story has really been about timing all along. I think that was the last thing she did for me-- Bailey like me, wants her story to be told!

We have no regrets for what we did in trying to save her. In Bailey's memory I hope to raise funding for a transplant center to be built in W. Washington headed by our wonderful veterinarian, Dr. Sullivan and to get a donor registry in place for pets like they have for people. Lymphoma is a common cancer in pets. The technology is there to save them. After all it was laboratory animals, dogs, that gave this life saving procedure (bone marrow/stem cell transplants) to people. Dr. Sullivan's first transplant dog, Comet, has been cancer free since June 2004. Clifford, Bailey's only sibling match, proved to be too close of a match for her which is why she did not develop any Graft Versus Host Disease which is needed to kill the tumor cells.

I can't put into words the sadness and emptiness that my family feels. Bailey was the best and will be sorely missed! I will end by thanking everyone who helped me in my quest to save Bailey which includes the Halletts, the owner of Comet, owners of Bailey's family members--in particular the Suttons, owner of Clifford who allowed him twice to help Bailey by allowing him to be her transplant donor and to undergo tumor vaccine injections before the donor lymphocyte infusion, the press, and of course to our wonderful veterinarian Dr. Sullivan and his staff at Bellingham Critical Care Veterinary Clinic. I know this morning's phone call was not any easy one for Dr. Sullivan to make!

Bailey and me : )

Yesterday I took Clifford up to the clinic in Bellingham because Dr. Sullivan thought it would be a good thing if Bailey could get a blood transfusion from him. I was told that she was listless and wouldn't eat. I saw her CBC (complete blood count)-- she had eight lows on different blood tests. She perked up when I came and ate the treats I brought her. I took her to a local park, and we walked slowly in the snow along a creek. She was quite happy to be outside and smell all the good smells. She ate two fast food chicken sandwhichs--mind you this is not a diet I would recommend, but the important thing is that she ate. She loved being with me in my car listening to the msuic that she is use to. It was difficult to leave her, but I will be seeing her tomorrow, as a journalist from Great Britain is going to write a story about her.

Another visit with Bailey: )

After feeling so much better after my visit with Bailey and talking with Dr. Sullivan on Thurs. when I called the clinic yesterday eve. for a Bailey update, I was told by one of the techs. that she was not doing very well. Her platelet count was low even after a transfusion and though she attempted a tail wag now and then, she was lethargic. My hopes after Thursday's visit faded. This apparently is not all that uncommon a week after a chemo. treatment. however. My son, Jon, Clifford and Bella visited Bailey today at the clinic in Bellingham, and she was feeling better. She was happy to see us, ate some treats, but was sad that she did not get to come home with us. She looked longingly at my car when we took her for a short walk. I am going back for another visit tomorrow. I am deciding what kind of treats I am going to bring her : ) I just hope she gets well enough to come back home soon!

I feel hopeful!

Today was a snow day in Seattle--no school : ) I received a phone call from Dr. Sullivan and at his suggestion came to see Bailey--thank goodness the freeway between Seattle and Bellingham was clear! Bailey just had a transfusion so she was a bit sedated. She ate the treats I brought for her and devoured a waffle Dr. Sullivan saved for her. We took a short walk--it was so very, very cold. I was excited to hear that some of Bailey's test results were showing that she is improving, which means that the DLI may be working. Her eyes looked much better than they did on Sunday. It was sad to leave her, yet I know she is in good hands with Dr. Sullivan and his staff. I can't put into words what it feels like to have real hope once again!

Bailey is still with us!

I called the clinic this eve. for a Bailey update. Lately I am afraid to call--though I want to know, I don't want to know either. She is alive though apparently not so well, but the important thing is that she is still with us. The problem is that her platelet count is low. I miss her terribly, and she is with me in my heart every waking moment. I am not sure what Dr. Sullivan plans to do with her next--I am waiting to hear from him. I am sure he will let me know as soon as he knows. Bella is learning that the spray bottle means no biting! We are still working on going potty on the puppy training pads--she is still hit and miss, if not on the pad close by : )

Bailey had another transfusion

When I called the clinic today I learned that Bailey had a low count on one of her blood tests-- I can't say which one, as there are many. Anyways, she had another transfusion of some sort. She is eating. but though I heard she was not as energetic as usual, maybe she is depressed, wondering why she is not home with us. I am tring to put all the positive energy I can muster up into willing her into getting better. I am still hoping that the DLI will work, and today I did some reading up about DLIs on the Internet. Cliffy is being extra snuggly and Bella, well, she is getting sprayed by the mister bottle when she chews on people or Cliffy, and though she is doing well with going pee on the potty training pads, the other is another story!

A visit with Bailey

This afternoon Meg and I went to the clinic in Bellingham to see Bailey. Though her eyes still don't look normal (red and cloudy) they looked better than they were on Wed. We took her for a walk, gave her some treats, and brought up her favorite green blanket to her. We were told that if her CBC, her white and red blood cell count, was in the normal range we could take her back home with us. Unfortunately that was not the case--she may need to have another transfusion tomorrow. It was sad to leave her once again--the first time I left her this week was when I picked up Cliffy on Wed. eve. I could hear her crying as we left the clinic : ( Bella had her eight week old shots which she did not like one bit. We were told that most likely the shot would make her tired for the rest of the day, however, the opposite seemed to be true. Since biting anything and everything is her favorite thing to do, she is getting sprayed from a water mister, to remind her that it is not ok to bite people. Before I went to the clinic I took Cliffy for a walk around the lake we live nearby-- the walk just did not seem right without Bailey!

Bailey is back at the clinc!

On Tues. eve. I took Bailey and Cliffy back up to the clinic to have them both rechecked. Unfortunately, I received bad news on Wed. that Cliffy could come back to my house that eve. , but Bailey would have to stay at the clinic! Her eye problems which we were hoping were a sign that some Graft Versus Host Disease was occurring, intead was from the cancer. Her white blood cell count was extremely low, so she has been given a couple of transfusions, more chemo. , and is on prednisone. She is doing better, but we are not sure if the donor lymphocyte infusion which she had on Dec. 7th is going to work. Dr. Sullivan is hoping that she will go into remission from the chemo. Because Cliffy was, believe it or not too good of a match for Bailey, which is why the transplant did not work, and since he was her only match, the next possibility for Bailey would be a partial transplant using a sibling who was not a match. O f course, this will take funding as did her first transplant. She would have a fifty-fifty chance of surviving this procedure. Maybe the DLI will work, and if not, I hope that she can have the partial transplant!

It is a New Year!

The three beagles were frightened of the fireworks last night as the new year was rung in. Cliffy and Bailey are still a bit under the weather and are still taking meds., but Bella is so lively and full of energy that it is hard for any of us to rest when she is awake. We spend our time making sure she is not chewing on something she shouldn't be chewing on or getting her to use her potty pads which is hit and miss. She is very, very cute but oh, so very, very naughty. Back to work for me tomorrow--I will miss spending my days with my three favorite beagles. I have two people who will be at home doing doggie daycare for me , however.