One year later

I am nearing the anniversary of Bailey's death which was Jan. 17th. Though I have been told with time, the pain of losing her will lessen I have not found that to be the case yet. For those of you who have followed Bailey's story you know that although I believe in altering pets due to the fact that too many pets alrready are in need of good homes, but because of how difficult it was to locate Bailey's family members in order to find her a donor match I decided to allow Bella and Cooper to have one litter of pups since a donor registry for pets like they have for people is not in place yet.

The new up and coming transplant procedure is haploid transplants which we were preparing for Bailey to have using an unmatched sibling. I even refinanced my house to pay for it. In haploid transplants unmatched relatives can be used as donors which is great for those needing transplants who have relatives who are not a match, but still doesn't help those who need transplants who don't have access to blood relatives. Bailey's only match, Clifford was too close of a match to her which is why she did not develop any graft vs. tumor which is needed to kill off any remaing tumor cells. Clifford, though different sex, was as near a clone to Bailey as you can get. Unfortunately, this was not known till after the transplant had been performed. Another reason for a registry is that in people transplants using unrelated donor matches are more successful which most likely be true in pets as well..

Bella is in heat so we may be looking at puppies in a couple of months. I think that Cooper is old enough to play his part. Amelia turned two on Christmas. We have had her a year now and though I don't have the bond with Amelia, Bella, nor Cooper that I had with Bailey I do understand that they are still young and it will take time to develop. I remember that Bailey as a pup was a handful, and I have now multiplied her by three lively beagles. They all have their little personalities and get into a lot of mischief. They remind me of goats--climbing up on things they shouldn't and eating anything and everything : )

I am putting my energy now into trying to find funding to get a registry started for pets like they have for people and to find funding for Dr. Sullivan to have access to his own linac machine which is used for the irradiation before the transplant can be performed. This machine would need to be housed in a special building. Many hospitals are getting rid of their linac machines (they are obsolete for people, but would be fine for pets), but the cost of moving them and building housing for it is pricey. WASU, where Dr. Sullivan currently goes to have his patients get the irradiation is far away, and I am not sure how much longer he will be able to use their equipment due to politics.

I am trying to get my book finished up which will tell both Bailey and Comet, Dr. Sullivan's first successful, transplant dog, stories for kids. So many chidren are touched by this terrible disease, a disease in which there are those who recover and sadly, those who do not. If I can get it published any profit will go to what Dr. Sullivan is doing.

Too, students at my school are making paper quilt squares which have drawings of pets (I have an art class on Thurdays after school) which are fashioned into colorful quilt wall hangings which will be given to those who can help with funding a registry and equipment for Dr. Sullivan. The quilts take a long time to make, but the end result is really quite impressive. Dr. Sullivan said if he could perform the whole transplant in one place the cost would go down dramatically. We have made a beautiful quilt for Oprah but getting it to her may prove to be dificult. I know she loves dogs and since she owns Goldens, who are more susceptible to lymphoma (the third most common cancer in dogs) than most breeds, I would like for her to be aware of Bailey's and Comet's stories.

I will add pics. soon of Amelia, Bella, and Cooper and of the quilt my students made for Oprah.

Cathy