Very Sad and Bad News

Today, the kids and I took the dogs to the vet. Baron needed lab work done to check his thyroid level and Gracy needed her front right leg looked at (she's been limping). The vet, Dr. Hooker, x-rayed Gracy's leg and found osteosarcoma, bone tumor. Dr. Hooker said that 90% of the time the tumor will metastasize in the lungs, so she wasn't going to do a chest x-ray. The tumor has eaten through most of one bone (the radius?). The long-term prognosis is poor, about 4 months. She gave us some pain medication to help ease Gracy's pain and to help with swelling so she can continue having a good quality of life. We discussed treatment options, such as amputation and chemo. No matter what we do with her leg, we still have to deal with the tumor(s) in her lungs. Mike and I will discuss it further but I think, with her age and other health issues, we will just continue to monitor Gracy's pain and make sure she is comfortable.

The kids cried at first when I explained to them what it meant. Thank goodness, they have the capacity to move on and not dwell on it. My worry is for Baron. He and Gracy were litter mates, so they have been together from day one. He's only been away from her a handful of times (mostly when he had surgery) but moped the whole time she was gone. He will probably grieve himself sick (or worse).

Gracy and Baron were mine and Mike's wedding gifts to each other. While we were attending the "Preparing for Marriage" class at church, the instructors, Dick and Suzie Jacobs, told us their Lab had puppies and they were giving the babies away. They were born the day before Easter and were the perfect age to take from their mom when we returned from our honeymoon. I picked out Gracy and her name while Mike picked out Baron and his name. They have been with us since the beginning. Gracy's name fits her perfectly: she thinks she is Queen of the house (Your Grace). A few years ago we realize this: Gracy is a girl and she is a golden color (notice all the g's). Baron is a boy and he is black (notice all the b's). This was totally unintentional but so funny.

This is Gracy and Baron when they were about six months old.
They were already huge.

This is Gracy about three years ago.

She loves to be outside, especially with her daddy and the kids.