LIVESTRONG 2011

Dis is a very special postee for mee today.

It be mee very furst LIVESTRONG postee.

Mee was around for LIVESTRONG 2010

butt mee didn't have mee own bloggy back den.

Dis be some impawtant stuffs so mee will just sit back and let mee capable assistant take ovr' for mee.

Mee be back so don't run away!

(HIT IT, CAPABLE ASSISTANT)

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Thank you, Amber

Cancer is a terrible disease.  We have probably all had some dealings with it in one way or the other.  Our human family has been very fortunate and hasn't been directly affected by cancer.

However, over the years we have lost five members of our canine family to cancer.  Many of you already know about our most recent loss......our sweet Tucker, taken by lung cancer two months ago today.

Today I would like to remember our five brave dogs and introduce them to you.  If you have any time and would like to read their entire stories on my personal website, the link to their individual story is embedded in their name.

The first dog we lost to cancer was our dear

SAMANTHA

Samantha had both liver cancer and a brain tumor.  The brain tumor took her life.

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SABRINA was our second Doberman lost to cancer.  She began her journey to Rainbow Bridge on her 6th birthday.  Liver cancer spread to many parts of her body but she never complained until the very end, nor had any symptoms, leaving us in shock when we got the diagnosis.

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In 2003 we lost our TIFFANY after a nine-month battle with Hemangiosarcoma cancer.

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Our sweet SERENA was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and then developed osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in her rear leg.  The cancer spread to her shoulder but the vet was able to successfully remove the tumor on her shoulder.  She was not a candidate for amputation due to her bad heart.  At about the same time that she developed cancer, she also became blind.  One night about 7 months later I told her it was ok to leave for the Bridge if she had to and that I would be OK.  She passed away quietly about 15 minutes later when her heart just stopped beating.  I believe to this day that she was waiting for me to tell her I would be alright before she could leave.

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Our most recent loss was TUCKER.

There were no symptoms until one day he started coughing.  The emergency clinic we took him to first believed he had pheumonia and found the tumor in his lung by way of an x-ray and biopsy.  We had to let him go exactly one month after the diagnosis and four chemo treatments.

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I would also like to remember two very good blogging buddies who have very recently lost their battles with the "C" Monster.

From Pip Gets Back in the Game

and

From Hound Dog Mom and the Hound Dogs

We also lost another dear friend earlier this year who belonged to friends of ours.  Asia was diagnosed with cancer on a Tuesday and had to begin her final journey less than a week later.

*****

One of our very close friends from Blogville was just diagnosed with terminal osteosarcoma.  We are all saying extra prayers for GIZMO from Rottrover as his battle with this disease continues.  All the paws in our household are crossed for you, big guy.  Miracles really do happen sometimes and just maybe someone will find the right weapon to blast the ugly "C" Monster right into outer space.

GIZMO

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Ok, Amber....back to you!

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Ok's Every Buddy...

As da day goes on, let us all cross our paws in da hope dat we can sends dis cancer ting a packin'.  Between da crossed paws and da prayers, how can we lose? 

Remember to stop by da LIVESTRONG bloggy too.

TODAY IS A DAY TO REMEMBER ALL DOS WEE HAS LOST, ALL DOS WHO HAVE WON, AND ESPECIALLY ALL DOS STILL FIGHTING DA BIG "C".

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ALSO..REMEMBER TO GO

YELLOW

TODAY!

PAWHUGS,

AMBER