Finn's Dog Tails

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers

2012-02-19T14:32:00.000-08:00

Feb. 13

They tell me my time has come. Life had been treating me great until Jan. 11 after school. All of a sudden this strange feeling of being overly tired and not very hungry hit me. I had a strange tumor growing on my side the size of a cell phone and a golf ball size one under my left armpit on the lymph nodes. Those sneaky tumors were growing inside in numerous places on my lymph nodes. Dr. Randy said "this isn't good, I better call the MSU oncologist to see what our next step is." I was hoping the doctor would say "go lay on a beach in Florida and relax!" But instead I had to have thin needle biopsies done on a few of my lumps and send the tissue cellls to MSU. Not a very comfortable procedure. I felt like I deserved a juicy steak after that, but then again I didn't have much of an appetite! I settled for lots of hugs, many "you are such a good boy" comments and a Milkbone treat.

The results came back that there weren't enough cells to diagnose. More lumps showed up and I wasn't feeling great, but I was at the door each morning to go to school. You know I have a job and the kids need me. It was decided I would go under the knife again to have one of the tumors taken out and sent to MSU on Feb. 7. I was fighting this terrible Lymphoma with all I had but on Feb. 3 I had no appetite to eat at all and couldn't eat and I had to stay home from work. I was wearing out. The good news was I kept drinking tons of water. The next Monday I saw Dr. Randy and he put me on steroids and I was way too weak to have surgery. I got some appetite back on Weds. and my Dad started feeding me Cheerios with milk. For the next few days, my Mom and Dad spent a lot of time laying next to me on the floor snuggling me. Puppy Bella figured out our rumbling days were over and she was my constant companion always next to me or giving me kisses. On Monday morning, Feb. 13, I had labored breathing and I was so weak I couldn't walk. The past Friday, Dr. Randy told us my red blood cell count was so low, it was hard to get oxygen. My Mom called Dr. Randy and he came immediately to our house. I was layng on a cozy blanket hearing my Mom's loving voice and feeling her calming touch, when I heard Dr. Randy's voice speaking to me, I thumped my tail 2 times. I knew I could be at peace. I heard my Mom say a prayer and tell God his canine angel was coming home to him.

I know that if feeling loved could prevent cancer, it could never have entered my body. I owe a million dog kisses to my Mom and Dad who made me want to smile every time they looked at me. Seeing Ryan, Amy, and Ellie always made me happy. Grandma Kitty and all my relatives always kept up to date on my volunteer work and by cancer battle. Lots of hugs from them. I know my passing will also be hard for my 1,000 elementary students, school staff, and my close friends at the Marshall District Library. I want them to know that I was honored to be part of their lives. Their smiles made me hold my tail high and wag it! My last big heartfelt thank you goes to the compassionate Dr. Randy and his staff. They gave me courage and such a feeling of calmness when I was going through treatment. I was lucky to have had 4 1/2 years with such wonderful people and to live in such a loving community. God Bless You All!

Finn

Merry Christmas from Finn

2011-12-25T08:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Holiday Season from Finn! I've had 2 more chemotherapy treatments from Dr. Randy since I last wrote to you. From Nov. 16- Dec.3 I was feeling pretty good and had a decent appetite. The Michigan State Univ. oncologist vet said on the phone I may be starting to go in remission from one of the types of cancer cells. Yeah! Then the next week I had the yuckies! I couldn't make myself eat in the morning and my Mom would take it to school for me to eat at lunchtime. I was more tired than I had been. I went for my chemo appointment and Dr. Randy found a new tumor bump on my back. I had to double check what he said by looking at my Mom and seeing the tears in her eyes, I knew it was true. My blood work came out fine; I had my two meatballs with the chemo pill hidden in one. I think it must be a Christmas miracle that my tumor bump after a week was almost gone and I have felt great again for 12 days! It must be all those prayers my Grandma Kitty is saying for me!

I've had some special events at school the last few weeks. A parent of a second grade student wrote my Mom an e-mail to tell her that her daughter when writing her letter to Santa, said the number one thing she wanted for Christmas was money to help pay for Finn's medicine to make him better because she loves him so much. Ten days later, the girl, her mom, a generous check, and a camera to record the presentation happened at school. Another day when I wasn't feeling my best, the school secretary summoned me to walk out to the parking lot where there was a kindergarten boy in a car with his daycare provider. He wouldn't come into school. The daycare worker called the secretary to see if she could help and she said "Finn is here today. I'll send him out." So when duty calls, I put on my friendliest face and hold my tail high and as soon as the boy saw me and my Mom, he came out of the car and wrapped his arms around me and followed us into school! It is all in a day's work for a school therapy dog!

This is a picture of me and my dog sister, Bella all decked out for Christmas. She may look innocent here, but I'm not sure Santa is bringing her any presents after what she did last night! My Dad had left my Mom $100 to Christmas shop with and when it was NOWHERE to be found today, it showed up all right...in Bella's potty outside! She had used her paw Weds. evening to pull it from the back of the kitchen counter and chewed up five $20 bills while my Mom went downstairs to find the cookie cutters. Does Santa put coal in "bad dog's stockings?" I know I have been a good dog, so I will share my new toys with her. She's only a pup! Or maybe Santa will have a short memory!

Happy "Howl"-idays

2011-12-17T08:18:00.000-08:00

Hope you all have a very happy holidays with your friends and family.

"Read to Finn" at the Marshall Public Library

2011-11-20T14:32:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday my Mom took me to the Marshall District Library for my "Read To Finn" program.

I had 5 readers come and read a book to me. One was a grandpa with his 15 month old granddaughter. She sat next to me and patted me saying "Finn-gan-gan." Little kids are fun because when I am sitting, I can look them right in the eyes!

Check-up with Dr. Randy

2011-11-20T14:28:00.000-08:00

I had a good check up a week after my 2nd chemo treatment. My liver enzymes were a bit high, but Dr. Randy is keeping his eye on them.

Here is my wonderful vet, Dr. Randy. He is wearing a FINNSTRONG bracelet.
I will be seeing him this Friday for another chemo treatment.

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-20T14:21:00.000-08:00

Hello to all of my blog readers. It is time again for my update and I hope you enjoy. Bella did a nice job taking my place in the 3 Halloween Parades at my Mom's 3 schools. Her biggest blunder was when Principal Linda sat down in a kid's size chair to pet Bella, and she stood up and put her paws on Linda's shoulders and started kissing her face! I'm blushing now just thinking about it!

In other news, I have a great friend, Becky the Library Aide, at Hughes Elem., who is doing a fund raising and support program for me. At all three of my schools I work at, they are selling red FINNSTRONG silicone bracelets. The proceeds go toward my medical expenses. Seeing the kids and staff wearing the bracelets is a great sign of their support for me to battle my Lymphoma. I am "one lucky dog" to be loved so much!

Round 2

2011-10-31T18:23:00.000-07:00

Hello again friends and family! This past Friday October 28th I received my second chemo treatment from Dr. Randy, Great news, all my tumors are gone except one in my eye and one on my shoulder which are 50% gone. The oncologist said after all the tumors are gone, I will need 6 more months of chemo because my cancer is systemic in the lymphatic vessels.

I'm looking forward to feeling better in a couple of days and getting back to rumbling with Bella. She is going to take my place in the school Halloween parades tomorrow so I can stay home and rest. I'm going to have a talk with her about the right way to act. She is sweet and cute, but she has a lot to learn about being calm!

Finn and Bella

My First Update

2011-10-31T18:18:00.000-07:00

Hi! I'm Finnegan. Ryan and Amy have built a blog about me to keep my family and friends up to date on my journey to the ultimate goal of getting in remission from lymphoma.

On Sept. 20, 2011, I was going about enjoying my wonderful life of working 5 days a week at three elementary schools in Marshall as a certified therapy dog alongside my owner, school counselor, Pam. I have important work to do at the start of the school year. I calm down anxious kids who are missing their moms, kids can earn a visit with me for good behavior, I meet the new crop of kindergarteners (man do they give great hugs and soft kisses on my head!),and I wag my tail and look handsome as I visit all 43 classrooms of 1,000 kids. But today I was feeling weird. My Dad had found 2 unusual bumps on my back plus the beginning of a hot spot the night before. I didn't feel well at school so my Mom took me to the vet. Dr. Randy didn't like the look of the bumps and scheduled surgery for a week later to take them out. By the day of my surgery, I had three more about the size of a pencil eraser. The Veterinary Lab at Michigan State University after 2 rounds of tests diagnosed me with cutaneous lymphoma. The type I have is RARELY seen in dogs.

Well, I have to tell you, my Mom and Dad were so sad. They told me they would take care of me. I now had about 10 more bumps under my ears and on my shoulders. We then took a trip to MSU to meet with an oncologist. Of course, she saw what a sweetheart I was and said that I had three things going for me since my parents caught it early, I am young, and I wasn't currently acting sick. Then the bad news, it can't be cured. If we can get it into remission, it will at some point come back again.

An hour later the doctor gave me a meatball with 4 chemo pills hidden inside and my battle had begun. I felt tired and nauseous for about 6 days and lost 2 pounds when I went for my blood test a week later. Mom figured out when to give me my nausea medicine so that helped after about day 3. Now for some good news, I felt better than ever for the two weeks after that and my local vet Dr. Randy (the nicest, most caring vet ever!) has agreed to give me my chemo locally every three weeks so we don't have to drive to MSU. I see him for a blood test a week after chemo and the day of my treatment. I don't even get nervous going there because everyone is so nice and they talk to me!