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This is a tribute to Andrea Doria, the best dog I have had. |
Andrea Watch - full story Andrea Watch - most recent update Andrea Watch - progression graph Andrea Gallery Andrea's Story - As Andrea approached her last days with us on Earth, she completed the writing of her memoirs. ![]() |
October 5, 2003. It's now been almost two and a half years since Andrea took her last walk. She was such a smart and well behaved dog, that I haven't attempted to replace her. I still miss Andrea. I still have my two cats and my wife got a kitten a few weeks after we lost Andrea, so we still do have three four-footed children. Andrea live on in our memories. |
![]() 1987 - helping me to stake out the water garden. |
![]() 1999 - practicing her bowling. |
9-1-00, For a little over a year, Andrea had been treated for thyroid cancer. The following are log entries from the last eight months that she was with us. 9-1-00, In July, she was hit by Geriatric Vestibular Disease (GVD), which effects the nerve located near the inner ear, thus it effects balance. She didn't eat for almost a week and her head was tilted about 45 degrees left. She is now eating again, but I have to mix her dog food with cooked hamburger (filled with cancer preventing herbs). She now shows no sign of the GVD. 9-6-00, She enjoys our walks which average about 2 miles each, about five times a week. Her breathing is steadily becoming more difficult, but so far, she manages to find the energy for her walks and she seems happy. Monday morning, she messed up her leg a little while walking, barking at another dog and pulling hard on the leash. By afternoon, for a family get -together, she was limping around the yard with the kids and other dogs and having a great time. We are still walking, but keeping it short as she still has a slight limp. Her breathing continues to deteriorate. 9-12-00, Saturday morning and Sunday evening, we took 2 miles walks. Today, her breathing was such, that we only walked one and a half miles. Because the radiation treatment had destroyed much of her thyroid gland, we have been giving her thyroid supplements since November. Because the thyroid gland has grown back and her thyroid level seems high, I've decided to discontinue the supplements. She is starting to loose interest in food again. She is repeating her decline of the month before her first treatment in mid-August 1999. Had it not been for the hope that the radiation treatment would be a cure, we probably would have ended her suffering then, so it looks like she has only a few weeks left. 9-13-00, We just returned from a one and a half mile walk. I think the days of two mile walks are over. Andrea just can't breath enough to walk far without stopping to breath. Still, she pulled on the leash most of the way. 9-14-00, Andrea's breathing is now degrading quickly. We had a 1.75 mile walk today and her breathing continued to be difficult. 9-23-00, Andrea is still having breathing trouble, but has stabilized at this new, lower level. Our walks are shorter, but she still enjoys them. We discontinued her thyroid pills as few weeks ago and this seems to have helped. Unlike a year ago, her weight is good if not a bit high. A year ago, her weight had dropped from her normal of 70 pounds to 55 and she was quite week. Now she is strong and only limited by the tumor restricting her breathing. She no longer shows and sign of the GVD from last July. 9-25-00, Andrea seems to be doing better now that we have discontinued her thyroid supplements. It seems her own thyroid is again over active. 9-30-00, Today, I took Andrea and Binky to the blessing of the animals. I wanted her doggy soul clear for Dog Heaven but she tried to eat a poodle. She still has a lot of fire in her and won't play second to any other dog. Still, they blessed her so she's ready. Then, a year ago, while preparing for her second radiation treatment, she was blessed and she's still alive so maybe... |
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![]() This is the first scan, 8-4-99. The large red area is the thyroid tumor. The thyroid gland should be two objects smaller than the size of the hole in the 'R' in the image above. ![]() This compares the first (8-4-99) and second (9-22-99) scans. You can see that there was some success. ![]() This compares all three scans. The third scan, 12-29-99 shows that the tumor has grown back. Planar Thyroid Seintigraphy. |
![]() This is a non-scientific graph of Andrea's progression, based on observation and perception. When the curve reached the bottom, we ended her suffering. |
![]() July 5, 1987. |
![]() July 17, 1987. |
![]() "Is this where we are planting the palm?" |
![]() "Hello down there." 1987 |
![]() Binky and Andrea. 1992 |
![]() Andrea in a quiet mood. |
![]() After getting shampoo in her eye. |
![]() I love to run, May 29, 1988. |
![]() September 18, 1987. |
![]() Foot warmer. |
![]() Andrea and Binky. 1992 |
![]() Guarding the fire place. |
![]() Hey little squirrel, wan'a play? |
![]() "Is that Daddy's favorite video tape?" |
![]() Squirrel watch. |
![]() Enjoying her last summer. |
![]() That lump on the right side of her neck is the tumor. |
![]() Taken on 9-18-00 |
![]() Weeding, 11-25-00 |
![]() Resting, 12-1-00 |
![]() Binky, 12-1-00 |
![]() Cinder, 12-1-00 |
![]() Last Birthday, 4-21-01. |
![]() Last Birthday, 4-21-01. |
![]() Last day, 4-25-01. |
![]() Last day, 4-25-01. |
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Support this Web Site I hope that you find this web site helpful. It started as alight-hearted alternative to my portfolio site, and then grew. This web site is for your benefit and enjoyment and I make no profit on it. For ten years it has been supported primarily from my regular paycheck as a Set Designer and there haven't been many the last few years. I can no longer run it without help. Alternative funding is needed. Only recently I tried advertising as a way to balance the budget, but it still doesn't cover the costs. A non-tax deductable donation helps cover the cost of operating this web site and may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal. | ||
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