Please help save Sydney's life!

**Catty1** · 10-07-2008, 08:45 PM

KK - ask to meet with the vet at the office about your concerns. A lot of these goof-ups are done at the front desk, not in the OR. They are separate from the vet herself.

Please write down the dates, and what happened. You don't have to blame anyone. Even print out a statement, and just state what happened on those dates - no names needed, the vet will be able to figure that out. Remind her how worried you are about Sydney - AND how happy you are that her treatments have gone so well (praise the vet a bit!

) - and ask her what her advice to you is now that she has seen the list? (You put the ball in her court).

AND - who knows if there are goof-ups with OTHER people's pets, and they have never complained. You doing this could save a couple of lives, maybe.

{{{{HUGS}}}}

**Medusa** · 10-07-2008, 09:24 PM

What Candace said.

**Emeraldgreen** · 10-08-2008, 12:06 AM

I don't blame you for being worried and it does make sense to contact the vet about it. If it were just one mistake then it might not be so much of a concern but there are so many and some fairly serious. Things are being missed and it must be so frustrating that it seems to keep happening.
It would be a good idea to list all the mix ups for the vet because having them all together will really highlight how much has been overlooked and it is unacceptable. And as you mentioned, the Doxorubicin can cause serious damage if done incorrectly and with all these mistakes, the vet will surely understand how it has created unnecessary stress and worry, especially when the consequences could be so devastating. Sydney obviously means the world to you and they should be providing the best care possible. It may be that it's a different person each time making an error and no one is totally aware of all the mistakes that have been made. I wouldn't be surprised if it was discussed in great detail at their next staff meeting!
I would hope that your vet will make sure from that point on that there isn't so much as a spelling error on Sydney's paperwork.

She deserves good care and so do you.

**Moesha** · 10-12-2008, 09:06 PM

How are you and Mz Sydney doing?

**catlover32648** · 10-12-2008, 09:08 PM

Im praying for the best =]

how are you and sydney doing?

**Catty1** · 10-13-2008, 11:08 PM

Thinking of you and beautiful Sydney. Hope all is well after he recent treatment.

You are a BIZZY person, so I know you will check in when you can.

{{{{hugs}}}}

**kittykatharine** · 10-15-2008, 09:09 PM

Sydney is doing well. She is still eating really well which is very surprising. We haven't really had too many issues with vomiting, although she will do it once every few days. I have her on a anti-nausea medicine, so that seems to be working pretty well. Sydney has to go in this Friday for blood tests. I called and asked if it was possible they could take her blood without sedating her, and it was a big no. I know that she gets really mean, but I could do it no problem and just bring the sample in. I was trained how to take blood in people, so I don't understand the huge leap in faith for an animal. Sydney would let me do it, I just think they are worried about liabilities. Well, Sydney only has three more chemo administrations left (WooHoo!). She has the Vincristine next week, then we skip a month (she will get on take home pill two weeks into that month), and then she will get another administration of Vinctistine and the last (and most powerful) the Doxorubicin. After the Doxorubicin, she has another restaging (where they do an ultrasound, some blood test, and a ECG). Although I was wondering, what is the point of the restaging? She is not able to have any more Doxorubicin after her last time, because of the cardiotoxicity, and that is the most powerful drug for her type of cancer. I mean, I feel the restaging is just going to be a $500+ price tag for the vet telling me her approximation of time left. I had to drop down to half time at school, live with my parents, discontinue my old cell phone, and a bunch of other sacrifices to pay for her treatment (and I would definitely do it again in a heart beat) - I just wonder what is the purpose of the restaging, it seems to be a really expensive opinion on longevity. If it was a treatment, I would give it to them in a second, but it is not. What do you think?

movie of Sydney!
http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...t=MVI_2045.flv

**Emeraldgreen** · 10-15-2008, 09:32 PM

I'm so glad she is doing well.

I'm not familiar with chemo and re-staging but if it is as you say, just a test to see how long she has and there is no further treatment available anyway, I would ask if you could skip it. 500.00 is alot of money and you've already spent so much. She of course is worth every penny!!

**kittykatharine** · 10-18-2008, 11:19 PM

movie of Sydney - I thought she looked cute as ever! She has come so far since she had that large bump in her head...

http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...t=MVI_2013.flv

I love her so much!

**Catty1** · 10-18-2008, 11:26 PM

Another thought.

How soon does the restaging have to be done after the last treatment? Can you have a bit of time to save up? Will she take a payment plan for that relatively small amount?

Maybe you didn't mean it to sound fatalistic, 'seeing how much time Sydney has left' - but I think the restaging is to see how much more cancer has vanished...maybe it all has. Remember her first checkup where two tumours had GONE, and that was quite a few treatments and weeks ago.

It's like in humans....you don't say it's cured til a certain amount of time goes by without a recurrence.

But cancer all gone is a definite possibility!

How is our girl doing?

{{{{hugs}}}}

**kittykatharine** · 10-18-2008, 11:41 PM

I am going to have to talk to the vet about the re-staging and when it is to occur. My chemo protocol sheet says it is done the last week of the treatment, but I may need to push it a bit. It is just, I feel the re-staging equipment is just going to give me an answer that has little to no certainty. The more accurate tests (such as bone, kidney, and spleen aspirations) that Sydney had done in Auburn would give a more definitive answer to if the cancer is gone, but I can not afford that trip or the cost again. Besides, I have to get a referral to be seen, and those are hard to come by. Once I get more info from the vet I will let you know. I mean the re-staging is just a really expensive ultrasound - which quite frankly is not that great of a tool unless you have a very distinctive mass (which I am guessing she does not).

Otherwise, Sydney has been doing great! She is eating normally, running around being playful, and she is extremely lovable. If you didnt know better you would say nothing was wrong (except for her pretty shave job

). Her blood tests were fantastic on Friday, and everything seemed to be in the normal range. It looks hopeful for now. I will keep everyone updated.

**Catty1** · 10-18-2008, 11:50 PM

Can Sydney have a CT scan done? (Sadly, they are not called CAT scans anymore...progress!

) If the restaging won't give you definite answers - well, what's the point, sort of?

Is anything available through your school?

Glad she is doing so well!

**jennielynn1970** · 10-19-2008, 12:14 AM

Awe... she looks great!!! Such a cutie!

Hugs to Sydney!!

**Catty1** · 10-19-2008, 12:16 AM

KK - do you by chance have a recent pic of our sweetheart?

**jennielynn1970** · 10-19-2008, 12:18 AM

Candace... she posted this today

Originally Posted by kittykatharine

movie of Sydney - I thought she looked cute as ever! She has come so far since she had that large bump in her head...

http://s44.photobucket.com/albums/f3...t=MVI_2013.flv

I love her so much!