Day 1

Oakley was dropped off at the U this morning at 7:00am.  Today is the first day of radiation therapy.  He had to be anethestized for a couple of hours today in order to get some additional radiographs done, and get some more blood work done and to take a biopsy of his lymph nodes (to confirm whether or not the cancer has spread).  I won't know those results for a few days; however, they are not anticpating finding anything abnormal - I pray that is the case.

I waited all day for a call back to see when he would be ready to be picked up and how his treatment went.  I heard nothing and had to call myself at 4:30pm.  I was quite nervous and scared and wondering why I hadn't heard anything.  The receptionist explained that no news is good news and if it was bad I would have heard something right away, but she understood how I felt.  She found out that Oakley's treatment went "wonderfully" with no complications.  I picked him up around 5:30, and thankfully he looked pretty good, not dazed or anything from the anesthesia, but he definitely wanted to get the hell out of there.  They also had placed a catheter in his back left leg that he will be wearing during the course of the treatment so that they don't have to keep sticking him with needles.  They just wrap it up nice and tight in a bandage.  Thankfully, Oakley doesn't even realize it's there or doesn't care, I guess.

Oakley came home and ate his dinner - kibble and a little roast chicken and for dessert had a Sam's Yam's sweet potato chew.  He just loves those!  :)  Then we (Oakley, Maya, and myself) went for a nice evening walk around the neighborhood. 

Picture of Oakley on Day 1 - after treatment at home:

There are some weird marks on his face, but other than that, looks as handsome as ever!  I am really scared as to what is to come, but I know that this might help others who are thinking of going this route and not sure what to expect.  I plan on taking at least one picture of him every day to post to see the progression and what this therapy could do to him.  I'm guessing it won't be pretty in the near future, but I hope some find it helpful.

Time for bed - we need to get our rest, especially Oakley.  I think that he is going to get it real quick that the morning car ride is something he is NOT going to want to do...

Please keep Oakley in your thoughts and prayers!!