*More Prayers for Gibson* ~ An Update

Gibson's first Christmas 2015 season photo with Clarice.

The past few days has been such a rollercoaster of emotions. Gibson made it through the night at the ER, just barely, and was transferred to our vet hospital in the morning, where they had him on heavy doses of antibiotics and IV fluids. 

Gib at ER

My brave boy began to rebound. His fever dropped from nearly 107 at ER to 103.3.

The first two days were touch and go. I've brought him home at night to be with the family, and the days he has been in our vet hospital on the IV fluids. 





 


Over the weekend, our vet tech tech came to check up on him and administer fluids and his meds. His fever continued to drop. Blood tests confirm no more bleeding or bacteria in his belly. Small baby steps in the positive direction. 

Last night he began drinking water on his own, had no fever, and could even manage to stand up, although extremely weak after not eating (and he is still not eating on his own. He will take special food via syringe and just moved to spoon, but only a small amount). 


Last night was his most comfortable yet, with no fever, no

panting, and he was very comfy. And his girl, Harley, stayed right by his side. I got a plenty of Gibbie kisses. And in return, kissed that velvety nose of his. The velvetiest nose I've ever felt!

 The mystery has been what caused the internal bleeding and bacteria? He was so bad off at the ER that I held him in my arms wondering if this was time for his final journey, then somehow, he mustered up the courage and opened his eyes to look at me and I knew it wasn't yet. We would continue fighting this unknown monster.


Once at my vet hospital, who love and know him so well, he began to rebound. My vet quite literally saved his life.
The rebound, so welcome. Made  my heart soar.



 However, his rebound, is a temporary one.

Today, a specialist came in to do a second ultrasound...and there news is not good. Gibson has a tumor that periodically is bleeding. The tumor is on his spleen. There is also a "lump" that can be seen, but diagnosed, on his liver. He is also now showing signs of anemia. On the positive side, his chest X-rays show no sign of tumors, so "it" has not spread. Our prayers are that the lump on the liver is just that, some weird lump and in no way connected to the tumor. The spleen with the tumor can be removed in surgery...if...IF...it hasn't spread to the liver. If it has spread, I will have to set Gibson on his journey...which I can not even fathom. I can't lose my boy. I must stay strong and continue our fight and hope and pray it has not spread to the liver.

The choice now is surgery vs. no surgery. He is an Epi-dog. He had severe arthritis in his knees. He has weak hind issues. The ironic part is that after rehabbing from his lameness, he has had the very best summer being alert, even running about the yard, howling, hanging with his love and the rest of the FiveSibes pack, doing his famous Gibbie "hip-hop" dance, and just being a very happy, loving Husky. My last post of November was all about Gib and how he still has a lot of fight left in him.

So how can one day he be wooing at me and slamming me with his big, beautiful polar bear paw, gazing at me with his beautiful soulful blue eyes, hoping all around...and later that same day be on a stretcher, a very sick boy? No surgery only means the condition will worsen at some point...and to see him go through what he just did again, I can't do.

I know I am not the only one to be at this crossroads, but I know we all feel at the time we find ourselves here, that we are the only ones. It's a lonely and scary place to be. Gibson has beat so many odds. He is my warrior boy. And he again  must face a big monster. This time it is not epilepsy, but a sneaky, nasty tumor.

I pray the next time I write, it will be to say that Gibson continues to "LiveGibStrong" and is recuperating from surgery. I pray we will have this Christmas and others to come to celebrate together. 

If we could all join in - human hands and our dogs' paws - in a pawcircle of prayer, hope, and strength that Gibson will once again weather this storm...and that God may guide the hands of those his care is entrusted in. 

May Gibson continue to #LiveGibStrong here, in the now, with me and his family.

Thank you all so much for your continued prayers, comforting words, and wishes for healing for my big, beautiful boy. You've all touched our hearts immensely and we thank you for your caring and support.

"Hope is the thing

with feathers

That perches in

the soul

And sings the tune

without the words

And never stops

at all." 

~Emily Dickinson