𝑻𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒚 𝑫’𝒔 𝑳𝒊𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐 “𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰”; March 14, 2011 – November 2, 2023

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Cello's Corner | Leave a comment

Tommy D’s Limoncello “Cello”

March 14, 2011 – November 2, 2023

“𝘐𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺, 𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭.

𝘐𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘭.”

Dear Cello,

You blessed us with 12.5 wonderful years of having the privilege to call you family. How we got so lucky to be the ones you picked as your people, I’ll never know – – but I will forever be thankful…the memories you created, the gifts you bestowed upon us, and the lessons that you taught us are things we will hold dear for eternity.

Little did we know the grand escapades you had planned for us when you joined our family! Camping…hiking…dock diving…rescue…social media…all things we knew NOTHING about until you came along. The interests and activities you introduced us to paved the way to countless memorable experiences, enabled us to help many humans & pups, and connected us to the most wonderful, supportive, kind-hearted people anyone could ever hope for in their lives. Our proudest moments were brought about by you. You ushered friendship, love, and adventure into our lives. You made us better as individuals – and as a couple – and guided us to find our purpose. We are forever grateful for your direction and enlightenment.

We are beyond fortunate to have an enormous network of extended family members -both near and far- all because of YOU. Our involvement in dock diving, Cello’s Corner social media and rescue has enabled us to be members of communities filled with support that is truly inconceivable to others. At times the wonderment of it all is even unbelievable to us. Thank you for renewing our faith in humanity and surrounding us with such an immense and astounding group of people.

Every pastime, hobby and passion we have began because of YOU. You have taught us so much about the remarkably strong bond between humans and dogs and showed us how it goes above and beyond what we ever imagined. It’s going to be excruciating to continue these ventures without you. We thank you for continuously introducing us to new activities and promise to proceed to 𝙎𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙮 in your honor.

Over the course of your lifetime, you benevolently accepted 8 new dogs into your pack. You took leadership with each one and showed them the way (aka YOUR way)! I loved watching the admiration in the other pack members as they followed your every move. They adored you. You heightened our pack expectations as you managed proper pack order and behavior with confidence and grace. The transition will be a difficult one for your pack, but we know in our hearts you will still be watching over us all, and guiding us.

You eagerly did 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 we asked of you with trust and love in your eyes. You let us 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 WE were teaching you – but the reality was: It was YOU who was schooling 𝒖𝒔. Thank you for tolerating our faults and humbly making us look like we knew what we were doing.

You are THE definition of 𝙎𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙮. You let nothing obstruct your path. A miraculous full recovery from Dilated Cardiomyopathy was just one of the many examples of your strong will, strength and determination. You loved to surprise your medical team! Intent on ending your journey YOUR way, you shocked everyone, and competed in the DockDogs World Championships for the 9th year in a row…letting cancer know full well that “𝑖𝑡” did 𝒏𝒐𝒕 have you … 𝐘𝐎𝐔 had “𝑖𝑡.” YOU called the shots. We will forever admire your fortitude, willpower and tenacity and pray that we have even a fraction of your strength as we try our best to continue to carry out the purpose you paved for us despite any roadblocks we encounter.

Your medical team was taken aback with the dramatic results of your CAT scan – yet you stood before them asymptomatic and unfazed. For two full months after your diagnosis you continued to silently fight a battle most humans could not endure- saving us the heartache of displaying how you may have truly felt. For those 9 weeks after your diagnosis you pressed on – hiding any signs of discomfort from us- and ambitiously continuing to do things that most healthy dogs don’t ever get the chance to do. You are a true inspiration and the mightiest of warriors.

On November 2, 2023 you let us know that you could no longer quietly fight. We had been nervous wondering 𝘩𝘰𝘸 we would know when “the time” had arrived. Thank you for clearly alerting us that you were ready to cross the rainbow bridge. It was one of the most difficult days of our lives but our grief is just a small price to pay for the abundance of joy, love, and companionship you unconditionally gave to us. It is worth all the tears and pain in the world to make sure you are not in agony. We are heartbroken and devastated that you are not here with us, but we are comforted knowing you are no longer suffering.

You hold a place in our hearts that no other being could ever fill. We are grateful beyond measure that you chose us to be your family. Thank you for for loving us and for completely changing our lives for the better. We will miss you each and every day – every single second – for the rest of our lives. As God embraces you in His arms, we will hold you closely in our hearts and pray that you continue to guide us until we can meet again.

We love you, Limoncello.

Fly high, Limoncello. Your time on Earth may have ended but the impact you had will live on forever in the countless hearts you touched.

2 Months Post-Diagnosis: Taking It One Day At A Time

Posted on November 1, 2023 by Cello's Corner | 8 Comments

When you know a loved one is living on borrowed time, the clock seems to tick much faster…Although I am doing my best to incorporate the advice of “take one day at a time,” lately it seems that several days gang up and attack me at once. Some days I find myself caught in between having hope… and knowing there isn’t any….between trying to stop myself from grieving as if Cello is no longer here…while trying to be grateful that she still is. Daily laughter provided by the antics of our pack, support for each other between Brian and I as a couple, as well as the continued encouragement and love from family and friends both near and far keeps me sane and reminds me each and every day to reset and refocus on faith, gratitude, and positivity. Limoncello has taught me many things, but one of the most important lessons of all is to live in the moment and 𝙎𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙮…and as difficult as it may be, I intend to do just that for her.

Update

Nine weeks go, on Wednesday, August 30th 2023, Limoncello was given a terminal diagnosis. Her estimated prognosis was 3 weeks to 3 months…with the realistic approximation weighing heavily at the three-week end. For the last two months, Limoncello has certainly 𝙎𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 heck out of each and every 𝘿𝙖𝙮. Aside from the initial observation of what we first thought was an irritated right eye which led to her diagnosis, in the last 9 weeks, not only she has she shown zero additional symptoms, but her right eye also seemed to miraculously transform back to its normal state.

Cello’s right eye this week (left) in comparison to 9 weeks ago after her diagnosis (right)

She traveled out to Iowa, and enthusiastically competed in the DockDogs World Championships.

Cello enthusiastically waiting in line for her turn to jump at the World Championships

Limoncello’s competition jump at the World Championships (vid cred: Kevin Johnson)

We are extremely grateful for these last 9 weeks!

A couple of days after our return from Iowa, Limoncello developed a dry cough. It did not sound like kennel cough and none of our other pack members were displaying any symptoms. When the cough persisted, we took Cello to her primary veterinarian. Although Cello was not exhibiting the typical kennel cough symptoms, Dr. Campbell put Limoncello on an antibiotic to be sure any type of infection would be avoided. Cello’s overall exam was unremarkable. Her heart sounded to be at its “normal” function with her murmur sounding no worse. Her lungs sounded clear. However, over the the course of her antibiotic, our other pack members still remained asymptomatic, while Limoncello’s cough did not diminish.

October 29, 2023: First observation of nasal discharge. Limoncello’s right nostril had a discharge of mucus that also contained some blood. Although alarming, we were prepared that this was one of the symptoms we would see. We contacted Dr. Campbell right away to update her.

October 26, 2023: Cello has never been a picky eater… In fact, she is the type of dog that will eat an”unhidden” pill right out of your hand and not question it. She eats every meal and licks the bowl clean. On October 26th, Limoncello hesitated to eat her breakfast. She eventually did eat the meal, but began to grow increasingly hesitant to eat. After several experiments of food consistency toleration, and height elevations of her bowl, I began to notice that it appeared to be the bowl she was hesitant of (meanwhile her food bowl has not changed). I began to offer her the meals from my hand, and she began to eat her meals in their entirety again.

October 31, 2023: I touched base with Dr. Campbell again to inform her of the change in eating habit, as well as to let her know that Cello’s cough has not resolved. Dr. Campbell said the cough may mean that Cello either has mucus or blood dripping into her throat or that the cancer has spread to her lungs. It is uncertain why all of the sudden Limoncello will not eat from her bowl, but Dr. Campbell speculated that the height and/or angle of eating from the bowl may create a pressure or discomfort of some sort which is deterring Cello. The important detail is that she still is eager to eat – and if that means I need to hand-feed her for the rest of the time we have with her, so be it. Later that evening, evening we once again noticed a minimal amount of discharge from Cello’s right nostril that contained a small amount of blood.

Until now, I have been shocked that Hooch has not been acting any different. In the past, ANY time there has been something wrong with Cello (including her DCM), Hooch knew it before we did and would display odd behaviors that led us to take Cello to the vet. This time however, “Dr. Hooch” has been unfazed…unti… Limoncello was laying next to me on the couch. Hooch walked up and began to sniff her right nostril and her right eye. This was an additional confirmation to me that there are obvious changes and/or developments occurring with Cello’s cancer. Hooch then “stood guard” of Cello the rest of the night.

November 1, 2023: The good news is, as of today, Cello has not had any additional discharge from her nostril and is eating as long as her meals are delivered from my hands and not her bowl. Close observation, documentation, and communication with Dr. Campbell are all extremely important at this point. Continued prayers for Limoncello are very much appreciated as she continues to 𝑺𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒛𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒚 and live her life to the fullest despite her cancer diagnosis.

Anticipatory Grief

As Limoncello begins to show signs decline, we are remaining vigilant in observing when more bad days than good are apparent. We are beyond grateful that we have Dr. Campbell to be Cello’s advocate and to help us determine when Cello becomes too tired. We still are remaining positive and grateful for every day we have with Cello, focussing on the “little” moments that are creating memories, and letting Cello call the shots. I’m not going to lie – the anticipation is not easy. In fact, some days it feels like I am sitting on train tracks waiting for the locomotive to hit. Preparing for the blow that I know is coming is both sad and terrifying. Brian and I are doing our absolute best to follow Cello’s lead to 𝙎𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙖𝙮 every day and not let our feelings of grief take over before the loss even happens. Above all, we are trying to take things one day at a time. We understand that at this point, Limoncello will have good days and bad days and that as her caretakers and family, we will have good days and bad days also.

The Struggle Is Real, But So Are The Blessings

Some days are truly a struggle. However, we truly have so many blessings in our lives … Here are just some from the past few weeks:

Support at the 2023 DockDogs World Championships

“Thank you” doesn’t even come close to expressing the gratitude we have. There is nothing – and I mean NOTHING like the DockDogs community….

Our trip was filled with support, love, friendship and reunions within our dockdogs family. I’m not sure where to even begin, as it is impossible to find the proper words to convey all that I feel. I don’t think that I am even capable of being a good enough person to figure out a way to thank everyone involved in helping our special girl 𝑺𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒛𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒚 and make the most of the present 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡. To everyone who took the time to come up to us to tell us how happy you were that Cello was there … you ALL turned an already-very-special-week into one-big-spectacular-𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 that will forever be cherished and 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 be forgotten.

We had less than 24 hours from the time we had Limoncello’s exam to the time we had to leave for Iowa, not knowing if we’d be able to make the trip or not. Understanding there was a good possibility we we’d have to cancel the trip, I chose to only purchase the necessities- food for ourselves and the dogs – skipping the usual team shirts, banners, and trading cards…But our DockDogs family would not have that … As a surprise, a friend had shirts made not only for us – but for anyone else who wanted to support Cello. It was so heartwarming to see all the Cello-yellow both at the competition and in posts from afar!!!

… but that wasn’t all…

…We arrived to the competition to find a sign and banner, and trading cards were made …

…Yellow bracelets were purchased, and lemon string-lights decorated our crate area…

…Yellow Super Fly suits were made for our team as well as others who chose to wear one in support of Cello…

…We were also gifted a custom handmade metal team sign…

…a friend and fellow Pointer Rescue, Org volunteer traveled many hours to come visit with Cello…

The kind and generous gestures overwhelmed our hearts and made this trip filled with moments that we will remember forever.

Grand Marshall of the 2023 DockDogs World Championships

Leader of the 2023 DockDogs World Championships Hero Parade

Visits from Family and Friends

Watching MLB Championship Series

Snuggles on the Couch

Halloween

Lemons and Yellow in My Social Media Feed Or sent to me from a Friend

I will continue to do periodic updates on Limoncello and appreciate all of the love and support you all continue to send for our special girl!

Calling the Shots and 𝙎𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙯ing the Day

Posted on September 23, 2023 by Cello's Corner | 1 Comment

This is one of my favorite photos: Brian and I along with fellow competitors doing a limoncello shot after a dock diving event. Photo Credit: KJ Photography

Whoah! Hold up, Cancer…Limoncello is calling the shots here!

October 6, 2023: Check-Up with Primary Veterinarian

During Cello’s exam, I received both good and bad news.

The bad news:

There is a slight change in her skull on the right side. This is caused from the tumor spreading more in the direction of her brain and deteriorating the bone.
- We will have to continue to watch for seizure activity.
Her right nostril that was previously partially blocked now appears to be completely blocked.
- We will have to continue to watch for nosebleeds

The good news:

The left nostril is still clear and Cello continues to be able to breathe comfortably with her mouth closed.
Her right eye continues to appear to not be protruding as it once was, and is no longer weaping
No pain or discomfort was observed
Overall Dr. Campbell said that Cello looks good, all things considered

At this point, I was prepared to hear that it would be best for us to stay home. After Dr. Campbell was done with Cello’s physical, she asked me when we were leaving for our trip to the World Championship. I told her that we were only going if we got the thumbs-up from her after today’s exam, and that if we DID get the thumbs-up, we would plan to leave tomorrow. Dr. Campbell’s response: “So what time are you leaving?” … My eyes welled up, and the biggest, happiest tears poured down my face!

DockDogs World Championship,

Here come The Liver Killers!

Yes, some decline was observed, but not enough to hold back Limoncello from going on her trip. Overall she is doing exceptionally well. In fact, if you didn’t know her you would think she was just your typical senior dog. Of course we know that in the blink of an eye, something devastating could occur, and that we have to prepare ourselves for that.

Limoncello was originally given just a few weeks to a few months to live. We are grateful that as of today, Limoncello has given the paw to cancer for a blessed 5 weeks since her diagnosis. Beware, cancer….Limoncello is taking charge and calling the shots.

🍋𝙎𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙯𝙚 the Day

Dogs are pretty amazing aren’t they? Regardless of what’s (sometimes literally) thrown at them, they live in the present and savor every moment. Despite being abused, neglected, and let down by humans, regardless of diseases that try to destroy their short lives… dogs not only carry on, they accelerate forward with gratitude, grace and enthusiasm ….without regret…without grudges…and without fear. For dogs, each day…heck – each moment – is an opportunity to ~~seize~~ squeeze the day. So Brian and I are going to try our best to take a page from Cello’s book and do just that…

Brian and I are going to SQUEEZE every bit of this opportunity by doing our best to put aside our fears of the “what-ifs” of this trip and focus on the present – focus on our gratitude for the value of every second we are blessed with on this trip. Not only will we look forward to seeing Limoncello finish up her dock diving season on her own terms and in her own way, but we will also be extremely grateful to be with the community that Limoncello created for us. We will see friends who we often get to spend time with, we will be reunited with friends we have not seen since pre-covid, and we are hopeful to meet new friends as well! Best of all, we will have Limoncello competing as a cancer warrior and Lager as a cancer survivor.

Moments Become Memories…Memories Become Treasures

Some every day moments that made me smile, and some memories that I will forever treasure…

Still the Reigning Neighborhood Fun Police

Don’t think for a second that because Cello is a Cancer Warrior she has neglected her Yard Guard duties…and if you’ve dared to walk, run, or ride a bike by our house, you already know this first hand!

Daily Walks

Showing Cancer Who the REAL Beast is!

I was doing some indoor conditioning with Hooch and I heard Limoncello whining. Thinking she had to go outside to potty, I opened the door to the room I was in … and in runs Limoncello…enthusiastically barking at me and looking at the conditioning equipment! She wanted IN on the workout fun! She was so excited to participate…Beast mode!

Never Give Up Reminder

A key chain that was gifted to me on one of Porter’s Therapy Dog visits…so appropriate!

Lounging on the Couch

Limoncello’s favorite sleeping position:

Watching Phillies Games

One of our most favorite pastimes…made that much more special:

Personalized Painted Box

A very special person sent me this beautifully painted box. The likeness to Limoncello is spot-on! This artist is truly outstanding…the pictures I took of this box don’t even do it justice! I will forever cherish this personalized gift box!

Chase Away K9 Cancer’s Chase Away 5K

Both Lager and Limoncello completed this 5K in several outings with me. My shirt only has Margarita and Lager’s name on it because at the time I ordered my race swag, we were unaware of Limoncello’s diagnosis. Limoncello is sporting Margarita’s Chase Away K9 Cancer bandana.

First Day of Fall

Oh my gourd…it’s Fall y’all!

GSP Rescue Support

Li’l Biscuit Bar

I saw a post on Facebook that mentioned a dog bakery called the Li’l Biscuit Bar. Immediately I thought bringing Cello to the bakery for her to pick out some treats would make a nice memory. When I searched for the business’s page, I noticed that the town that was listed was only about 20 minutes from us. However, I couldn’t find an exact address. I sent a message to the Li’l Biscuit Bar. The owner, Dawn, replied that she is a mobile treat trailer and asked me how I heard about her and if I had an event that I would like to have her attend. I explained I was looking to take Cello to a bakery in an attempt to continue creating memories due to her terminal cancer diagnosis. Dawn said, “I’ll do you one better, and bring the bakery TO Cello!” But that wasn’t all Dawn did for our family…she bought a special “Cello” shaped treat and offered to donate 100% of the proceeds of that treat to a charity of my choice (of course I chose Chase Away K9 Cancer)! In just two hours, thanks to Dawn, The Medford Lakes Lions Club, EMM Loans, and amazing friends and family…we raised $500 for Chase Away K9 Cancer! Thank you do everyone who helped make this happen and to those of you who came out to the event!

Homemade Treats and Chase Away K9 Cancer Donation

A neighbor who heard about the Li’l Biscuit Bar event but couldn’t make the PAWty…so she gifted Cello some homemade biscuits of her own and a donation to the Chase Away K9 Cancer foundation!

Lemon Blanket and Drink Coaster

Love these two gifts from a family member!

Support from Chase Away K9 Cancer

Chase Away K9 Cancer shared our post…I had no idea that Chase had the same cancer as Cello.

Handmade Wooden Sign

A coworker of Brian’s had this sign specially made:

Yellow for Cello

The pack’s Aunt Jackie wore yellow two days this week for Cello and even had lemons in the backdrop in hopes for a good report during Cello’s check-up!

Duck-Duck-Jeep!

I had been feverishly packing in hopes that Dr. Campbell would give Cello the thumbs-up for the trip all while knowing it is a possibility we would not be able to go. And let me tell you – it has been quite a week…

Y’all, it is NOT easy to move 8 dogs and 2 humans half way across the country in a camper…but I have a routine at this point and usually I have all my ducks in a row. Not so much this time!
I was getting nervous – – not about the possibility of having to cancel our trip – – but knowing a thumbs-down to the trip by Dr. Campbell would mean Cello has declined significantly.

My head was in a million places as I sped down the aisles at ShopRite. As I exited after checking out, I saw a pretty green Jeep parked next to me. Immediately I was excited because I had just filled my Halloween Duck-It-Bucket with some cool Halloween themed ducks and I couldn’t wait to duck a Jeep with one. As I came around to my driver’s side door – – there was a glittery yellow (ok gold – – but I’m still considering it yellow!) duck sitting on Betty White! I’m sure any customers in the parking lot thought I was nuts when they heard me squeal with excitement as I took my new glittery friend and placed her in her new home on my dashboard! I was hoping this was a sign that we would get good news at Cello’s appointment. Of course I ducked the pretty green Jeep in return with one of my skeleton ducks!

Note on From Dr. Campbell on Invoice

Gift Box

The pack’s Aunt Jackie always seems to send a goodie box just at the right time! This amazing box of goodies arrived right after I got home from Cello’s appointment!

Please excuse any typos and choppy sentences…I put this together quickly because, well…. I’ve got some packing to do! Stay tuned on our Facebook page for daily updates as our pack makes their way out to Iowa for the DockDogs World Championships!

NEVER GIVE UP: 3 Weeks Post-Diagnosis

Posted on September 20, 2023 by Cello's Corner | 6 Comments

A part of never giving up means making the most of every single moment – – and in typical Limoncello fashion, she is schooling us on how to do exactly that….

Weekly PUPdate

We as humans have so much to learn from dogs…Dogs live each and every day with a sense of excitement…with a 🍋 zest for life. They are resilient and move forward despite the challenges they face. Today marks three weeks-post diagnosis (8/30/23), and yet Limoncello continues to show pretty much zero symptoms outside of her right eye looking slightly larger than the left. Although that makes me happy, if I’m going to be honest… I need to share that the past three weeks have been stressful to say the least. Upon diagnosis, Limoncello was given only a-few-weeks to a-few-months to live. I feel like this cancer has left us feeling much like we did when Porter and Jägermeister’s seizures were not under control – it’s like living with a ticking time bomb … never knowing when it’s going to “explode” … never knowing when that seizure or nosebleed is going to dreadfully emerge…Waking up each morning wondering if that day will be her last. Despite efforts to remain positive and have faith, the worries still find a way to slither their way into my mind, especially leading up to her 3-week check-up. However, I am (cautiously) relieved to share this week’s report!

September 19, 2023: Three Week Check Up With Primary Veterinarian

Limoncello saw our primary veterinarian, Dr. Campbell, on September 19th.

Observations I Shared:

Cello’s activity level, eating/drinking habits and behavior have not changed at all
- Dr. Campbell was happy to hear this.
Cello has begun to sneeze periodically, which is new for her – but we were told to expect this, and luckily there has been no bleeding that has accompanied the sneezing
I thought I was crazy to think her right eye looked better than it did three weeks ago…
- Dr. Campbell agreed that she thought Cello’s eye looked better as well!

Evaluations During Exam:

The following have had no decline/changes:

signs of discomfort
left nostril airflow (right nostril is blocked by tumor)
heart murmur
facial bones and skull
mouth, throat, and swallowing
right eye

My Questions:

When should see Cello be seen next?
- suggested time frame was 2-3 weeks
Can we review what we are we watching out for?
- seizures
- discharge from nostrils
- nosebleeds
- swallowing with effort
- snuffling
- squinting
- teeth chattering
Can we get a letter to submit to DockDogs so that we could request a reimbursement for Cello’s World Championship entry fees due to her medical condition?
- When I heard the words come out of Dr. Campbell’s mouth, it took my breath away and immediately the tears began to flow: “I think you should go. She deserves one last jump.” (Insert ugly crying here)! Dr. Cambell said that because Cello surprisingly did not show the decline that was expected in the last 3 weeks, it is highly likely there will not be a drastic decline in the upcoming next few weeks – although we have to understand that anything is possible of course. BUT, if she’s doing well and feeling good, why not let her do what she loves … revel in what she created for our family… and jump at the World Championship one more time?! Since Cello has had no decline and her exam went well, her previous restriction of not jumping off the dock has been lifted at the moment and for as long as it is deemed safe for her to do so.

If we go to the World Championships in Iowa, we take the chance of an emergency happening on the road, and although because of past experience, it has become one of our biggest fears, that emergency could (or could NOT!) happen anytime, anywhere. The last thing we want to do is just “sit around and wait” when we could be making the most of Limoncello’s enjoyable moments.

I will have to plan and pack as if we are going to the World Championship with the mindset of knowing we could have to cancel at any given moment – including less than 24 hours before we’d have to leave. Limoncello will have to remain asymptomatic and she will also have an exam again with Dr. Campbell on October 6th. If all goes well again at that exam, we will leave early on the morning of October 7th to what very well may be the most memorable and meaningful trip our team as a whole has taken.

I have done zero planning for the World Championships, considering we had already resigned to the fact that we couldn’t go…So we won’t have new fancy team shirts, or cool trading cards for our pack, but what we will have is 2 of the greatest gifts of all: Limoncello making most likely her last jump while battling cancer, and Lager competing as a survivor. We have had some pretty amazing moments, awards, and accomplishments at the World Championships over the years, but THIS, my friends, will truly rival them all. No award…no nomination…no victory can or will ever fill our hearts with a greater sense of pride and gratitude than seeing Cello flipping cancer the paw and doing what she loves most…rockin’ the dock one last time! Fingers and paws crossed that we are able to make the trip.

The Best Thing About Memories is Making Them

A devastating diagnosis is a jolting wake-up call that reminds us that time is precious and not meant to be wasted. Live every day making every moment count. Even though cancer can eventually take loved ones away from us, the one thing it can never steal from us is our memories…so make LOTS of them. Here are some I made with Limoncello this week:

Bike Ride Around Town

Betty White’s First Off Road Adventure

Chillin’ on the Couch with Brother Hooch

National Cheeseburger Day

Visiting with Friends and Family

PUPpuccino

National String Cheese Day

With Gratitude

I am a true believer in the power of positivity – and it is extremely apparent that Limoncello is feeling the prayers and good vibes you all have been sending. Brian and I appreciate each and every one of you.

Here are a few gifts from this week:

Box of Sunshine

Care Box for the Whole Pack

Cello-Yellow Flowers and Cookies

No News is Good News

If Limoncello continues to do well, my plan is to post an update after her October 6th exam instead of a weekly update next week. Until then, please continue to send those positive thoughts Cello’s way, and don’t forget to keep making those memories with your loved ones!

2 Weeks Post-Diagnosis (8/30/23)

Posted on September 13, 2023 by Cello's Corner | Leave a comment

Weekly PUPdate

Another week to be thankful for – – Limoncello continues to reveal no symptoms other than her right eye looking slightly irregular. Her eye does not look any worse, her activity level is normal, and she is eating and drinking as usual. Tuesday she will have a check-up with her primary veterinarian.

“We Don’t Remember Days, We Remember Moments“

~Cesare Pavese

I never really thought about it…but you never know when you are making memories, do you? Limoncello’s diagnosis made me realize that without even being aware of it – everything we do in our daily schedule is a live recording of memories-in-the-making. It’s easy to get wrapped up into social media and focusing on “post-worthy” events/photos/videos that often overpower other important moments in life. Sometimes life is just to busy to realize that everyday activities that appear to mean nothing at the time, actually turn out to mean EVERYTHING when a devastating diagnosis is delivered. If there is even a positive that can come out of a situation like this, it’s that it sure does make you slow down and focus on being grateful for the routine things that tend to go unnoticed because they become ordinary, unremarkable activities…it makes you appreciate each and every moment in your day – because all those little things…all those non-post-worthy moments…are about to become the most important and significant memories you’ll have with those you love…

Memorable Moments Made This Week

Lake Time

We were given the “go-ahead” to let Limoncello swim in the lake if she enters at her own will. Although we will miss tossing a toy for her, we are grateful that she can still enjoy one of her most-loved activities.

Family Visits

Limoncello is enjoying being the center of attention when visitors come to see her.

Breakfast at Evergreen Dairy Bar

Any M. Night Shyamalan fans out there? One of his latest movies, “Knock at the Cabin” was filmed extremely close to us here in the Pine Barrens. One of the scenes towards the end of the movie was shot at one of our favorite breakfast and ice cream spots: Evergreen Dairy Bar. For the movie, Evergreen’s name was changed to “Angie’s Roadside Diner.”

Limoncello enjoyed a scrambled egg with bacon.

Pointer Piles on the Couch

Shopping at Tractor Supply

Walks Around the Neighborhood

Dollar Tree Find

I stopped into a dollar store for something totally unrelated, and my eye caught something yellow! Brian and I always enjoy a glass of wine at the end of each night. These lemon themed wine glasses will help us remember to toast to Cello each night

Cheering on the Philadelphia Phillies

Porch Sittin’

Car Ride Around Town

Thank You For Accompanying Cello On Her Journey

Good company on a difficult journey … it lessens our fear and fills our minds and hearts with the hope, faith, and courage needed to uphold the strength needed to support Limoncello with a positive tone and light spirit . We deeply appreciate the kindness, support, and love that our friends, family, and community continues to offer during this difficult and uncertain time. Your post comments, private messages, and phone calls help to ease our stress and brighten’s Limoncello’s days. Your support is a majority of the fuel that keeps us going strong on this difficult path. Thank you all…for everything.

Limoncello Profile Pictures

Friends changed their Facebook profile pictures in support of Cello.

Surprise Chewy Box!

Another Surprise Chewy Box!

Dock Diving Friends Jumping for Cello at Their Dock Diving Competitions

Collection for Chase Away Canine Cancer

Chase Away Canine Cancer is an organization that is near and dear to our hearts. This organization was created in memory of a canine dock diving competitor named Chase. Chase Away Canine Cancer’s passion and commitment is to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this terrible disease.

Care Package from Amazon

1 Week Post Diagnosis

Posted on September 6, 2023 by Cello's Corner | 6 Comments

It’s The Memories We Make with Others That Are Forever Written In Our Hearts

When I began this blog about 10 years ago, it was meant solely to be a collection of all memories that were created with Limoncello. What it has become is far more than I ever imagined. It’s by no means a “famous” website – what I mean is that this blog has not only held each and every memory that Cello created in our lives, it has also become a means to help others by sharing information and experiences. It has been a gateway into a whole new family of amazing people and pups that I am now connected with – all because of Limoncello. My mission is to continue to help as many people and pups as I can as I promote my compassion for animals, share activities that strengthen the bond between humans and their fur-kids, and document experiences with our pack.

I am disappointed in myself for falling behind on this blog, (about 2-plus years behind to be exact!) …but writing about Limoncello’s recent diagnosis as prompted me to remember the whole reason I began this journal of posts in the first place: to share all the memories that have been gifted to me by Limoncello – and now ALL of my fur-kids. It’s important to me to be able to look back on just how blessed I am to be spending a part of my life with each and every special 4-legged angel included in this blog, and it has become even more important to me to have a diary of adventures and experiences that can easily be accessed to help others when needed….whether it be as simple as sharing a dog friendly establishment, or offering support with documented information on diseases and injuries that PAWrents find difficult to navigate through.

So I apologize in advance for any of you who subscribe directly to the blog for the abundance of email alerts that (hopefully!) are to come as I try and buckle-down, back-date posts, and publish “missed memories” in an attempt to catch the blog up to date.

Bucket List A Medley of Memories in the Making

There’s nothing wrong with making “Bucket List”… In fact, I think it’s actually a great idea…but when I decided to create a list for Margarita, I chose to call it an Adventure List because “Bucket List” had me more focused on the fact she was dying, instead of concentrating on celebrating her LIVING days . Although I was blessed to have completed 8 out of the 10 adventures before she had passed, it wound up adding to my heartbreak that the list remained with “adventures that would never be”…

…So when Brian and I spoke about doing some extra special things for Limoncello, we decided that a spontaneous Memories in the Making would be a nice choice. Instead of making a list and stressing out about trying to complete everything on it, each day (or each week), we will choose to do something special with Limoncello. That “something” could be as simple as individual time of sitting with her on the couch or the porch, or as elaborate as a planned overnight trip. Whatever hits us as a good idea in-the-moment will be the memory that makes the list. The list will be ongoing…in the making…until Limoncello decides it is her time to cross the rainbow bridge.

1 Week Post-Diagnosis (August 30, 2023)

It took us a quite a few days to get our heads on (somewhat) straight….but even still, we managed to squeeze quite a bit into the last week! Due to schedules and life getting in the way at times, we know we won’t always be able to create such an abundance of memories each week, but we are grateful for the memory-packed week that we had with our special girl!

August 31, 2023

Sun bathing and neighborhood walk

September 1, 2023

Watching the Phillies game with brother Hooch

September 2, 2023

1/2 mile hike at a local park

Picnic in a local park

September 3, 2023

Making a memory box.

I save special items throughout each dog’s life. I have the items in basic cardboard boxes until I make a “fancy” box for each dog. Although this was not the situation that I wanted to prompt me to do Limoncello’s memory chest, I am glad it is finished and that all her special things are inside for us to cherish always. I bought the box at Joanne Fabric store, did a pencil transfer of Limoncello’s name, used a wood burner to burn her name into the wood, then stained it with “Lemon” (yes, that was the actual name of the color!) tinted stain by Minwax (so excited that I found stain that can be colored!!)… and lastly, I put a couple coats of clear polyurethane over the stain to protect it.

September 4, 2023

Pool PAWty

From the time Cello was a puppy, she loved to just lay and chill in a baby pool and would often try to lay in any puddles she could find along our walks!

When life gives you lemons…make limoncello (literally).

It has been quite a while since a batch of Tommy D’s Limoncello has been made. A batch has now been started and we plan to try and always have some on-hand from this day forward.

September 5, 2023

Duck, Duck, Jeep with cousin James

Cello got ducked with her very own stuffie-duck, and off we went to duck some Jeeps!

September 6, 2023

Ice Cream

“I’ll stop the world and melt with you.” This week’s heat wave was a great opportunity to have a cold treat. Our local ice cream shop, Sand Stand, offers dog-friendly pup cups! It was dark by the time we got there today, so the pictures aren’t the best but it sure was fun to watch her enjoy her ice cream!

We May Not Have A Lot of Ammunition, But We Surely Are Not Going Down Without at Least Trying to Defend Cello

I’m going to be honest…I had a lot of anger with this diagnosis…A LOT. I couldn’t fathom how this cancer took over so much of Limoncello and went undetected in bloodwork and in our daily observations….how she is otherwise healthy aside from this vast tumor taking over half her head. I don’t ever like to accept the notion that there is nothing we can do….but I had to also come to grips with the devastating diagnosis at hand. Through tears of sadness and anger I realized it is my reality that I cannot save the sweet soul who single-handedly rescued us…that’s a hard pill to swallow.

We may not have a lot of ammunition, but we surely are not going down without some kind of a fight…even if that “fight” is geared more towards defending Cello with the only options we have. We will battle daily for Limoncello to be sure she is happy, content, and comfortable for all of her remaining days. We will fight to prolong her quality of life.

Our goal at this point is to support Limoncello’s immune system with anti-tumor, anti-cancer, and antioxidant benefits. In conjunction with the traditional medications Cello is on (Gabapentin and Carprofen), the finalized list of holistic options we chose to incorporate for Limoncello (with he help of her medical team of course) are as follows:

Organic turkey tail mushrooms
- Antioxidant properties, boosts gut health, and known to have cancer-fighting properties
Yunnan Baiyao
- helps to control bleeding
Pet Wellbeing’s Life Gold
- Immune system support and antioxidant protection for dogs with cancer
Organic mushroom blend (Reishi, Cordyceps, Maitake, Phellinus, Shiitake, Chaga, turkey tail)
- enhance immune, liver and kidney function
Organic coconut oil
- helps to boost the immune system and aids in reducing inflammation. The lauric acid in coconut oil is also known to have anti-cancer properties.

Support from Others is Not Just an Important Thing, It’s EVERYthing

The outpour of support has been absolutely amazing. Brian and I appreciate every post comment, phone call, gift, text, and private message. This just makes us that much more grateful for Limoncello, who is responsible for the fact that we have this huge community of support and love.

Our Primary Veterinarian

I’m sure everyone thinks their vet is the best… but honestly…OUR VET IS THE BEST! Dr. Campbell is the most brilliant, caring, compassionate (and most patient!) person I know. With each issue that arises, we learn so much from Dr. Campbell. We always have (a ton of!) questions and we are so grateful for the time, efforts, and love this saint-of-a-woman provides to our family!

Care package

Great friends of ours, who we met at Limoncello’s first-ever dock diving competition, recently lost their amazing dog to cancer. Limoncello received a box filed with some items that helped our friends’ pup when he was on his cancer journey.

Visitors and Cello-Yellow Flowers

Family members stopped by to spend some time with Cello and each brought a bunch of Cello-yellow flowers.

Connected to Author Penny Miller for Holistic Approach Advice

A great friend, who I met through Instagram in sharing Cello’s DCM diagnosis, connected me with this author, who contacted me directly to share her advice on hospice care and holistic options.

Card Expressing Support

Close friends – you guessed it – we met because of Limoncello – – sent a card of support even though they check in with us regularly. We are truly blessed!

Shots of Limoncello at the Competition We Had to Skip

We received a video from great friends at the competition in Ohio doing a shot of limoncello for Limoncello. As we watched the video, we smiled….and we cried… what an amazing group of people! We were so upset not to be there. Friends sent us pictures and videos all weekend long to make us feel like we were right there with them as we cheered them on from New Jersey. This group of people right here is the true meaning of community. Limoncello prompted us to get involved in dock diving…and having our DockDogs family in our lives has been life-changing for us. We are forever grateful!

Session with an animal communicator

What an amazing gift! We have never done something like this before. An absolutely awesome couple we were fortunate enough to meet through Limoncello thoughtfully and generously gifted us a session with an animal communicator whose expertise is having insight into the physical body (medical intuition). Our session was extremely cathartic during this very difficult time.

A Lemon Themed Mani-Pedi for Cello

An amazing friend had her manicure and pedicure done …Limoncello style in an effort to spark up both conversation and more prayers for our girl!

With sincere gratitude: Thank you ALL for the love and support you continue to extend to Limoncello, and to our family

Devastating Diagnosis

Posted on September 1, 2023 by Cello's Corner | 30 Comments

There is no easy way to put this, and no back-story to tell…as this all happened so suddenly. This week it has been discovered that Limoncello has an inoperable mass that encompasses the entire right side of her head…including her eye socket & nasal cavity. It has deteriorated bone, including breaking through the cribriform plate and extending to her brain. Due to the vast size, locations of the mass, Cello’s age, and her Dilated Cardiomyopathy, surgery and treatments such as chemo, radiation, or CyberKnife are not options.

There were zero… ZERO signs. Limoncello had been playing in the yard, swimming, going on walks, eating normally, acting normally and had no abnormalities in her physical features … She had her annual cardiology exam just a couple of weeks ago and not only did her cardiologist give her a gleaming report, a comprehensive bloodwork panel returned with near perfect results. …ZERO signs… until…about a couple of weeks ago when I noticed that Cello’s right eyelid looked a bit “droopy.” In the following days I noticed that the third eyelid was elevated. She was seen by our primary veterinarian, Dr. Campbell, just days after the observation with our thought being that she somehow irritated her eye, or had an infection. At this point, we noticed that her eyeball now seemed to be protruding. Dr. Campbell examined her and placed her on antibiotics in the event she may have an infection/abscess behind the eye. We did discuss the possibility of a retrobulbar mass. Dr. Campbell suggested that we secure an appointment with an eye specialist as soon as possible.

August 29, 2023: Ophthalmologist Appointment

Luckily we were able to schedule an appointment on 8/29/23 with Dr. Shelby Reinstein, board-certified ophthalmologist at Vet Vision Center, located about an hour from our home. Upon exam, Dr. Reinstein ruled out two of the three common eye socket abnormalities: (1) an abscesses (infection), and (2) cellulitis (inflammation)….with all her observations leading toward a retrobulbar tumor (mass in the eye socket). Dr. Reinstein also noted that now Cello’s right nostril had decreased airflow. It was recommended that we get a CT scan to see exactly what we are dealing with.

*Note: the growth on her left bottom eyelid has been deemed in the past to be benign and not bothersome*

August 30, 2023: Appointment with Internal Medicine Doctor and CT Scan

*Cello arriving to Blue Pearl for her CT scan*

We were fortunate to get an appointment the very next day with the internal medicine doctor who has cared for both Margarita and Porter in the past. On 8/30/23 Limoncello was examined by Dr. Peter Chapman at Blue Pearl Pet Hospital in Levittown, PA, who also agreed that all signs pointed to a mass that was most likely malignant. A CT scan was performed that afternoon that revealed the suspected mass behind Cello’s eye was only the tip of the iceberg. Bones are deteriorated, her right nostril is mostly blocked, and not only does the mass encompass the entire right side of her head, it has broken through the cribriform plate and has reached her brain. Due to the initial findings during the CT scan, we opted not to obtain a biopsy. Using a scope to secure a biopsy would have been too invasive and we did not want to put Cello’s body through any more stress. In addition, it was taken into consideration by both us and Cello’s medical team that no treatment options meant that unfortunately a biopsy would not provide us with any additional beneficial information.

We are still waiting on the finalized results from the CT scan. We have been told that it could take a couple of days to a couple of weeks for us to receive it. We are reluctantly anxious to read the report… Although we want to learn every detail that we can, we also know that it may not provide any positive news.

*(Left): One of the images from the CT scan. View is from the back of Cello’s head. (Right): Shows the approximate extent of the mass that is visible*

We are grateful that doctors determined Cello is not yet in any pain or discomfort. With all traditional treatments off the table, Cello will be closely monitored until she lets us know she is ready to make her journey over the rainbow bridge. Doctors have given us signs to look for which include but are not limited to: recurring nose bleeds, seizures, difficulty eating, and labored breathing. Cello will also have regular check-ups with our primary veterinarian, Dr. Campbell. The time she has left with us is unknown but it is only estimated to be anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months.

No Options for Traditional Treatment Plans…So What Do We Do NOW?

To say we are completely shocked and devastated is an understatement. Again – there have been ZERO signs. Cello is otherwise healthy – she displayed no symptoms – and we now have no way to try and stop this. We feel powerless with no options to help her. Aside now from the look of her right eye, you would never know she had a mass that took over the entire right side of her head. She is eating and drinking normally, her breathing sounds typical, she is still bossing the pack around and is physically active.

I have never been one to ever accept hearing “there is nothing we can do.” When protecting our fur-kids, we NEVER go down without a fight – but how do you battle something that has already won? We are by no means surrendering, but it seems this silent killer has left us with no choice but to focus our efforts on helping Cello live her remaining days to the fullest.

Cello will begin some medications and supplements to help support her through her remaining time. Supportive measures will be introduced slowly and in stages. The start of her schedule will look something like this:

Immediately:
- Gabapentin
  - anticonvulsant drug used to treat chronic pain caused by certain cancers. It is also used to prevent seizures
- Carprofen
  - a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)that has been known to relieve the pain associated with certain cancers and reduces swelling and inflammation.
In 7 days:
- Yunnan Baiyao
  - helps to stop bleeding, provides pain relief, and helps to reduce inflammation
In 14 days:
- CAS Options or I’m-Yunity
  - supports immune health

In addition to the above, Cello will have coconut oil added to her diet. Coconut oil helps to boost the immune system and reduce inflammation. It contains lauric acid, which has also been known to have anti-cancer properties.

We are doing our best to push the anger and sadness away and to shift our focus to ensuring that our actions and demeanor are positive and hopeful, as we know that Cello will feed off of our energy. We know that we are blessed to have had Limoncello in our lives for 12 years when so many other dogs and PAWrents have been less fortunate. Although it is difficult to see it that way in the moment, above all for Cello’s sake, we will find the strength to remain positive and celebrate any and all additional time with her that we will be blessed with. She has led us on so many amazing journeys that we would never have embarked on had it not been for her – now it is our turn to walk beside her on this new and difficult path. We intend to make every second count and ensure that every day is viewed as a chance to make a new memory that will be cherished always.

The Well-Being of Our Pack

There is no doubt Limoncello is our pack’s leader. There are two pack members in particular who are extremely bonded to her. They look to follow her every move, and when they aren’t in motion, they are laying intertwined with her. We have already begun putting methods and schedules into place in hopes to make their transition a bit less difficult when the dreaded shift in their pack and home occurs.

We originally had a dock diving trip planned for this weekend that we canceled. We wish all of our friends a successful weekend as they strive to obtain invitations to the DockDogs World Championships. We will be cheering you all on from NJ. As you know from the past – we have an “All for one, one for all” mantra for our pack. As of now, all future long-distance dock diving trips/competitions for our team are on hold so that we may focus on celebrating time with Limoncello, remain in close proximity to her medical team, and center our attention on the well-being of our pack during this difficult time.

August 31, 2023

Limoncello enjoyed sunbathing in the yard and a walk in our neighborhood.

Our Sincere Gratitude

*Comfort food* *dropped off to our house by great friends*

Friends and family have already offered support on so many levels…post comments, private messages, phone calls, texts, dropping off comfort food, offers to cancel plans and spend the weekend with us…all reminders of just how truly blessed we are to have you all in our lives – and for the majority of you – it’s Limoncello we have to thank for leading us to cross paths with you in the countless adventures she has taken us on. We are so appreciative for all of you, and would ask that you please continue to offer up those prayers and send along those good vibes for Limoncello.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.