Rachael and Brego
Born 2/20/07
Anyone who reads this
to please pray for Shelly.
Thank you, Fredericka |
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Fredericka,
Don't ever think that you are bothering me at
all. I look forward to hearing from you every now and then.
Shelly is not doing well and she is now on strong pain killers
around the clock to ease the bone pain. We are in the process of
placing into hospice care but we are sort of stuck in a pickle
because hospice will not take her until she stops all of her
treatments and Shelly is still wanting to keep going until her
Jan. 16 brain MRI and neurologist appt. At that time she will
make the decision to stop treatments and begin hospice. Her
doctor told us 2 weeks ago that once she stops chemo it would only
be a matter of a few weeks for her. This past month has been
harder than ever. I have to at least give her this hope and wish
of waiting although it kills me to see her in pain. The pain
killers will only hasten her death and bring it on quicker the
neurologist told us thus the catch 22 position. She has shown me
throughout this whole 7 year ordeal how someone can face a
terminal disease like this yet keep their dignity and hopes up.
Lucy, our dog, is doing well. She takes
incredible care of Shelly and visitors are amazed how Lucy gets
between Shelly and them whenever someone approaches Shelly. Lucy
is actually quite chicken but she puts up a heck of a show of
bravery and fierceness. When I'm not here she gets up onto the
bed with Shelly and sleeps by her feet but when I'm here she just
walks up to the bedside and starts crying for me to ask her to
join us because when I'm here she will not come up unless I tell
her to. My daughters absolutely love Lucy and she is like a
sister to them. They take her for drives around the street in our
golf cart.
Thank you for all of your thoughts and
prayers. All I ask of anyone when I am constantly asked if there
is anything they could do for us I tell them to now just please
pray for peace for comfort for Shelly and the girls. That is by
far the hardest part of this ordeal for me - the pain that I know
my daughters are going to experience and that there is no way for
me to take that pain away.
Send my best to your husband and Lucy - your
friend
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Sent:
Monday, December 01, 2008
Hi Fredericka
- Shelly has been so-so. Her last brain MRI came back
considerably worse and the neurologist told us that she should
consider going onto Hospice and stopping treatment so she can have
a few months without all of the chemo side effects but she chose
to continue fighting so he has her on some different chemos now.
She is on 5 different chemos now and he basically told her that
she has been a guinea pig for the last 18 months or so. This past
Nov. 9th marked her 3rd year since she began the chemos and
radiations from the return of the cancer. He said that her
prognosis at that time was only about 6 months but she showed them
and she is now going on her 37th month. She spends most of her
time in bed though. It has really taken its toll on her. So she
began the new treatments and when he repeated the brain MRI again
last week it showed some stability so the doctor told her to
continue on with it and he actually teared up which he said had
never happened before. I got goose bumps at his office last
week.
Lucy, is really a centerpiece to our house. She is such a loving
dog with us and especially the girls. The girls are getting
bigger by the day - Sophia just turned 9 and Vanessa turned 11
this past August. Vanessa is such a help to me. She is mature
way beyond her 11 years and we have been blessed to have my Mom
here with us. My dad passed away last year June (2007) so I built
my mom a in-law suite behind my house so she has her own kitchen,
garage, 2 bedrooms and bath and that way she has her own privacy
to come and go as she pleases yet she is close to us. She is very
close to my 2 girls. The girls on a Friday or Saturday night will
actually grab their pillows and blankets and just walk across the
pool deck to mom's and spend the night over there with her. Lucy
loves to just hang out with them outside and chase birds. We have
about 3 acres so there is some running space for her; Lucy will
jump into bed with Shelly when I am not around but as soon as I
walk into the room she will get down right away because I don’t
let her up unless I invite her. Then when I lay down she will
come up to my side of the bed and just look at me waiting for me
to invite her. She is SO smart and SO easy to train. She has
learned so much without me even trying to teach her. For example
after her breakfast she will go right to the door when I say
"let's get the newspaper" and it doesn’t matter what time of the
day it is because when the girls or I say that sentence she will
go right to the front door and wait for us. The girls always take
her down the front driveway to get the mail, trash, etc. She just
trots right next to them and has never wanted to run away or
anything like that. I figure that if some weirdo thinks about
doing something to the girls they will rethink it once they see
Lucy. She puts on quite a show with her hair standing and her
deep bark whenever some unknown to her comes into the house/lot.
Especially with the girls or Shelly. She will get right between
the girls/Shelly and the stranger.
Well that’s enough - I have to put the girls to sleep. Take care
and hope to hear from you soon.
Carlos
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Sent:
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Fredericka - Shelly is doing ok. She had chemo
again today but overall other than the extreme fatigue she is
doing well. We are very much looking into moving into our new
home this week. It had been put on hold for several years due to
Shelly's first diagnosis 5 years ago and then again when the
cancer came back but we said enough waiting and moved forward.
Lucy is almost 10 months now and she is
weighing about 120 lbs. We, actually Shelly, was getting second
thoughts about Lucy several months ago because she had become such
a rambunctious "teenager". Shelly and the girls could not hold
her on the leach if she saw a bird, cat, or another dog because
she would just take off after them. I had no problem with her but
I finally broke down and admitted defeat to my ego and we hired a
professional dog trainer that came out to our house for several
classes. We are actually still a little more than half way past
with the classes and Lucy is doing AWESOME!!! Our trainer has 11
dogs of his own and one is a bull Mastiff. He has done incredible
things with us. It really is us, the owners, that need the
classes. He has told us on many occasions that Lucy is just doing
what is natural to her and that is pleasing us. Just like any
child a dog needs to be educated and we are the teachers! Now
Lucy can be walked by any of us at anytime with any distraction
around and she obeys our commands at all times. We are SO SO glad
to have gotten her. Shelly has bonded with her more
than what I ever thought; Since Shelly spends a great deal of
time in bed most mornings once I leave for work or for whatever I
am doing around the house Lucy jumps up into bed and literally
lays at least one paw if not half of her body on TOP of Shelly and
will sleep like that for hours. She has spent 4 to 5 hours
sleeping with Shelly right after she just slept all night right
next to Shelly's side of the bed. I take her out to do her
business and she comes right in and will jump up and sleep some
more with her.
My daughters have bonded very well with her.
She is so loving with them. Our older Llahso Ahpso is going on
14+ years and he has recently lost his hearing. He has been a
great companion to us even before we had kids and all during our
daughters lives. Having gotten Lucy I think will soften the blow
to my little girls once it is Gordy's time to pass on. They
realize that we have a life cycle and that we will all reach the
end on this earth sooner or later and then move onto to eternal
life. Shelly and I talk often to our friends when they ask us on
how we got Lucy about the two of you and your wonderful farm. I
wish you all a safe and joyous holiday season. I am sending
a picture. This is this year's Christmas card that we sent to
friends and family. Sincerly, Carlos
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Lucy & Girls
Lucy in Dads Chair
Lucy & Girls
Eating Carrots
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Sent: Sunday, October 28, 2007
Subject: Re: FAWN FEMALE PUPPY BORN TO RACHAEL AND BREGO
2/20/07
Fredericka - sorry it has taken so long to get
back with you. the girls began soccer and I am involved in
coaching both of them so extra time has been scarce.
My wife, Shelly is doing o.k. the cancer has spread around to
more areas of the bone and it now appears to be in the kidney and
liver as well. she is tough though and even participated in a
fashion show fundraiser for Cancer Center held here in a local
mall.
Lucy is very affectionate and sweet with the
girls . She has also proven to me to be very protective of them.
she barked and the hair on her back went up when my uncle, who
Lucy had not seen before, came over and was horsing around with
Sophia, my youngest. Lucy proved to us that she owns these girls
now - we were very proud of her. At least I can also feel more
comfortable when the girls are walking her around the block; I
know no one will try to approach them
when they see the big dog . I have attached some pics for you as
well. her spay surgery went well. She is about 8 mos and 1
week and is weighing in around 102 to 105# right now. She sits on
command and comes when called. Thanks for all of your prayers and
concerns. We will send pics as Lucy grows. thanks,
the girls love seeing their photos and Lucy on
site; Carlos
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Lucy with Carlos 11.5 weeks
Lucy and the girls 8.5 weeks old
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Hello Fredericka -
Lucy, the puppy, is doing
great. She is very well adjusted here. She loves the girls and Gordy,
our 13 year old Llasa Ahpso. I am sending some pics and will send more
soon.
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