Baxter - One Courageous Dog
Baxter, so much hope and life...here is our success story.

Each time I look at Baxter, I see so much life and hope. Baxter is a 10-year old mixed breed, who was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma. Whenever I hear the word "cancer", my stomach turns but with Baxter's story, however, I feel there is light at the end of the tunnel.

My story started in October 2000, when I noticed Baxter's right-front leg had swollen immensely. My vet diagnosed an infection and prescribed several medications. She also took an aspiration to see if there were any signs of cancer, but nothing was found. In November while Baxter was still on the medication, I decided to have him x-rayed. The x-ray showed nothing. The weeks went by and Baxter just wasn't his happy go lucky self. You have to understand Baxter's personality - he is vibrant, social, and just an all around happy dog. Because of his leg, he was sleeping a lot and not even barking. In my heart, I knew I had to do more for him. In December, I contacted an animal communicator, and she gave me some light to this long dark tunnel. But on Christmas Day night, Baxter stepped on one of his rawhide bones and his leg swelled even more - I took him to our local Animal Emergency clinic and I received then the worst news possible, he had cancer. The vet on duty just didn't know what type and suggested a bone biopsy. So my vet performed the biopsy and the test results showed Osteosarcoma. I felt like my whole world was coming to an end. I just couldn't believe it.

After lots of research on the Internet and help from my stepsister, I found out about Osteosarcoma. This cancer is commonly found in large-breed dogs but Baxter is a medium-size dog. I also read many stories on the Internet, which are helping me through this hardship. By reading about and researching this cancer, it prepared me for the decisions that I had to make.

In January 2001, I made an appointment with an out-of-town veterinary surgeon. The specialist and his team were extremely helpful and knowledgeable about this deadly disease. There are several ways to treat this type of cancer:

Baxter means the world to me -- I would do anything to help him. So my decision was made even before I was given the options. I was treating this cancer, Aggressively. So that Friday, he went in for surgery. It was the hardest decision I had to make in my entire life. But I knew in the long run, he is going to live a quality life. And that was what mattered. I picked him up and he looked great. It was a rough few days, but we got through it. He was back to himself in a week - it was remarkable.

Just two weeks after the surgery, we went to get his stitches out and the specialist was thrilled about how well Baxter was doing. Baxter was so happy and back to his old self. In the afternoon, Baxter went for his first of five chemotherapy sessions of Carboplatin. It was just a few hours, and then Baxter was back home and still doing great. Thank god, he had no side effects from the chemotherapy. I do want to stress however, chemotherapy is not at all comparable to chemotherapy for humans. The side effects differ and so does the type of cancer.

It is now February, six weeks after his surgery and first chemotherapy session, and Baxter is getting stronger then ever. The cancer is still there and did move to his lungs, but I am hoping the chemotherapy will prevent it from metastasizing. I just know that I will enjoy ever minute that I have with him. He is one special dog.

Baxter is my success story, because I know we couldn't have gotten through all of this without his courage and his wonderful personality. If I had to do it over, I wouldn't change my mind for a second.

God Bless,
Kim and Baxter Talerico
kimtal@att.net

Update to Baxter's Story
(posted 6-12-01)

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