Just Like a Pill

Jake is taking a few medications right now. He’s on an antibiotic (Cephalexin) three times a day to prevent infection on his leg. He also gets an occasional pain medication (Tramadol) on Mondays. He’s taken heartworm pills for years and has always eaten them like they were treats. But there must be something about the antibiotic that he doesn’t like. Maybe the smell. Or maybe it bugs his stomach. I try to hide it in different foods. It only works a couple times before we have to move onto something else. At first I could wrap it in a piece of salami. Now’s he onto that trick and won’t touch it. Then I switched to a peanut butter on a cracker. That worked a few times. After that, a tortilla chip with spinach dip. I’m running out of pill delivery system ideas. He is so darn smart.

I Want a New Drug (Week 5)

Jake went up to the CSU Animal Cancer Center for his weekly treatment. He has one more on July 13th and then we’re done with the clinical trial. After that, we do a new round of x-rays and an ultrasound so we can discuss the future options for him. He had the usual side effects tonight. Upset stomach and fever but they’re always gone by Tuesday.

Brand New Friend

As expected, the Westin Riverfront was phenomenal. The hotel was ready for Jake once again and treated him like a star. He met a lot of the staff who missed seeing him the first time but have been following his story ever since. One of them even brought her Golden Retriever, Stella, to hang out with Jake in the lobby for awhile. (Thanks, Courtney!) All in all, a very memorable weekend in a scenic location. I’m so glad we repeated this particular outing. And who knows…maybe we’ll be able to do it one more time?

Burning Down the House

We went to the Farmers Market in Vail and walked by the fire station on the way back. I know Dalmatians are usually known as the firehouse mascot but I think Jake would be a great substitute if they ever needed one. He even did a few of his tricks for the firemen.

American Boy

Jake was up at his usual time for breakfast. No wake-up calls needed when you travel with him. We headed over to Vail Village to watch their parade. Jake’s bump is pretty “meaty” right now so we’re changing his bandages daily. Today we decided to improvise a patriotic theme with red, white and blue stripes. Dan bought him a flag bandana last week so we added that to complete the look. Jake was definitely a hit. Lots of smiles from people. Kids running over to pet him. We were searching for a shady spot to watch the parade.

There was a sweet little restaurant, Marketplace on Meadow Drive, right on a busy corner. We stopped to buy a couple drinks on their patio and noticed one table was empty, but had a sign that said, “Reserved for Julie & Larry”. Not surprising considering the prime viewing location. However, the parade hadn’t started so we asked the hostess if we could sit there until they arrived. Normally I wouldn’t even try something like that but having Jake around always alters the process a bit, and now I’m finding it always improves the outcome. Like a lucky charm. Eventually the manager came over to us and told us he seated the group in another location and that we were welcome to have the table for the day. SCORE! We ended up with this incredible view of the passing parade as it rounded the corner right in front of us. We had a couple extra chairs and when we noticed a family standing nearby, we asked them to join us. A grandmother, her daughter and their brand new grandchild…”Nana”, Lisa and Cadence. Great parade. Perfect setting. New faces and conversation. Such a fun outing and so wonderful to share the unexpected good fortune with someone else, too.

Jake, Dan and I headed back to the Westin for an afternoon nap.

Turn on the Bright Lights

The town of Avon did their fireworks show tonight. The Westin is in such a perfect location to see them. We just walked out the front door and watched them from the lawn. Jake has never been afraid of loud noises like fireworks or thunder. I think he just loves to be in the middle of all the action.

History Repeating

This process has been about trying new things, mostly. But you know, some things in life are so good that maybe it’s OK to go back and try to recreate them. You might not duplicate the entire experience but it’s possible that you’ll get something just as good, but with a slightly different twist. Jake and I decided to head back to the mountains for the holiday weekend. Dan joined us this time at the Westin Riverfront.

Thank You For Being a Friend

Jake had an incredible birthday party! Susan gave Jake this dog biscuit from Three Dog Bakery! Thanks to everyone who stopped by: Susan, Matt, Paul, Jon, Barry, Sam, Mojo, Sophie, Jim, Tom, Scott, Dave, Jay, Jill, Dr. Laura, Beau, Chris, Michael B, Judy, Judy Ann, Peter, Gabe, Lisa and Monica.

Happy Birthday!

We made it! Jake is 8 years old today. So, what to give the dog that has everything? A few weeks back, I enrolled him in an amazing program at The Children’s Hospital called YAPS (Youth and Pet Survivors). They connect children and dogs that are both dealing with cancer and help them start a pen pal relationship. They share stories back and forth about their lives, families, interests and treatment. Jake got his first email this week from someone in the program. It was a cool e-birthday card, his first one of the week!

Come See About Me

Jake turns 8 on Thursday. His cancer was diagnosed on April 18th. I wasn’t sure that we’d make it this far. Party time and you're invited! No bone-shaped cake made of Alpo with a sparkler on top. We won’t sing "Happy Birthday” to a confused dog. Don’t bring gifts. He has enough toys. (If you must spend your hard-earned cash, just make a donation to CSU Animal Cancer Center where's he being treated.)


This is just an opportunity to get together with friends who have enjoyed Jake’s antics over the years. I’m not sending a formal invitation. No Evite. No mass emails. No RSVP’s necessary. Just swing by our house anytime from 7pm – 9pm on Thursday, July 2nd. The side gate will be open and we’ll have some cold beverages on the patio. If you don’t know the address, send an email to jakeygianni@gmail.com and we’ll give you directions.

If you can’t make it due to the holiday weekend, we understand. Just promise us you’ll do something with your own dog this weekend. Take them on a long walk someplace new. Or for a swim. Go find a shady patio for lunch or coffee. Give them a bath. Or if you’re really brave…think of some really ridiculous idea and do it. You’d be surprised how much fun it will be for both of you.

Close to the Bone

Thunderstorms, rain, hail, funnel clouds, flash floods, tornadoes. Ever heard of virga and graupel? Denver’s weather has been volatile this month. It was too wet today for an outing with Jake. I stumbled upon a fascinating photo to post instead. This is an x-ray that Dr. Hedlin took last month. You can really see the magnitude of the tumor on his leg. Every Monday during his treatment at CSU, the vets measure and photograph the bump. The good news is that it doesn’t appear to be growing anymore. And now that he’s had 3 treatments, we may actually start to see some reduction in the size.

Hairshirt

Jake is doing so much better today. He powered through the drug side effects last night like a champ. The fever is gone again. I had an 11am haircut appointment and wasn’t sure what to do. He seemed stable enough to leave alone but now I’m a little anxious on these post-treatment days. And besides, who brings a BIG dog to their salon? Hmm. I find myself asking “Why not?” about a lot of things these days. Tuesdays are usually slower at No 55 Salon so I called and asked if it would be OK to bring Jake. They said “sure!” and we were off. Karla and I realized this was the first time she has met Jake. He curled up on the cool concrete floor behind the barber chair. I could see him in the full-length mirror and watched him sleep.

“I am not the type of dog
That could keep you waiting
For no good reason”

“Hairshirt” by R.E.M.

I Want a New Drug (Week 3)

They actually let me watch Jake’s treatment this time, which was very cool. Here he is with the IV in his other leg. I sat by him, talking to him and petting him. It only took an hour. He was so cooperative. On the drive back, he slept in the back seat. We stopped to get some chicken for lunch back in Denver. He’s definitely showing some of the same side effects again but milder. Around 4pm, he threw up and has been lethargic all afternoon. He also has a slight case of the runs so you can tell his stomach is unsettled. His temp is on the high side at 104.8 degrees. But overall the side effects seem better than last Monday. Today was a vast improvement.

Happy Father's Day

Here’s a pair for you. The first one is Jake’s dad, Harvey Wallbanger. He looks like a negative image of Jake. On Mother’s Day, I posted a pic of me and my mom, so I figured I better give equal time to my dad, Bob. This is a shot from YMCA Indian Guides. Our names: Big Bison and Little Buffalo. Stop laughing and go call YOUR dad. Mine will probably be on the links somewhere.


Tomorrow Jake goes back to CSU for his 3rd cancer treatment. Monday night should be a little easier now that we know what side effects to expect, and that they’re mostly gone by Tuesday.

Lunch Break

The side effects from the cancer treatment were a little scary on Monday. High fever. Sad eyes. No appetite. Slept all day. However, by Tuesday he was almost back to normal. I decided to slow down the pace of these updates to give him a chance to recover. Today he was 100% so we went out for lunch. This is another local restaurant group, Noodles. We picked the Cherry Creek North location, which was their first store in 1995. They’ve redone their patio and it looks fantastic. Our server asked if she could bring Jake some water. She said technically they don’t allow dogs on the patio but as long as no one complained, we were OK.

I Want a New Drug (Week 2)

Jake went to Fort Collins for his second cancer treatment. He’s exhausted and he slept most of the day. His temp is 104.5 degrees which is about where the vet said he was last Monday. Last week he spent the night up at CSU so I didn’t get him to see him at this point. Hopefully this is just the typical reaction to the medication. He didn’t want his usual dinner but after Dan and I ate, Jake came into the kitchen and had a few pieces of leftover steak. No photo shoot today so here’s one from the vaults.

Lunch Break

Jake and I met Steph for lunch again. On the way downtown, I spotted a perfect patio at 17th Avenue and Franklin Street. It’s a great Vietnamese restaurant called Parallel 17. We staked out a shady corner table and I called to give directions. It’s fun to catch up with her. I ordered a Saigon Sandwich with pomme frites. Jake doesn’t care what they’re called…pomme frites, French fries or freedom fries. He even loves tater tots.

Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?

Someone called about Jake today. Two questions stumped me:

1) Are you doing this blog for Jake or yourself?

Well, “all of the above”, I guess. Early on, I had to update so many people about him. I thought it would be easier to do it this way. Then I started to take him to different places. Some that I always go to. Some that were brand new for both of us. Maybe he doesn’t care whether we go to a park or a restaurant or some landmark. But I can tell he enjoys going somewhere. And sure, it’s been a great experience for me, too. I really wanted a record of what we did during this time. There are so many great photos and stories. I’ve only shared a few on this site. So yeah, I guess we both get something out of it.

2) Do you think he knows he’s going to die?

Oh my. I don’t know. I guess the question should really be “Do you think he knows he’s going to die soon?” I wonder about that often. His days are always full and he sticks to the usual routine. He’s not in pain. He hasn’t changed much. He’s just Jake. I must say I’m pretty inspired by him. I’m more intrigued by the question “Why do we treat the ones we love differently when we find out we are going to lose them?”

I hung up the phone and took Jake for his usual 4pm walk. On the way back from the park, we bumped into Jed’s owner. Jed is the yellow Lab with cancer that we met the week I started this blog, back on May 5th.

He told me Jed passed away over Memorial Day weekend. I can't write anything else right now.

All About the Benjamins

I recently discovered this in my “Jake” file. It’s the receipt when we picked him up from the breeder. There’s a whole lotta coolness packed into that $500 furball. He was worth every Benjamin. Take a look at the date…9/10/01. Yep, we got him the night before the terrorist attacks. So in addition to having a new puppy in the house a few weeks after I lost my mom, we also had a welcome diversion from the sad images that dominated the media the next day. Jake has always managed to take the sting out of any bad situation.

Jake’s birthday is coming up quick on July 2nd. Honestly, when we first got his diagnosis, I didn’t think he would make it. Or that he wouldn't be in good shape. Now I think it’s time for a birthday BBQ to celebrate! More details to follow…

I Just Want to See the Boy Happy

Back to Fort Collins to pick him up. Jake went crazy when he spotted me in the waiting room. He was wearing one of those funny Elizabethan collars so he wouldn’t lick the biopsy site. Bumping into my legs and knocking over stuff. So happy to see me. The staff said he did well during the night. He had only a mild fever which is a good indication the drug is having an effect. It was gone by morning. He curled up on the back seat of the car and slept the entire drive back to Denver. It’s funny to see all these shaved patches on his legs for IV’s. We return on Monday for Week #2 of the study. No overnight stay necessary on future treatments so we’ll probably work in a few “Lunch Break” stops in Fort Collins.

I Want a New Drug

Jake and I drove up to Fort Collins this morning, which is an hour north of Denver. We had an appointment at the Animal Cancer Center at Colorado State University. There’s a clinical trial for canine soft tissue sarcomas that seems promising. It has helped shrink tumors in other dogs. I was really impressed with the entire experience the moment we walked in the door. The entire staff was incredible. Love the volunteers, too. After we met with the vets and they reviewed his case, he was accepted into the study. He received his first IV infusion of a cancer drug called liposomal clodronate. They had to keep him overnight to monitor any side effects, so I drove back to Denver. I just got a call from the vet and he says Jake is doing great. They’ll call in the morning when I can pick him up. I really love the idea of doing this study, and if we’re lucky, it will give us a little more time together. We might even end up helping others in the same situation in the future.

Bring on the Dancing Horses

If there’s one piece of public art in Denver that anyone has an opinion about, it’s probably this one. It’s called “Mustang/Mesteño” by Luiz Jiménez. You’ll find it on the drive out to Denver International Airport. I thought it was brilliant when it was unveiled. I love it even more after Jake and I got a rare opportunity to see it in person. The textures and colors are even more striking up close. Some people have called it “demonic” and “scary” and have campaigned to remove it. Hoo boy, you guys need to get out more if you’re that disturbed by a 32-foot piece of fiberglass. The horse stays. Now go find something more productive to do with your time.

(Muchas gracias to Jeff and Matt for setting this one up, and to Jenny for making the initial introduction.)

OK, so his lump is big and not all that pretty. We’ve been wrapping his leg for a couple weeks to prevent infection. The flesh-colored bandages looked too institutional to me. The white ones were fine, but I started wondering if I was trying to hide something from people on our excursions. He certainly doesn’t care if someone stops and asks. Why should I? And I have always loved that first picture of him with the blue bandage. The last time we were at the vet, she wrapped him in a red one and I saw all kinds of options in the drawer. Who knew? When I got home, I went online and found a vet supply company that carried them in dozens in colors and patterns. He’s sporting the purple wrap right now. Oh yeah, you will be seeing more shades in the future. Wait until you see the camouflage one.

Lunch Break

The Rock Bottom Brewery is another home-grown restaurant group, based in Louisville. The patio is right on the 16th Street Mall. We had a late lunch so we could pick our table. Technically dogs have to sit on the other side of the fence and we got a perfect spot in the front corner. Awesome people watching here. Crowds rushing back to work. Shoppers. Buskers. Kids on summer break. Our vet says dogs with cancer benefit from a high protein/low carb diet. Jake and I ate a steak. Doctor’s orders, right?

We're in the City

Jake has been doing great lately. His stomach is back to normal since we took him off that medicine. You would never know this dog is sick if it weren’t for the lumpy purple bandage on his leg. He walks, he runs, he eats, he sleeps. Typical Lab. Today was yet another beautiful spring day in Denver. Perfect time to head downtown again. If you live here, you know this iconic landmark: the Daniels & Fisher Tower. A few years ago, I went to a cool Halloween party that was held on the top floors, behind the clock face. And no, I’m not sharing pics of my costume that year. I might want to run for public office someday.

Lunch Break

This is where Jake and I stopped for lunch the day we got the news about his cancer. Hard to believe it’s been a month already. It’s Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs on Colfax. Dog-friendly patio with water bowls and biscuits. I wasn’t obsessively carrying my camera then so we were back for the official pics to go down in his permanent record. Same order. Chicago-style for me and plain for him. All highly recommended. Oh, and we split a Corona.

Don't Come Home A' Drinkin'

Sometimes after a walk, we go to this pet-friendly liquor store close to our house. He stops at the door each time…sits and waits for the OK. Then he enters in slow motion, like he’s walking into a church. He knew from the start to be calm in there. I don’t want to pay for a bottle of wine that I’m not drinking.

Every Day is Halloween

This weekend was pretty rough. Jake couldn’t keep anything down. I tried it all. Smaller portions of dog food. Tiny pieces of a Wendy’s grilled chicken breast. White rice from a Chinese restaurant. Saltine crackers. He ate everything with his typical Labrador intensity. But it just came up a half hour later, coated with a fluorescent yellow-orange slime. We stopped his anti-inflammatory medicine since one of the side effects includes gastrointestinal problems. I was terrified that this was really the beginning of the downslide. It took a day but he’s so much better now. After that scare, I felt like we needed to go lighter. Dan was searching for something in the basement and found a box of Halloween stuff. It was a beautiful spring day so we took turns putting stuff on him in the back yard. Jake is such a good sport and will do anything to please. All of the pics are really funny but here are a few of our favorites. I know…it’s a poor imitation of William Wegman’s work, but it really made us all laugh. Humor is such a wonderful defense mechanism for dark times. I use it all the time.

This Must Be the Place

Jake has two houses. Here he is in front of both. At first I wondered if it would be confusing for a dog to live in different places but he’s completely fine. He’s so excited when he arrives at either one. You open the car and he runs right up to the front door. I guess as long as he knows where the food dish is, he’s happy. Plus, he’s usually at a particular house because one of us has a few days off, so I bet he has more quality time with his owners than a lot of dogs do.


Unfortunately this morning he could not keep his breakfast down. His appetite was great but a few hours later, I saw him vomiting in the back yard. He threw up on the walk, too. Not a great sign.

Cool Drink of Water Blues

Dan and I finished up the landscaping this afternoon, filling the few remaining empty spaces in the garden with flowers. Jake loves yard work days, especially when we’re in the front. Our neighborhood is always full of activity. Dog walkers, bicyclists, kids in strollers. He lies in a shady patch under a tree but he gets up to greet pretty much everyone that passes by. I forgot that when it’s time to hand water something, he comes over to get a drink from the hose.

Big Decision

Paul and I took Jake to see his oncologist, Dr. Glawe, at VRCC today. There are 3 options we’re considering:

1) Radiation: He would receive 3 treatments over a 21-day period. It could slow the growth of the tumor and it might add a couple months to his life. They have to do these under general anesthesia but he seems to handle that pretty well. It’s possible that the radiation could cause further skin breakdown of the tumor, which is already looking pretty raw.

2) Chemotherapy: He might be a candidate for a clinical study involving a drug called Liposomal Clodronate. He’d get 4 to 8 injections over a 10-week period. He’d be at the hospital for a few hours but would at least be awake. During the study he’d need to go in twice for punch biopsies of the tumor, which would require anesthesia. There is a concern that those procedures might cause problems if the wound won’t heal. Like radiation, this might give us a couple more months with him.

3) Nothing: We can also forego any treatment and let this run its course. Last weekend, we started wrapping his leg with bandages since the skin is beginning to rupture. We would continue that and keep him as comfortable as we can in the meantime. Right now, he is acting like his usual self. His quality of life is actually pretty good but, of course, that could change at any time.

We’ll try to make a decision early next week.

Denver Parks #21

Right by a huge enclosed dog park.

Denver Parks #20

In the Stapleton area, off Quebec.

Safe Trip Home

Dan was visiting family in Alabama for the holiday and flew back to Denver tonight. Jake and I drove out to DIA to pick him up. I forgot how much fun it was to take him out there to greet someone. He gets so excited when he recognized a familiar face, just like people do when they spot a friend or relative walking out the door.

Denver Parks #19

One in the Park Hill neighborhood, off 17th Avenue.

Denver Parks #18

Large space at the corner of Colorado Boulevard and Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Lunch Break

Jake has been coming to Tokyo San Bowl on Colorado Boulevard for a long time. We stopped here today for a late lunch. As a puppy, he was as soft as a stuffed animal. We kept expecting his coat to turn coarse but it never did. Almost 8 years old and he still feels as soft as the night we brought him home. A couple years ago, we came here to eat without him, and the guy who always brought out our food asked, “Where’s that soft dog?” So now you know.

Denver Parks #17

And one more for today…

Denver Parks #16

The tour of sister cities continues…

Memorial Day

Jake’s burning up a vacation day today. No new pics but here’s a gratuitous puppy shot for you.

Waiting for the Rain to Fall

Spring storms all day but that added a perfect touch to the atmosphere. Watching gray clouds wrap around the mountains, in between sheets of rain, from the couch. I caught up on some reading. Jake curled up on his bed by the fireplace, slightly snoring. When the weather let up, we went on an afternoon walk. It was such a wild experience to pass through the Westin lobby several times a day with a well-behaved dog. The staff always greeted Jake by name. He learned quickly that the front desk had dog biscuits, even at 1am. Everyone here is amazing…reception…valet…housekeeping…room service. (Special thanks to LaVerne!)

It's also wedding season, with big receptions at the hotel on both days. Tuxes and satin dresses everywhere. We bumped into the bride in the hallway on our way back to the room. Standing there with a dog on a leash, I told her she looked beautiful. I wanted to ask for a picture with her and Jake but figured it was too complicated to explain on such an important day for her. But wouldn’t that have been a surreal photo?

No one was out by the pool and we hustled out there to snap a few pics. We’re heading back to Denver tomorrow morning. This place is incredible. What a perfect weekend.

Take Me to the River

The setting here is so beautiful. This river is right behind the hotel and when I open our patio doors, I can hear it rushing by. So relaxing. Jake wanted to swim but I just couldn’t do that to the Westin's housekeeping staff.