16" of SNOW 12/19/09


Mati and I deeply miss the Rockstar and we think of him daily. From time to time we have enjoyed checking in on your blogs, the Ao4, Pippa, Dogs of Jackman Ave, Lorenza,... and so on.

So now onto Mati. She's been tired, so she asked me to update you;

On 8/27/09 little sweetheart Mati was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma, specifically in the esophagus and mouth. She is on a feeding tube since she can not eat/swallow anything but water.

Since then she has had chemotherapy, and two types of Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (Gleevec and Palladia) to stop it from growing. They are both respected drugs – especially Gleevec in the biped world. The treatments were successful in reducing the cancer tumors in her mouth by 65%. Due to complications, we are unfortunately unable to continue any more treatments without causing harm.

In addition to the drugs and chemo, she has had multiple endoscopic procedures including two balloon attempts to open her esophagus. Although we made some progress, they were not able to do the job enough. Doing any more could be harmful.

She initially went from 50 pounds to about 38 pounds. Over the course of time, she has gained weight and is up to 45 pounds today. In addition, her blood counts are constantly rising and falling. We hope they stabilize due to the serious complications that can result.

To maintain her current state, she goes to her favorite hospital during the day for medication and food administration while I am at work. It’s become a job for her as she has loves being curled up on her bed in the car as she can’t wait to get there in the morning. Once there, she drags the techs to “her spot” where she has her room with her own bed. Of course she is ready to leave when I pick her up (after
being awakened from a deep sleep of a tough day).

Recently Mati had her 15th birthday. The hospital doctors and staff had a birthday party with biped food and quadruped gifts and a balloon too! It was quite the surprise and I know she is enjoying her new bed, and shirt. (She wears shirts/sweaters to cover the tube port and tube – to discourage her from doing “maintenance” on the tube and/or site!)

I am very thankful that the incredibly compassionate hands at Seneca Hill Animal Hospital taking such high quality care for her – as I would at home. The doctors and staff are super and go over and beyond. I can not say enough about them.

I’m further thankful for the equally compassionate hands at The Hope Center. Their doctors and staff equally go over and beyond. We are lucky and blessed to have such care and places to go to.

We are now on day 121 and her 1260th medical log entry. Looking back thru all the entries, I’m reminded of when things looked worse. Today Mati remains happy and alert, and is obviously feeling like herself again. She has settled back into her routine of talking to me and pushing me around the house! I’m happy to see her happy and carefree.

I end this entry today with – Finally, It has snowed! Mati and I have been outside a few times, and we have had about 16” of snow so far (it’s still snowing, but may stop soon).

We both wish you a safe and happy holiday season. –Mati and Mike

Rest In Peace

At 2PM today, Rocky succumbed to an aggressive form of Cancer of the Lungs. He was the best boy ever and I love him so much.



A supplement to Saturday; Thank you to everyone that has posted, sent a direct email, or mail. Your words are so very comforting.

In summary, Friday morning I took Rocky one of his two favorite places to go - Seneca Hill Animal Hospital. He so loved to go there - they treated him like their own. There they recognized what was going on. We transferred Rocky to SouthPaws Referral and Emergency Center where he stayed the night. By the next morning, he was in further distress and rapidly deteriorating. I was with him to the end as he crossed the rainbow bridge around 2pm EST.

Welcome Fitus!

Puppy Fitus and his family are from North Carolina... hundreds and hundreds of miles away and they came just to see me!!



Fitus is also from Germany, we sprechen sie same language!!



I told him I was the boss, and he didn't even argue!



There he is sitting in the background! He was running around the yard at such speeds, really now! Such a puppy!



You can see me sitting next to my Dad and Fitus's little girl that Fitus protects. She was showing me wild strawberries she found!



She was so cute! She let me play with Fitus's wool ball! I tried to bury it in the yard, but I was distracted and every time I put the ball down, Fitus picked it up!

By the way, have you noticed someone is missing?? Little miss Mati made her appearance, gave some loving to everyone and then went right back to bed! Sheesh!

Thanks to Fitus and his family for coming by!!

Love, Rocky and Mati

In Loving Memory

Chica - April 1992 - March 6, 2009

If Love is all she needed, she would have lived forever.









People that are like us, people that have amazing quadruped kids are not amazed at the deep bond that exists between parent and child. Our kids are ever loving, kind and faithful. They provide us unlimited comfort and companionship. They look up to us and we only hope we are the people they think we are.

They are our family.

We are saddened by her passing and our sympathies go out to Robin and Ken

3 and a half months!

Oh gosh, we did it again... 3 and a half months passed by and what do I have to say for it? :-(

We hope everyone is well...

Both Mahti and I have had our ups and downs through the season. I would go to the doctor, then Mahti would have to go. Then I would go again, and then Mahti would go again. Now I'm having trouble going down stairs almost as much as going up stairs. So what do you think Mahti has been doing? Now when she goes down stairs, she pretends to go down slowly and gingerly --- oh puuulllleeeaaaase! Mahti might have turned 14 last month, but she's a spring chicken! Well, in any case, it's awful nice of her to pretend like she's not well.

Dad says we're taking over his glassware cabinet....



I don't knw what he is complaining about - he's not the one who has to take the darn pills!

And then while Dad was in his car (not mine), guess what he saw?! Yes, two Sibes in the back of an Outback! (Not just any two Sibes, it looked like Am and Zim! What are they doing in Virginia?) I wonder if they were on their way to see some snow? I wish I was there, I would have told Dad to follow them to the snow!!



Well, outside of that, Dad says he wants to go on a diet. You know, Rabbit food. Yuck! I told him to go to the store and look for the "diet" isle. He came back with donuts! He took this picture to explain: (you might have to enlarge the picture to read the sign)...



We miss you all - big tail wags and kisses to everyone! -Rock