Kerby ... my little MIRACLE boy!!

Kerby is alive and kicking!!!!!!!!!!! I apologize for not updating sooner but being in China for 10 days, plus issues with my computer at home, I haven't had the time to write as much as I wished. I want to give you all the update on Kerby, since I last wrote on August 7th. What I need to do, however, is 1st copy/paste the posting that Paul wrote on my blog while I was in China. Then I will let ya know the details of how Kerby is. Here goes:

Paul wrote this on August 18th:
Hello I'm Paul - "The Kerbs Dad". Since Kerri has been in china for the last two weeks I have had him. She got him checked out at the surgical specialist center on Abernathy Rd. before she left. Stated that nothing could be done for Kerby. As Kerri, it's tough to swallow. The cyst in his mouth got to be the size of a plum on the side of his head and who knows how big in his mouth due to he couldn't open it. In just 3 quick days since I had kerb he was done. It happened so quick and before you know it, he was foaming at the mouth and I tried to feed him and all he did is lay in his food which was terrible for 2 reasons. First is shock and 2nd is it was alpo gravy that I drained thinking he could lick it up. Friday (august 10th) I made "the choice" (to put Kerby down) but 1 mile down the road I couldn't continue driving due to a crying fit and i couldn't see the road. Well thank GOD that traffic is bad on fri. in Atlanta. I turned the car around and brought kerby home and the pressure was on. Anyone who knows me well knows that is when I work best. I called a paramedic dan who is known as the healin man. He was kind enough to come over and look at kerb and he was back the next day with prednisone, green tea extract, and raw beef. I followed his unorthodox requests due to kerby was already set up for "the choice". After I saw Kerri spend $300 on a check-up just days before and no other options noted by the oncologist, I prayed... and four hours later Kerby wagged his tail. 24 hours later Kerby was making a recovery. It is 7 days later and the cyst is GONE and he is barking at every sound and licking like kernel sanders. He is still weak from the chemo. and the cancer but the turn around was truly amazing thanks to Dan. Again, Thank you Very Much from the bottom of my heart! Paul .....
P.S. Dr. Hamilton (oncologist), I hope that when your time comes, they do not send you home to starve to death like almost happened to Kerby. It looks like "the Kerb" will die with DIGNITY!

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Whew ..... ok, this is Kerri again. Ya see, when I went o China, I had my blackberry and was able to check all emails. Paul didn't know this, so I read this email when I was in Beijing, that Paul was driving Kerby to get put down, and that now he was doing so well .... wow! I cry every time I think of it! I just knew Kerby wouldn't wait for my return. But he did!! And he is doing SOOOOO well, considering!

Paul and Dan did everything in their power to make sure Kerby would kiss me again! Paul, the chef that he is, experimented in the kitchen, fed Kerby everything and anything to see what worked. Dan, the highly intelligent paramedic, was Kerby's "healing doctor". Between the two of them, a regimen was set up.

Kerby's meds:
Prednisone (a steroid) 20mg/day to help shrink the tumor, which is still in there and big!
Green tea extract
Proin (generic brand) 25mg/day to help his incontinence.
Tramadol 25mg/day for pain

His treats (don't laugh but it works and he LOVES it all):
French Onion dip (he licks it from the tub)
Vanilla pudding cups
Ice cream cups
Blueberries & ice cream (the dark berries are an anti-oxidant)
Coffee creamer

I know, it all sounds and looks unorthodox but for now, his poop looks normal, he is extremely active and happy, he gives me kisses often, his hair is growing back, I mince his meds in his food and he eats like a horse 2x a day.

Last week, I just happen to look in his mouth and saw an additional HUGE 2 INCH x 2 INCH (not centimeters) black & purple shiny "ball" attached to his gums. It was nasty gross and scared the shit out of me. I took pictures of it but will spare all of you the horror! Man, my Kerby is sure teaching me patience. I didn't panic and just figured things out the next few days and helped him recover. At that time, I increased his steroid meds to shrink the growth and that helped.

Why, you may ask, did the oncologist never suggest this? Apparently they believe, according to their studies, that prednisone does nothing to help osteosarcoma of the jaw? who the heck knows .... I'm over the doctors, except Kerby's "regular" vet who we both love because she is caring and sensitive!

Anyway, that's my rant and boasting about my baby boy. The other morning I was thinking: Kerby may indeed be my only "child" in my life. And if so, that is okay with me because I have truly experienced how to love and care for something that is such a part of me. I have nursed Kerby back to health, stayed up with him when sick, spent an obscene amount of $ in medical bills .... but most importantly, I have received in return his unconditional love and he has given me the most joy a mother can ask for. Kerby is my son. I love you my little miracle boy!!