Anim Graphic ©1997 Kitty Roach

(For this page, pretend this dog is limping on three legs!)

We'd like to thank the many, many people who wrote to us, thought of us, offered prayers, Zen and good thoughts for us. Our thanks to my parents, who are footing the bill for this surgery, thus relieving the financial anxiety and leaving us to deal better with the physical aspect of this episode. Our thanks to Ken and Marilyn, who planned a dinner despite the fact that it may have been a sad one . . . anticipating their company made the day a lot easier to get through. Thanks to Deb DeForest, whose HEADS-UP about the upper mass perhaps causing Misha's inp**pitence caused us to look again at that area and realize how drastically it had changed . . . for the worse. The surgeon, Dr. McAnulty and the intern, Michele, were wonderful. She is going to be a GREAT veterinarian, and I think she may be one of those veterinarians who will consider so-called alternative treatments along with the traditional ones. Her special interest lies in acupuncture. Misha is taking neutraceuticals (supplements) to build up her immune system (I hope to prevent or at least slow down the return of the hemangiopericytoma on the lower leg)
Misha received several get-well cards . . . From Betty Skrenes, who thinks of Misha as her GrandDog From Marian Godwin & David Clifford of Reading England, DogParents of Scotties Hamish & Tinker From Christie Williams, DogMom of Erin & Argus From April & Cari The inside reads, "HEAL!"
ConeHead. FunnelFace. LampshadeGirl	The F-Collar No, that's the FUNNEL Collar (although I'm sure Misha has another word for it!), as opposed to the E-collar, which is an Elizabethan collar, NOT an electronic collar. Misha has managed to get around her satellite-dish-sized E-collar and lick her incisions, so we put the F-Collar back on.
She is NOT a happy camper. So far, she's managed to run into a tree that's been standing in the same place in the yard since before she was born, scrape up dirt while Hoovering the yard, smash into the vacuum cleaner while trying to bite it (never made teeth contact - this might be something to use whenever we vaccum!), walk into both April & Cari, who do not appreciate it and tell her so in no uncertain terms, and give me about 10 new bruises . . . it's gonna be a loooooong healing period for all of us.
26 August: The stitches are healed; the lampshade is a thing of the past. She went for her first swim and hike Sunday night. Good for her . . . bad for Cari, who picked up an infection and has "swimmers' ear" from rock diving (she blows bubbles, too - what a riot!). So that little adventure cost me 50 bucks. Good thing I'm back to work . . . And Misha is finally back on the couches (am I the only person who ENCOURAGES the dogs to sleep on the couches and is worried when they don't?). She hasn't been on a couch for months, so her leg must've been bothering her some, although she never showed it while walking. Getting on the bed is a different story, however, and I don't think we'll ever see THAT day again . . .
My thanks to Mr. Scuba (aka VetteMan) for taking the digital photographs & scanning the cards so this page would be written before Misha is completely healed.

In July 1996, Misha had Cruciate Ligament Replacement Surgery.
Read all about it at MISHA'S SURGERY - OUR BIONIC DOG

In October 1997, Misha had an emergency splenectomy.
Read all about it at MISHA'S NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE

In Summer 2001, Misha had another bout with cancer, this time incurable.
Read all about it at MISHA IN MEMORIAM

dogs have joined Misha (@RB), April, Cari & Rico on the couch since 16 AUGUST 1996. We hope you all were comfy!!

Please stop and leave a message on the

 INTRODUCING MISHA (@RB), APRIL, CARI & RICO

Remember to bring along your virtual pooper-scooper!